Twice I tried to give Pepper Garden Coffee House my business while staying in Kumily, Kerala. Lonely Planet recommended this spot plus it was a short walk from my room so why not? My first try was to grab a chai and peruse the menu for a possible breakfast option. I walked up to the main gate, startled by the owner sitting just inside the property keeping watch over the street. Rather quickly he informed me that he was closing at 6, no dinner. “No worries”, I explained, “just want to look at your menu”. There would be no tea for me here today.

Customers follow the path past the left side of the building into the backyard of a few miscellaneous potted plants and trees. Garden no, comfortable…barely. A large framed structure covered in green tarps shades the 4-5 plastic tables provided for seating. As the owner brought me a menu I realized this place was his home. He was cooking and serving from his personal kitchen.

The tasty sounding menu peeked my interest enough to return the following day. “Open at 6″, said the owner, a gruff looking 40-something man wearing the classic Kerala lungi and short sleeve button up shirt.

When I returned at 6:35 A.M. the next morning, once again the owner was behind the gate waiting to greet or distract potential customers. The open sign hanging near the front door to his house hadn’t been flipped yet nor had his morning cigarette been completely smoked. Clearly I was the first customer of the day. The same menu was presented from yesterday but I already knew what to order. Unfortunately what I wanted was not available. Nor the second choice. Nor the third.Why didn’t he give me a heads up the day before?

Instead of playing the game of what do you have it was obvious the owner was not going out of his way for me. I thanked him for his effort and left seeking another eatery knowing I would not try a third time here.