Sai Guntaka will be opening a 40-seat cafe in South Portland called Cobblestone Coffee & Company (facebook, instagram). It will be located on the Gorham Road in the the space that was the first home Taj restaurant.
Cobblestone will serve a full line-up of brewed coffee and espresso-based drinks. A key feature of the beverage menu will be Irani chai prepared in the style popular in Hyderabad where Guntaka’s family is from. It will be flavored with cardamom, rose petals and a mix of spices. Cobblestone will be sourcing coffee beans from Tandem Coffee Roasters.
Chef Adam Williams has joined the Taj team to lead the kitchen at Cobblestone. Guntaka said their goal is to provide a menu of seasonal sweat treats, savory pastries and brunch items that will be “something you won’t find just anywhere else.” Some examples are Vada Pav sandwiches, a cardamom croissant, and dosa crepes. There will also be grab and go options. The menu is still under development, so check back closer to the opening day to see the full list of dishes.
Guntaka shared he feels very connected to the space since its where he had his first success as a restaurant owner, and he has seen a need for a locally run coffee shop and cafe in that part of town which is what prompted him to develop the idea for Cobblestone.
Woodhull has designed Cobblestone—see the renderings below—and the cafe is being constructed by Carlos Acosta. Guntaka hopes to launch Cobblestone by the end of April. When it launches he plans to redirect all profits from Cobblestone to his outreach program that provides free meals to people in need.
Guntaka is the owner of Taj in South Portland and cofounder Silver Street by Taj in the Old Port. Williams has worked at the Black Point Inn, Evo and Dry Dock.
