Nothing macho about this place!
Serving One plate meals: Indian, western, oriental
Atmospherics: When you see the signage outside the building, it feels like it would be on the mezzanine or first floor. It’s not: it is on the ground floor and the entrance is directly under the escalator. I visited on a Sunday afternoon, expecting to see some sign of bikers. Instead, I saw families with very young children. I did hope to catch some trace of macho eats: the kind that I fondly imagine hungry bikers would like. I saw none, alas. I asked to be seated on what looked like a comfortable chesterfield leather sofa, but was told it was ‘booked’. By the time I left an hour later, there was still no sign of those who had booked it. The restaurant is dark, is dominated by a bar in the centre, with seating all around. Service is efficient and polite, but don’t expect to engage your server in conversation about what to order and why.
Table talk: I thank my stars for the roast chicken honey and mustard sandwich (Rs 240) that saved the day. Sliced brown bread, generous bits of chicken, lavishly moistened with mayo and niblets of onion, tomato and bell-peppers was by far and away the best part of my meal. The house special cold coffee (Rs 150) turned out to be milk white with no discernible taste of coffee. When I returned it, it was made marginally stronger, but coffee lovers, this is not the place for you! I have always wanted to try tandoori chicken momos, called Sino-Indian dumplings on the menu (Rs 240). A plate of angry red momos appeared soon enough. Too spicy, too devoid of chicken filling and too dry, they were a complete travesty. When a server asked why I had left them, and I told him, he murmured an apology, but did not offer to replace the dish. Sadly, it was the same for the Kolkata Chinatown chilli chicken that had too much chilli and no juiciness. And to think I had ordered them in preference to a Thai fish that had sounded interesting, because chilli chicken sounded fail-safe.
Plus and minus: The music is retro, the sound system good. The heavy duty bike outside the door is rugged and macho, and the interiors look masculine and clubby.
Food: 2.75, Service: 2.75, Décor: 2.75
Must try: French benedict, highway parathas, bun samosa
Ground floor, Palm Springs Plaza, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon
Tel: 0124 2574641, 8527453334
Open from 8.15 am to 12 midnight
Alcohol, credit cards
Meal for two: Rs 1,800