Pragatiprava
A few posh restro bars in the capital city are luring clients — mostly white collar professionals with a busy schedule — by dangling the promise of a couple of hours of uninterrupted relaxation in a warm and dimly-lit ambience that reverberates with soothing music. What’s more, the steaming delicacies served at these joints cater to the yearnings of gastronomes keen to gorge on the choicest of dishes from across the culinary spectrum…
With growing professional pressure in the daytime, a number of white-collar workers are hitting the restro bars at night. Even though there are a few posh restaurants in the city catering to changing tastes and food habits, especially with the exponential growth in the demand for Chinese and continental dishes, the elite class seems to prefer the fare served at restro bars that offer, as an additional attraction, a range of exquisitely flavoured beverages. These are savoured by a class of elite professionals fagged out at the end of a hectic day in office.
Not only have the restro bars become an integral part of the city’s nightlife, many professionals hit these joints to relax even during working hours in the afternoon for some much-needed refreshment to boost their productivity at work during the evening.
Anshuman Bharadwaj, a corporate lawyer based in Mumbai, who was spotted enjoying food and drinks with his family and friends at a bar in the city, said: “This restaurant-cum-bar has one of the best ambiences in town. Even though I fail to relate to any kind of filmy theme, I find there is no better place in the city to enjoy a warm and comfortable ambience with friends and family than Bollywood, the restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine at the Crown.”
“Although most of the time I stay in Mumbai, whenever I come to Bhubaneswar, where my family stays, I make it a point to visit Bollywood with my family and relatives. I prefer the mouth-watering tandoori prawns. The prawn biryani and kebabs served are amazing too. If you are longing for a nice north Indian or Mughlai meal, Bollywood is the best option,” said Anshuman.
“One reason why Bollywood enjoys an enviable clientele is that you don’t have to move to a separate place where the drinks of your choice are served. You can order your favourite drink and enjoy it in a smoky ambience all aglow in dim illuminations. Even though I don’t drink every day, I often like to have a peg or two with my father. However, we make it a point to avoid alcohol if mother is around,” he pointed out.
Bollywood, unlike its name, doesn’t boast a rocking and colourful ambience alive with beats from the leading rock albums of the day. On the contrary, a serene and cool ambience prevails which lures clients of varying tastes and temperaments.
Sushant Kumar Rout, senior sales manager of the Crown, said the place witnesses a rush of customers in the weekends comprising, on the most part, families and friends.
“While most of the visitors hail from an elite social background, they come with their families and friends for relaxation after a week’s tight schedule. Love birds too frequent the place,” said Rout.
“Heavy workload takes a severe toll on a number of corporate executives and the impact is both physical and psychological. Not only on weekends, after the completion of a day’s work, many highly-paid executives prefer to spend time de-stressing and there is no better place in the city than the Lemon Grass restaurant at Mayfair which witnesses steady footfall from the evening till late into the night,” said Pankaj Gupta, marketing head of the hotel chain.
Claiming that Lemon Grass is the first restaurant in Bhubaneswar to offer pure Chinese cuisine to guests in an genuine Chinese ambience, Gupta added that the chefs at the restaurant are asked to retain the genuine mainland China flavour, while keeping in mind the preferences of Indian customers.
The bust of Lord Buddha, the fiery dragons, the elevation in the wall and the sitting arrangements at Lemon Grass all exude a distinctively Chinese feel. The lighting and space is cool, serene and cosy and you will feel at home while enjoying your food and beverage.
A corporate executive who was spotted dining at the restaurant with a lady colleague said: “The restaurant’s atmosphere sets the stage. I and my beloved feel at home at this sophisticated place. While food takes the spotlight, the lighting and artwork create comfort and intimacy.”
The couple, who regularly visits the place to spend some quality time in each other’s company, said their favourite dishes at the place are the tantalising tom yam soup, Bali prawn and Taipei chicken. The tom yam soup is refreshing with its distinct coconut flavor and soft prawns, they said. To top it off, they like nothing better than gorging on their favourite dessert, Daarsaan with ice cream. However, if it is a weekend, they don’t usually give their favourite straight drinks a miss.
If you are looking for a continental or Italian gastronomic haven as well as drinks to lift your mood, Bling It On is the place to be. The Italian, Mexican and continental restro bar at the heart of Bhubaneswar attracts guests with its buzzing ambience.
When at Bling It On, don’t miss out on the lobster thermidor, a creamy mixture of cooked lobster meat, egg yolk and brandy stuffed into a lobster shell. Treat yourself to the tantalising crab meat burger prepared with breadcrumbs, milk, mayonnaise, egg and sundry seasonings.
Archana Mishra, the head of corporate relations and placement at IMI, Bhubaneswar, said: “After a week’s toilsome work, I check in to the lawn-style bar with my friends to have a gala time. The cool and cosy ambience is made all the more soothing with slow music playing in the background – a homely and serene environment. I prefer Italian food as I had picked up a fascination for it during my stay abroad. My friends hunt for Mexican delights and we all hit the bar to relax. The roasted chicken is a must-try. Affordability is another factor that adds to Bling It On’s attraction. The same quality food we have at this place is available at prices three times higher at other posh restaurants in the city.”
The restaurant lies at the heart of the city – near Ram Mandir square.
Sameer Ali, general manager of New Marrion Hotel, claimed the hotel specialises in Italian, continental and Mexican cuisines. “You can order your favourite drinks to add zing to your dinner party. Even though the evenings witness the maximum footfall, many visit the bar during lunch hours to take a break from their tight schedule,” he said.
A couple, both corporate professionals, spotted dining at the posh restro bar at Pal Heights, said: “Breeze, as the name suggests, is close to nature. Thirty-five per cent of the restaurant-cum-bar is open-air. It serves as an ideal place for relaxation due to its proximity to nature which greatly helps in reducing stress and adding vigour to everyday life.”
“If you are a vegetarian, do try the paneer broccoli satay. Sautéed broccoli and soft paneer marinated in a spicy and flavoursome red pepper sauce makes for a delicious and nutritionally-balanced starter. Do not miss the steaming mutton galouti kebab if you are a non-vegetarian,” they added.
The most enticing thing about Breeze is it has a rooftop restaurant. While the open air makes a lot of difference, you can relish your food inside. There are a variety of drinks to choose from.
Pradip Jena, manager of Pal Heights, said: “Even though a majority who visit prefers Chinese and tandoor items, the largest terrace restaurant-cum-bar of its kind in eastern India also offers north Indian and Italian delicacies. While the rush in the weekends and in the evenings is considerable, people also throng the place for breakfast and lunch as the prices are not that steep.”