For good food with music and charming décor, this is the place. For those who want to tap the pulse of Delhi’s nightlife, the night is young here, writes ANANYA BORGOHAIN
While the idea of spending a summery day on the beach is frightful, it is more so preposterous in the Delhi heat; besides the simple logistical issue that there are no beaches in Delhi. However, for the folks in the Capital, a location as ideal for a vacation as Goa has manifested itself in Khel Gaon Marg.
At the TabulaBeach café, Delhiites can expect to be exposed to delectable continental cuisines and beverages along with cheery evenings filled with youthful vigour, music, dance and events. Much in line with, say, the Goan spirit, the restaurant leaves no effort untried to bring the zest of a beach alive. From the servers’ uniform to the décor to their signature items on the menu, the restaurant also lives us to expectations.
It has two primary areas — inside by the bar and the outside park where you may just find sand on the floor (it used to be so) and a white hammock nearby. After all, you are at a beach. Inside, the restaurant’s décor is subtle and elegant as blue and white adorn its walls. Outside the main entrance, cobblestones under a portico lead the stretch that takes people to the ‘beach’.
The Mutton lonche entails juicy, deep fried mutton chunks made with Asian spices and served with thin pao buns on the side. It is mildly spiced and perfectly cooked, something that is often rare with red meat served in many places. The lebanese Cheese Taouk Chicken Kebab Skewers is rich and succulent and the taste is enhanced all the more by the fact that it is marinated in traditional lebanese spices served in pita pockets with hummus, baba ghanoush and casik. This place serves delightful pizzas and burgers as well; however, it may be advisable to stick to their signature meals than trying the usual and easily available foods.
The drinks menu is beach themed too. Ironically, one wonders why this beach themed bar does not have a Pina Colada, which many may consider the most ideal beach drink! But they might also make one for you, if you put in a request. Other than that, the Pink Panther has ingredients that can almost never go wrong — rum, strawberry, pineapple pump, fresh coconut, lime — and it really does not. It’s delicious and gorgeous to look at. The Smoking Aces that has cinnamon smoked bourbon, apple juice, cream de cassis, lime, angostura bitter, generates curiosity and is an intense drink, but it’s not for people who despise bitter drinks; at times, it may not be for whiskey drinkers too. The same applies to their lemongrass and Sand Ginger Martini. The taste of ginger overpowers all the other ingredients in this one.
TabulaBeach is also known to be the only place in Delhi where you may find King’s Beer. King’s Beer, which sells at as low a price as Rs 40 in Goa is a pale lager beer popular for its unique squat bottle and its fine malt.
The desserts do not disappoint either. Waffles rarely go wrong and are universally liked. At this restaurant, one gets a platter of four toasty waffles with sludges of maple syrup, chocolate sauce, nutella, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and served with another universal favourite on the side — peanut butter.
The music is vibrant and gets catchier in the evening as the crowd multiplies. The visitors can have a quiet business meal or an animated conversation between friends or even a pleasant family get together, preferably in the day though. At night, it is a really crowded ‘cool’ place. The restaurant also hosts varied events viz live fusion music, ladies night, and even plays. For those looking for good food with music and charming décor, this is the place. For those who want to tap the pulse of Delhi’s nightlife, this restaurant is in a quiet place, but the night is always gracefully young here.
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