Trust AD Singh to come up with a funky new concept.
ATMOSPHERICS
Right on the main road of Defence Colony’s D Block, right by the Jungpura flyover, in the place where another restaurant used to be is the latest from the Olive stable. The best part about Ek Bar is the vibe: you can treat it as a regular bar, a restaurant, a meeting place with a smoking area on the terrace or a path-breaking venue for extremely innovative food and drinks. This is one space where you would do well to order the punch section. It is Ek Bar’s case that the British punch is actually a derivative from the Hindi word paanch, so every single punch has been crafted with at least one Indian ingredient and it works very well indeed. The service-ware too is novel includes teacups. Expect to see a rash of ‘inspirations’ all over the city very soon! The best part is that Ek Bar has not a whit of pretentiousness, from the music to the service to the menus. The downside is that not for love or money will you bag a table over the weekend!
TABLE TALK
Ek Bar is as good for a meal as it is for a snack (they have teas and non-alcoholic cocktails too). The Sausage Thali (Rs 700) is served on a kasha (bell metal) thali and consists of homemade sausages: Chicken Tikka, prawn, Moroccan-inspired Merguez Mutton Sausages and a Nargisi Kofta made with Goan Chorizo. The best vegetarian snack to order is Granola Bar (Rs 300) made with real jhalmuri mixture and topped with avocado, green apple and a scoop of dahi bhalla ice cream. The Chicken Liver and Liquid Bheja Pate (Rs 350) is a superb take on the French pate and is served with a taftan and a salt-marinated chilli. Also worth a mention is the Andaman Tuna Papdi Chaat (Rs 450) that features puffed black rice, potato, avocado, tamarind gel and togarashi chaat masala, where the togarashi doesn’t jockey for attention with the desi ingredients. One of the best main course dishes is the Quinoa and Desi Grain Pulao (Rs 500) that is healthy, not expensive and filling at the same time.
PLUS AND MINUS
Ek Bar espouses a mix of an Indian and international vibe. However, the ragda (dried pea) needs a relook.
Must Try: Vegetarian Thali, Khameeri Pizza, Lamb Chop Varuval
Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.
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