Lots at steak at blue-themed Malad pub

Tranquil Orlem in Malad gets a much-needed restobar that is high on home-style steaks and low-priced drinks

The blue neon lights that Skye is swathed in, are unsettling for the first 10 minutes. Ditto for the pop rock and hip hop blasting off the speaker in a corner of the teensy space. But consider how age-old Bandra watering hole Toto's has withstood the test of time, converting cramped into cosy and blaring into boisterous. This one displays similar traits, and could well be in it for the long run too. The weekend before it officially opened, the dive was filled to capacity with a local crowd of 18 to 30 year-olds.

The extra "e" in the name of this blue-themed pub differentiates it from Sky lounge at Andheri and Bandra. But proprietor Kamal Gulrajani was actually unaware of their existence initially. "I named the place after my granddaughter. Coincidentally, the way her name is spelt had another advantage," he laughs.u00a0

The 60 year-old's first love is food. He ran a pure vegetarian restaurant in Vasai for 30 years. So, when he thought of moving business closer to his Malad home, food remained a priority. Unlike other pubs that restrict food to starters, this one has an extensive food menu, with a range of steaks to choose from.

Our Chateaubriand with Bearnaise Sauce (Rs 400), a tenderloin steak for two, was competent. The rest of the essentially continental food had a distinctly home-made flavour. We liked the Kentucky Chicken Fry (Rs 175) and Exotic Chicken Salad (Rs 125). But the Shrimp Cocktail was choking with sauce, and the Pizza Neopolitan (Rs 100) could have done with less onion.

At: Germaine Apartments, next to Grotto Heritage, Gautam Buddha Lane, opposite Orlem Church, Malad (W). Call: 9967638284

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