08 December,2010 06:30 AM IST | | Anjana Vaswani
Tryst, which stands in place of RA, might need more than just plenty of attendants, good-value food and house music to bring in the crowds. Going by the feeble trickle of guests, even on a Saturday night, it'll probably be only a matter of time before it's lights-out
The Collins English Dictionary defines, "Tryst," as, "a meeting, especially a secret one, with a lover, or the place where such a meeting takes place." Whoever christened this new club at Phoenix Mills must have consulted another dictionary because with blaring House music that threatens to pop your eardrums, this dark space is no place for a romantic rendezvous, unless you're dating someone so ugly and boring that you don't want to see or hear anything.
The bar at Tryst . Pic/Satyajit Desai
If that is the case though, then, this may be the right place to go to because the prices here, at least, will come as some consolation.u00a0 For generous portions of both, the Grilled Harissa Kebab (Rs 250) and Prawns in Butter-Garlic Sauce (Rs 300) plus a small Jack Daniel's (Rs 500) and a nameless-but-refreshing vodka-cocktail that was billed as a Cosmopolitan (Rs 400), we ran up a total of Rs 1,817, inclusive of VAT and service charge.
The dishes were good, but the place was so poorly lit, we had to pull out our cell-phones just to get a glimpse of them. It was so dark, that when we entered, we doubted it was open for business at all.
Then, we were kept waiting at the entrance while they tried to decipher the rules with regards to the cover charge for women. After several minutes of waiting we helped ourselves to a table, electing to avoid the elevated seating area at the centre of the room.
It turned out to be a prudent decision for both, those in heels and those who intend to consume alcohol. Within minutes the place was swamped with servers -- we counted 24 heads -- and intimidating as that sight was, what bothered us more was that it was still a struggle to get one to take our order.
There was no menu to boot, and so the server made an impressive attempt at offering his recommendations. Nevertheless, despite the din, when ordering turns into a desperate game of charades, can it really bode well for any place whose profits depend on its sale of booze and food, we wonder. The place is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays but on other nights, opens its doors at 8pm. The cover charge for couple is Rs 2,000 and stags aren't entertained at all.
At Level 1, next to Gajalee, Phoenix Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel. Call 66614365 Tryst didn't know we were there. The Guideu00a0reviews anonymously and pays for meals
