SHUNASHIR SEN shunashir. sen@ mid- day. com LETu2019S start with a confession. Take us to the classiest fine- dine that serves exotic cocktails with all sorts of essences and infusions, and chances are that weu2019ll still opt for a domestic brand of beer. Go ahead. Call us unrefined. Give us a catty look while you sip on your elderflower gimlet. But youu2019ll still hear us telling the server, u201c A pint of the mild brew, please.u201d Thereu2019s something so comforting about this drink that it puts us at ease with every sip.
So imagine our happiness when we open the menu at Bora Bora Duty Free, a revamped Bandra bar, and find that our favourite pint is priced at ' . . . . Thatu2019s a mere ' . . above MRP! Head out to any other similar establishment and youu2019d dish out at least ' . . . a pop. Even the other IMFL drinks on this special menu are priced just a notch higher than what youu2019d pay at wine shops. So without further ado, we ask for the usual and survey the scene around while waiting for a friend whou2019s stuck in traffic.
The speakers in the al fresco smoking area are blaring chartbusters that teenyboppers and . . - somethings are singing along to. There is a table next to us from where raucous laughter collectively rises above the rest of the cacophony. An army of staff members is scurrying around with attentive eyes and an eager- to- please attitude. And we have just asked for the third pint when the friend arrives ready with a host of excuses for her inordinate delay, which we graciously accept.
The two dishes we choose are African grilled chicken ( ' . . . ) and rum- infused barbecue lamb cubes ( ' . . . ) . The chicken arrives first. The only benchmark we have to compare it with is a joint in Marine Lines where we once had an excellent African meal. But if this dish here is u201c Africanu201d, then dhokla is a Chinese treat. The flavours are almost Indian and, unfortunately, not very good. Such that we put it aside after a couple of bites and even decide against packing it up for later on.
The lamb cubes save the day, though. The rum lends each piece a measured sweetness that the sugary cocktail we tried earlier should have embodied. The meat is also tender despite retaining its chewiness. The dish makes for a perfect bar bite, and youu2019d do well to ask for it with your choice of drink from the duty- free menu.
And all said and done, that menu is the best part about this watering hole. There is no other joint in the vicinity u2014 not even Bandrau2019s famed dive bars like . anata and Yacht u2014 where you can get three pints of beer for ' . . . . So the next time you head out in the Queen of the Suburbs, donu2019t burn a hole in your pocket. Start your night here. Trip on their list of incredibly cheap drinks. And finally move on to the next place once youu2019ve had enough of the chartbusters and feel the need for some peace and quiet.
TIME 12 pm to 1 am AT 155, Waterfield Road, Linking Road, Bandra West.
CALL 50646820 FOOD REVIEW FOOD/ AVERAGE AMBIENCE/ LOUD SERVICE/ EXCELLENT COST/ REASONABLE VERDICT/ u0192u00ba u0192u00ba u0192u00ba u0192u00ba Grin and beer it A revamped Bandra bar serves incredibly cheap IMFL drinks, but offers a mixed bag when it comes to food Despacito Draught beer u0192u00ba u0192u00ba u0192u00ba u0192u00ba EXCEPTIONAL, u0192u00ba u0192u00ba u0192u00ba EXCELLENT, u0192u00ba u0192u00ba VERY GOOD, u0192u00ba GOOD, AVERAGE. Bora Bora Duty Free didnu2019t know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals Rum- infused African grilled barbecue lamb cubes chicken PICS/ ASHISH RAJE
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