First published in Bangalore Mirror
If you’re stuck between a 26 year old pub chain that’s iconic enough to go for an IPO (why is it so difficult to believe that Pecos filed for an IPO?!) and a microbrewery that’s arguably the town’s favourite you’d probably stick to the basics, make no fuss and figure out a unique proposition for yourself. (map, it’s above 3oh3 and yes, there’s valet parking) You’d also call yourself Barebones. (though I suspect the idea behind the name is more about a ‘come as you are’ attitude) A flight of stairs takes you to what’s primarily a balcony bar, with some amount of indoor seating. The first thing that hits you, or more precisely, your eardrums, is the music. We have much to talk about on that , so first, take a seat. You can choose between the outdoor space – dim lighting, a few high stools, and a reasonably good view of the road, and a cozy looking indoor area – well lit, some very interesting wall art, chalkboards that add a layer of meaning to the quirky sounding cocktails, and a bar that reassures you that you’re in the right place! So far, so good, but wait, there’s something clamouring for attention. Ah yes, the music. Under normal circumstances, this is the point where I’d whine about not being able to have a conversation thanks to the volume levels, but when the playlist starts churning out Sting, Counting Crows, Crash Test Dummies, Snow (Informer!) and so on, mixes it up randomly with the Bee Gees and Lou Bega, and in general takes me time travelling, it’s hard not to grin happily. But hey, let’s not get sidetracked by nostalgia when there’s food and drinks to talk about.
If you had to find that one thing where they really took the establishment’s name very seriously, it has to be the food menu! A single page, but the compensation is in the form of the bar menu, which does a great job of lifting spirits, and eyebrows, the latter thanks to the prices. We decided to go with their own recommendations of appetisers first. The Crunchy Pork, with a spicy, tangy plum sauce was the first to arrive. The meat was well cooked and together with the crispy texture and the flavours, made sure that it was a dish we totally pigged out on! The Beer Battered Prawns, served with Tartar sauce, was well cooked but a tad greasy. The Crispy Peri Peri Wedges was fantastically spicy and is highly recommended as a drinks companion. Some subtlety was introduced in the form of the Lemon Thyme Chicken. Though both flavours were evident, they weren’t overpowering and played their roles to perfection. The Minced Lamb Balls had a very peppery nip that took away from the dish, though the meat itself was quite good. The Spicy Jamaican Chicken was the last starter we tried and while not a bad dish, didn’t do anything spectacular enough to stand out.
The cocktails are interesting, though quite expensive! The Melon Ball Sangria, with Cantaloupe, watermelon and Grape Brandy, was perfect for the warm evening. Both ‘Simple but Sweet’ and ‘Frustration’, though whiskey and rum based respectively, had much more of a coffee presence than we’d have liked. ‘A Prince of Wales’, strangely had a ladylike appearance but does a very good mix of wine and warm whiskey.
for the main course, Burgers, burgers everywhere! We began with the Madrasi Curried Veg Burger because we were curious about what a veg burger was. Thankfully the mildly spiced, tangy veg patty wasn’t a bad experience at all. We then went the other extreme and tried the Lamb Fetish with feta cheese, beetroot and a delicious tomato chutney. Excellent stuff. I’d say the same for the ‘Hot Chica’ as well, but that’s only if you are comfortable with jalapenos and the not-so-pleasing scent of sour cream. In essence, they know their burgers, even if they haven’t been made from typical burger ingredients.
What’s a good adjective to use when you find nothing in a particular section of the menu? Deserted. #getit No, I am not joking!
A couple of cocktails, a couple of starters, and a burger would cost you Rs.2200. We were quite happy with the food and the service. They were prompt and friendly and very courteous in their interactions. The ambience (and that includes the music) is perfect for a hangout. The only irony comes in the form of the pricing, which is hardly ‘barebones’.
Barebones – The Balcony Bar, #303, Ashok Tearrace, 100 feet Road, Indiranagar, Ph: 080 65666636