Swankier than ever, F Bar & Kitchen returns

Sip on some heady mixes and give the rest a pass at this bar while soaking up some fashion frenzy

Now we know what Alice felt like when she plunged through a rabbit hole to land herself in a whole new gigantic world. A trip to F (Fashion TV) Bar & Kitchen is all that it took. Easy to miss at first glance, the bar and restaurant seems like a world in itself once you have entered.



Two plush floors with intricate but outlandish d ufffdcor lay in front of us. LCD screens playing FTV are spread out across the bar areas along with a projection of the same on large textured walls with a cascading waterfall. The music being played is typical of the kind that accompanies a ramp walk on the channel.

There is an exclusive glass covered area dedicated to club members on the first floor, something you can only look at rather lustfully and not enter. On a Monday evening, when we stopped by, the entire structure looked desolate and slightly eerie owing to the high walls and mannequins that occupy a few corners. We spotted one sitting atop a tree in the outdoor area, scary enough to make us come back and google to attach a name to the phobia of mannequins.

We decided to focus on the menu and the fancy seating where you can choose from high glossy chairs, bizarre shaped couches and bar chairs. The menu is extensive with its cocktails, divided into specials, martinis and more, though we would have preferred one that classified them on the basis of the poison we picked. The mocktail section is missing and a teetotaller stands the risk of feeling a bit ignored.

The menu, we were told, is exclusive to the city and different from the other branches in the country. The kitchen menu though is slightly disappointing with only a handful of options for starters. We ordered an Andrea (R 500) and Potato and Cheese Croquettes (R 350). A vodka-based cocktail, Andrea was sweet and spicy with chunks of fresh apple, honey and a lot of chili. The mixologist at the bar did confess later that the cocktail is a specialty and was named after his girlfriend.

The croquettes were crisp but missed the cheesy flavour we were expecting. The bar is currently in its stages of setting up and most of the drinks on the menu are unavailable. For our second drink, we let the bartenderu00a0 choose for us. A Raspberry Martini (R 700) is what was placed on our table after much contemplation by the staff that showered all the attention on us as there weren't too many diners. The martini was a sweet and sour vodka-based drink with heavy fruity overtones. We also ordered some Chicken Tikka Skewers (R 500). They were spicy, grilled chunks of chicken soft on the bite and heavily soaked in Indian spices.

Currently in its third location and the swankiest bar in the city, the F Bar & Kitchen may not give you value for money or subtle ambience to go by, but it does deliver some smooth and heady mixes.

Where New #18 Ali Askar Road Off Cunningham Road Behind Air Deccan Office, Vasanthanagar
Call 9900045800
For R 2,500