A while ago, on a brewery darshan tour in South Bangalore, we had visited The Pump House in JP Nagar, and instantly loved the vibe, and the beer. We were thrilled therefore, when sometime last year, we saw their signage in Whitefield while on our way to er, another brewery! A few days later, we dropped in, though they hadn’t started brewing then. Raining on the parade literally happened, and thanks to their teething issues being exacerbated by the rain, our experience was less than meh. But when there’s craft beer involved, there’s always a second chance. And this time we took friends along. Why suffer alone!
The place has a completely different vibe from that of JP Nagar. This one has open spaces, retro chic seating, and somehow manages to blend old-world finesse with new age sophistication in terms of decor. It is also huge, with many different seating areas, something you wouldn’t guess from the entrance.
Beer was obviously the first agenda, and we tried the Belgian Wit, Smoked Lager, and the Strawberry Cider. The first was good enough for us to repeat. The second was a milder version than the regular Rauchbier (XOOX had a great version if you are fond of this), and if you like Strawberry as a flavour, you will enjoy the Cider.
On the first visit, we had tried the Angara Murgh Tikka, and it was an excellent mildly spicy companion for the drinks. I have only second information on the Shrimps Moilee on Garlic Croutons, since prawns are allergic to me, but from what I heard, the flavours were on point, and the prawn was cooked right too. The Tai Chi chicken was classic Chinese, but we were a little confused on what to do with the soupy broth that came with it. Maybe sip and pass along? The Chicken Pepper Fry is not the safe bet it used to be, because they somehow manage to mess it in many places these days. But thankfully, this is not one. The masala was spicy, thick and altogether fantastic.
The Angara Tikka looked a little different this time, and was slightly spicier, but that’s something we never complain about. The Shanghai chicken was less flashy than its cousin, but scored in terms of taste.
We tried the Tiramisu on a lark, but it was actually very good. Scored on texture and taste. Soft, fluffy, not sugary sweet, and heavily competed for!
A meal for two with beer would cost around Rs.2000. The service was far more helpful and efficient than the first time. The ambience is perfect, and didn’t degenerate into “Bollywood Night” though we stayed late into a Saturday night. We are going to be regular visitors, especially since we can get there in 10 minutes if we time it right!
The Pump House, Seegehalli, Kial Road, Whitefield Ph: 9606128666