A new restaurant cum café at Nehru Place is an impressive mix of good food, cool ambience and ravishing interiors, says Karan Bhardwaj
After a hectic day, we headed to The Flying Saucer Café with least expectations. located at Epicuria, right below the Nehru Place metro station, the headway to the restaurant cum lounge and café, somehow energised our dead spirit, thanks to the exciting vibes from the sparkling lamps and happening crowd on our way. Frankly, we took more than 15 minutes to choose the ‘favourite corner’ before settling down in the café corner, which is decked up with white pebbles and matching furniture. The dining area is like any other camouflaged restaurant and failed to impress us. We couldn’t connect to dim lights and overpowering furniture. The open area was packed with late night revellers and was running full house. So we somehow managed a table for three.
The menu appeared like a culinary atlas. Variety of pizzas, pastas, burgers, kebabs, salads form an extensive menu. It took us a while to decide on the opening drink. We started with Mediterranean shake while our companion indulged in banana shake (with oreo). The smoothies lent a perfect start and what followed was a heavy platter of starters. In next five minutes, we got a regular chilli paneer, arancini and lasagna. The arancini, which comprised of crumbed risotto balls stuffed with shitake mushroom, was served with spicy plum sauce and chive aioli.
What we really liked was the large portions of meals, which is now a rarity in most outlets. If you don’t wish to order the regular fare, there are interesting platters too. The mini burger platter offers a serving of three mini burgers, lamb, chicken and mushroom burger. Assorted bruschetta mini platter has artichoke, mushroom, sundried tomato, olives and bocconcini/roasted bell peppers in a balsamic reduction, topped with feta cheese/fresh tomatoes with olive oil and basil.
The main course is a delight for non-vegetarians. In char grilled jumbo prawns, prawns are marinated in salsa verde and served with spaghetti aglio-e-olio and grilled veggies. Chicken parmigiana has baked chicken topped with homemade pepperoni sauce and cheese. It is served with spaghetti pomodoro. Equally brilliant are the Spanish corn crepes, stuffed with corn and topped with sundried tomato and orange tangy sauce.
If food is all about experience, The Flying Saucer Café takes it to another level. Electrifying music, impressive staff and cool ambience allow one to chill. The huge space ensures a relieved setting without making you realise the actual gathering around you! The interiors are inspired by the German royal courts. The amber lighting with a golden touch transports you to an era of German empires.
The bar counter is long cooper, covered and shaped like an elongated spacecraft, armed with enough spirits.