All ice, no spice

The second ice hole in the city is only about the minus 10 chill, no thrill

We were told this place is far better than the spanking new other one of its sort. But alas, great expectations cause great disappointments. Freeze, a subzero hangout thatu00a0comes about a week after Ice Lounge in Saket, chills you to the bone, making you go absolutely numb.u00a0 The only departments where it scores: there's more variety in food, and the temperature here is minus 10, as opposed to minus 5 in case of its newborn cousin.


Cool but not quite: Ice Bar, interior shots of the lounge area

Food and drinks
Though there're no signature drinks served here, the bar stocks up most liquor variants that come to mind, and popular cocktails, too. The food menu clubs cuisines from different shores, with special emphasis on cold platters and grilled snacks. We like the hot and cold combination. Especially after the poor eating experience at Ice Lounge.

Ambience
The DJ console and the dance floor warm up the hip giant igloo. New on the scene, DJ Sumit Sethi belts out a bubbly mix of Hindi and western music that grows on you gradually. You obviously can't remain seated on the carpeted ice couches in those heavy jackets, gloves and boots, so shifting to the Grub Zone on the second floor is a good idea. Here, mercury rests at 10 degrees. This 30-seater segment has a well-stocked bar; however, a major inconvenience here is that the two floors are not interconnected, so everytime you want to switch, you need to take the mall escalator.

Phew. Things don't improve even when it comes to the white and lilac du00e9cor with animal prints and snow-paintings, because it's far from fine. Of course, the handmade heart and flower designs, which, according to creative director Philip Hughes, "have been made using purified Indian ice," make up for the lack of style inu00a0 other areas.u00a0 "We have layered ice slabs over one another to lend these sculptures the colour effect," he signs off. How about brushing up the other parts, too?

Freeze
Where: II and III floor, Westgate Mall, Rajouri Garden
Timings: 10 am to 1 am
Ring: 9873190000
Entry: Rs 1,000 onwards (includes unlimited snacks)