One for those banana moods

Yes, it's all wicked rising to the point of madness at the Banana Beach Bar. But that is exactly what this hip hangout is all about

Flashback: I step out of my car with the song, 'Tonight's gonna be a good, good night' blaring from it and once into the Banana Beach Bar,u00a0 I knew it would be one hell of a night.

I'm writing just the morning after a sheer banana-lickin' night and the hangover is just about settling in. The heady feeling is gone, but here I press my rewind button and go down Wednesday night.

I walk around sand beneath my feet, with the beat of drums, almost getting footloose with the feel of waves getting bigger.
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There's a roomy alfresco boat deck to plonk yourself on, a never-seen-before for Bangalore, but since there's no backrest there, I fancy the stretched jhula bang in the midst of all the action.
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Swinging in the centre of the bar, I have towards my right David and Mercedes (yes, that was her name) singing some live reggae on the mic, the boat in front of me with a cheerful bunch of bachelors and colossal barrel tables and bar chairs on my left. There are also machaans you can jump onto or just pick a cozy indoor seating.

I spot a gang of four sipping on an alcoholic Punch; all-at-once standing straight and the bartender tells us that's how it's meant to be drunk. The punch can be made-to-order with any alcohol base you wish.

Now that I had the beach, it was time to get the bar rolling, without blinking an eye. Banana Rum Punch (Rs 300) it was - a refreshing rum based cooler, with the banana flavour coming out clear down to the last sip.
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Exceptionally tasteful, spiked with rum. Our finger foods arrived in the form of a mixed plate of Grilled Chicken Wings and Sausages (Rs 300), with an oily tangy dressing that sang on the palate.

I also sipped on the Caprioska (Rs 300), a lemon and mint cocktail with a vodka base. Oops, I didn't get an Orgasm (a cocktail), when I wanted one, as the bartender told us the kahlua, which was the main ingredient for Orgasm, besides the cream and vodka was about to arrive.

Damn David as he began crooning 'Push it, push it some more' and I called in for my evening's pick-me-up Silk Panties (Rs 250), a not-for-the-uninitiated knockout drink, with a generous helping of vodka and peach schnapps that saved my night. Agreed, the names are all too passe and too nineties.

BBB is not really a dinner place, but you will find a Dinner Combo page on the food menu with value-for-money Chinese and Indian veg and non veg combos.
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I picked the Chicken Biryani (Rs 225), Dum cooked long-grained Basmati rice with tender chunks of chicken served with raita, which was very comforting.

There's nothing better than to quell a late night rebellion with a sweet tooth and mine craved for a Chocolate Mousse (Rs 150), which should have been more gooey and creamy, but ours went overboard with gelatin, it did leave a pleasant sweet aftertaste, making us gleeful. Or was it all the concoctions doing the trick?

There's probably a banana bar in every nook of the globe, but this one's reserved for our little part of the world. So what if the sun sets early in our city, can't we still have some beach bumming?

AT # 54, Canara Bank Road, Near Vijaya Bank, Koramangala 6th Block, Bangalore.
CALL 4130 3452.
Drinks and meal for two Rs 1,400.
ON Mondays and Tuesdays is Rock and Retro night, Wednesdays is Reggae Live, Thursdays are for: Golden Era Music, Karaoke nights every Friday with a DJ Night on Saturday and Rock and Retro for Sunday nights. BBB is open all days, from 12 noon to 11.30 pm