11 August,2010 06:38 AM IST | | Lalitha Suhasini
Restobar Barcode 53, which has popped up in place of Myst is just the place to spot some soap star bling
When we walked into Barcode 53, Hip Hop star Akon's 2005 hit Lonely was blasting off the speakers. Next, a bizarre 10-year rewind to Michael Bolton's Can I Touch You There took us back to the tape-deck days.
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A familiar black and white poster on the wall facing the bar showed off Barcode 53's allegiance to Irish rock stars U2.
The staff was as confused as the restobar's musical leanings but more than made up for it with their friendly, attentive service.
Agioli Pasta
There's an outdoor smoking area and the tan d ufffdcor is easy on the eye, but there are only bar stools and high seating indoors.
The place was empty for a Sunday night, so our orders were taken and delivered to our table quickly.
The Pomegranate Passion Fruitini (Rs 350), a martini with a generous shot of vodka, watermelon juice and passion fruit syrup could have done with a little more syrup.
Just as Genesis, an excuse of a rock band from the 70s, played on we couldn't decide what turned us off more the strong Cucumber Mojito (Rs 280), which tasted like a barman's nightmare or Phil Collins' aural torture.
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The Mojito hadn't been mixed and had no ginger ale in it but the staff generously replaced it with an excellent Caiprioska. It was minty, zingy and mixed just perfect.
We unwisely decided to order another intriguing mix Spicini (Rs 350) a martini spiked with dry vermouth, Tabasco sauce and jalapeno.
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This one could do with a dash of honey or cinnamon-based syrup just so that you didn't choke on every sip. The bite was more bitter than just spicy.
The food fared betteru00a0the Jalapeno Poppers (Rs 160) looked like spring rolls and were filled with cheese and bits of jalapeno. The Mexican Chicken Supreme (Rs 210) was a good recommendation.
The starter was perfectly saut ufffded with tender pieces of chicken that had been marinated in a mildly spiced garlic paste, and served with Mexican beans. Our tip would be to go slightly easy on the garlic.
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The main course scored 50/50. The chicken ham slice was the only redeeming bit about the New Yorker Burger (Rs 230), which also packed in a fried egg and potato wedges on the side.
The Agioli Pasta (Rs 210), on the other hand, was polished off to the last crumb.
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The waiter had the foresight to warn us that we'd just ordered a dry pasta, cooked in olive oil instead of a sauce. He needn't have though. The Aglio Olio is our favourite litmus test.
Considering the restobar that popped up last week in place of Myst is a Crepe Station franchise, we couldn't have wrapped up our meal without their famous waffles. We ordered half a portion of a Nutty Crepe (Rs 100).
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The Crepe yielded easily under the knife and was filled with just the right amount of chocolate sauce but instead of nuts, it was served with crushed bits of chocolate wafers.
Of course we felt cheated, but we're cutting these guys some slack as it's been less than a week since they opened.
A helpful manager promised to make us a mean cocktail spiked with pepper the next time around and let us in that Barcode 53 is co-run by TV stars Hiten Tejwani and his wife Gauri.
That cleared our heads about why its patrons looked like they had just switched loyalties from the Lokhandwala caf ufffds close by.
AT: Barcode 53, 06 A Royal Classic, next to Fame Cinemas, New Link Road, Andheri (W).
Call:u00a0 9930255925
Barcode 53 didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals
