A newly-opened burger and steak house, Fork You, is perfect for carnivores. Those who experiment with drinks could try their poison with spices like saffron and cumin, says Divya Kaushik
At first glance, it resembles a place that inherited its dark, grungy look from bars and cafes featured in Hollywood movies of the late 70s. The kind that guys with even little money would check out, after a day of hard work. Often minus company of the opposite sex. It was past eleven at night. A tiny verandah was packed like a cinema hall, at the opening of a blockbuster. It was the only smoking area in the recently-opened cafe and restaurant called Fork You.
Youngsters appeared to be drawn to round tables set by the huge bar, rather than the plush sofas that were placed against the wooden wall. A group of energetic men were behind the bar, tossing glasses into the air and taking orders from customers, who resembled regulars.
“It’s been over two months. People who walked in once have returned with or without company,” shared Anchit Kapil, one of the owners of the place, who says Fork You is haven for steaks, burgers and drinks.
Anchit set up Fork You, with his partner and friend Viju, a mixologist who was part of launches in places like Oberoi’s Three Sixty Degrees and Sheraton’s Dakshin.
The pair met through a common friend and wanted to open a place in Hauz Khas, that was pocket-friendly and fun to visit. “Most joints here are multi-cuisine. Or they serve cuisine that’s popular in other parts of Delhi. We realised what was lacking are great burgers and steaks. So we created this carnivore hub, where you can make your own burger or gorge on steaks.”
Anchit added that he makes friends with people who walk in virtually every second day. Many orders are taken from those on the move. If it is late night, they have young professionals and college students who come to chill and drink some of Viju’s creations.
The menu doesn’t feature the usual cocktail-mocktail section. Instead they list ingredients and you can tell the bartender, or Viju, how you want something. Maybe with spicy flavours like cinnamon, cardamom, saffron or roasted cumin. Viju offered vodka with maple syrup and saffron. It tasted interestingly new.
“We educate people about drinks and serve what they want. We do not define drinks here,” he said.
We ordered burgers after ticking off ingredients, the kind and size of bread, toppings, cheese, side munchies and sauces. “We don’t serve burgers with sauce inside. People like them different. This also allows the health conscious to create their own ‘green’ filling,” said Anchit.
Their cheese stuffed spring rolls came with crisp covering, veggies and melt-in-the-mouth cheese. Mozzarella fingers would delight cheesy cravings. The herbs and onions was different too. For the main course, try their spicy Chimichanga, served with stir-fry vegetables and a small portion of rice as side dish. They have salads and soups too. The only disappointing thing is there are the absence of desserts. Another syrupy, sugary drink of your choice could be the substitute.