The White Lounge looks promising with delectable bites, peppy music and a spacious dance floor, but the limited food and drinks menu needs an expansion, and soon
The Beer Batter Fried Fish is a must-try
The White Lounge
Food: Tasty
Service: Slow
Ambiance: Fancy
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With dimmed white lights setting a luminescent glow on fancy, white lounge chairs, a huge mahogany dance floor taking pride of place and blaring Hip-Hop music from the DJ console that got our pulse racing, we felt our stress ebbing away as we settled into The White Lounge on a visit mid-week. As we took in the posh environs of this month-old resto-pub offering a view of Andheri's bustling Link Road, we were greeted with loose sheets of paper that comprised the bar menu and a rough, spiral-bound food menu. It was far from flattering.
The Beer Batter Fried Fish is a must-try
A fusion of Continental, Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine, the menu offered extremely limited fare — the mains included only three types of pasta and the dessert section was missing completely! We enquired if there was another menu available, only to be told that it was work-in-progress, with the chef planning to expand it post the feedback received from patrons. Disappointed, we pored over the menu with our limited choice.
While we chose Beer Batter Fried Fish ('448, all prices tax-exclusive) from the appetisers, we settled for Chilli Cheese Fries ('298) from a separate section dedicated to bites that would go with the booze (however, there were only two options: fries and fondue). We skipped the salads and opted for Durum Wheat Penne with Plum Tomato and Black Olive Sauce with Chicken ('648) in the mains. The bar menu offered a range of spirits and liqueurs but the offbeat Litchi Lemongrass Cocktail ('550) from their limited cocktail section was our poison for the night.
Topped with a heap of lemongrass stems, the cocktail arrived first. The vodka-litchi combination worked well and with just a hint of lemongrass, the mildly sweet tropical drink was rejuvenating. Complementing the cocktail were Chilli Cheese Fries. Layered with melted cheese and homemade tomato sauce, the fries were non-greasy and flavoursome. Plus, the portion-size was enough for more than two people. Brownie points.
Without an overpowering bitter taste of beer or saltiness of the fish, the Beer Batter Fried Fish was a burst of flavours as the crunchy, non-greasy texture blended with the soft, juicy bits of fish. This appetiser was the highlight of the evening. Lastly, the pasta dish arrived with garlic bread and herbed butter on the side. The chunks of chicken didn't blend well with the dish and the pasta ended up tasting like any other 'red sauce pasta'. Certainly not worth the price.
The Litchi Lemongrass Cocktail was refreshing. Pics/Atul Kamble
Instead, we munched on the delicately flavoured butter and garlic bread (toasted to perfection) as the lights dimmed further and the DJ played more recent Hip-Hop numbers. Though we liked most of the fare and fancied the vibe too, the prices burnt a hole in our pockets, especially when there are other, cheaper options in the vicinity. We'll do an encore provided there's more variety to their food and cocktails menu.
Time 6 pm to 1 am
At Royal Plaza, next to PVR Cinemas, Andheri Link Road, Andheri (W). CALL 42648999
The White Lounge didn't know we were there. the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.
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