Politico Narayan Rane's son Nilesh's weirdly-themed Andheri restaurant makes you sit inside locked cells for a meal while a policeman takes down your order
Politico Narayan Rane's son Nilesh's weirdly-themed Andheri restaurant makes you sit inside locked cells for a meal while a policeman takes down your order
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"Do you want to go to Jail?" asks the security guard before pointing us to the third floor. The elevator opens to a stark scene: a dummy sits guard at the entrance, and a cop welcomes us. Congress politico Narayan Rane's son Nilesh Rane's strangely themed restaurant-lounge has been open for a week though the head of operations, Raj Ghosh, says he's wary of the media. Raj claims Rane Jr isn't associated with the operations. Was the theme his idea? We get a non-committal smile.u00a0
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The Jail is divided into a dining area, a lounge and eating booths that resemble locked prison cells. Each plays host to Bollywood'su00a0 various baddies: Mogambo (Mr India), Gabbar Singh (Sholay) and Shaakal (Shaan). Stripes are everywhere: on the steward's uniform, the crockery, napkins, even the candles.u00a0
We call for a Blue Cheese Chicken and Cigar Rolls along with a Ravshaw cocktail. The Cigar Rolls are deep-fried and stuffed with corn, cheese and peppers. Yum. The Blue Cheese Chicken is delicious: chicken chunks drowned in molten cheese, set off perfectly with a mayo dip. The Ravshaw is a fusion of vodka, orange and sweet lime. Thick fruit slices crowd the glass and it's a burst of citrusy flavours.u00a0
We move to Gabbar Singh's cell as the music in the lounge (remixed Hindi film tracks) grows unbearably loud, and call for a Cilantro Pesto Tiger Prawns, Soya Chicken and Garlic Naan. The spicy prawns sit on a bed of beet-flavoured risotto. The risotto is mild and cheesy, sweetened by beets. The Soya Chicken sees meat and its substitute in fierce competition, each soaking the curry well.
For dessert, the chef insists we pick the Banana Mousse. Glazed with caramelized sugar, the creamy mousse on a sponge cake base is pure sin.u00a0
The Jail is worth a visit for its kinky theme. The food is pretty good, the service, once you get used to cops rushing to take your order, is attentive. But the music is too loud and filmi. The crowd? Well, it's the kind of place that might see drunken brawls.
Opposite: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Four Bungalows, Andheri. Call: 26316100
The Jail didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals and drinks
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