Looks can be deceiving and names can have empty meanings. Drama, the new-ish pub in Andheri teaches you just that. Read on…
Save The Drama (for someone else)
Staying true to the golden age of showbiz, Drama, in Four Bungalows that my friends dragged me to last Friday, has its name up in lights outside the entrance. I won’t deny it did raise my expectations slightly. But the interiors were shockingly different. I know starting a restaurant or a pub is a pricey business but you’ve got to invest in better lighting. I kid you not, I almost didn’t see the reservations lady at the entrance.
She led us to a table in the outdoor section (occupational hazard of being smokers during this sweltering heat) where we were the only ones. But blessed be the people who know what a bitch un-air conditioned Bombay is, and decided to put air coolers in their outdoor section! A definite PLUS, at least for the next three months. After a good look around, I decided that Drama honestly didn’t have enough space for any ‘real’ drama. Picture a wide corridor with chairs and tables – that’s the outdoor section for you. Nevertheless, air coolers!
The menu too, was a refreshing change from the never ending thesaurus that most places have. Drama has a severely clipped menu that’s surprisingly able to accommodate almost everything you’d expect at a bar. My OCD said a silent thank you on noticing that even their cocktails were segregated according to the base alcohol.
Coming to the food, I know it’s a bar and who cares but still; they had all the usual suspects – finger food, Chinese, Indian, pasta, pizzas, and burgers. But they also had this other section that was named after monks with the same dishes being repeated once again. I don’t know if you guessed it or not, but that’s their Jain menu. Yes, this bar has a Jain menu. No, I didn’t try it.
What I did try was a Drama Mai Tai (INR 450). I actually wanted an LIIT but 550 bucks for an LIIT was a bit rich coming from a place that should honestly be marking it at 325. So, when in doubt, go with the house specials and that’s what I did. Another pal got a Plum, Basil and Cranberry Mojito (INR 350), while the others stuck to beers (INR 180 for a pint of Miller) swearing they’d self-combust if they got any warmer. Kids.
The cocktails tasted fine but they were missing a little uh, drama. We had to send the Mojito back because it wasn’t potent enough. My Mai Tai, which arrived in one of those typical tumblers that rum cocktails are inexplicably served in, seemed a little sober in the beginning –the juices downplaying the alcohol in it. But a few deep swigs did the job just right.
We decided to go light on the food and stuck to appetizers that turned out to be surprisingly good. No matter how carnivorous you are in life, you have to get the Beetroot and Jalapeno Cheese Poppers (INR 180). Good quantity, not too greasy and divine tasting. The other appetizers we ordered – the Stuffed Mughlai Paratha (INR 300) and the Baked Kheema Pav (INR 320) hit homeruns as well – rich, flavorful and extremely filling!
Drama also is one of the few places that served Churros for dessert. Though we didn’t try them, the server made bloody well sure we knew that it was one of their specialties.
Which brings me to the staff – they were trying so hard I first felt sad and then annoyed. No, I’m not being a bitch but tell me how you’d feel if every conversation you had was interrupted by a wide-eyed, manically grinning member of staff enquiring how the food and drinks were, if you could please fill this feedback form (refusing to leave until you filled it), asking if you wanted to head inside and dance (who does that?!), oh, and how the food and drinks were. Times twenty.
The only part that actually did add a little bit of drama was a visiting illusion artist that was doing the rounds of the tables with some pretty cool tricks up his suede jacketed sleeve. Head there any Friday to run into him.
For a place that looks and feels like a dive but is trying to act like an upscale pub, Drama lacks the charm of either. It’s a good place to unwind if you work nearby because the fare is great, but tone down the earnestness and live up to your name, will ya?
Toodles!
Where? Mhada Road, Model Town, Andheri West
Cuisine: Bar Food
Food you must try: Beetroot and Jalapeno Cheese, Stuffed Mughlai Paratha
Cocktails you must try: Drama Mai Tai and other House Specials
Kind of music played here: Commercial Indian and international. Badly remixed
Is there a dance floor?: Enough space to dance
Avg price per head: INR 1000 approx
