Route 69,
Cybercity, Building No.9B, DLF Phase III, Gurgaon
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timing: 12 noon – 11 pm
Route 69 is the north-south highway corridor in the US.
I enter a very dimly lit restaurant, with beer neon signs, other pub paraphernalia, some low tables—some high ones, and Jim Morrison singing ‘This is the end’. I perch myself on a high stool; which has the added advantage of a clear line of vision to the television.
After consulting Chef Ishwar, I start with the basil fish soup (Rs. 150); the first spoonful of which is overflowing with salt. The restaurant staff replaces the soup, and I now taste a dish that is quite palatable.
By this time I am quite engrossed in the movie Rocky IV playing on the telly, where both Mr. Balboa and a Russian hunk are busy building their bodies for the fight. The next dish that I order is a rustic Irish staple. Irish stew (Rs. 300) is traditionally made of lamb, potatoes, onions, and parsley. Here the chef decides to add a French touch to it by adding béchamel sauce—which makes the stew look creamy white, and masks the hearty taste and flavours of the stew. Not something an Irishman would approve of.
The next dish, roast chicken (Rs. 350) arrives just as Rocky and the Russian chap are starting their fight. The chicken has to be sent back because it is ruefully underdone. Fifteen rounds of boxing and 30 minutes later, the chicken returns—this time as tough as leather; as it has to be, given its long stint in the oven. The chef steps in and recommends scrapping of this dish, and going with the safe option of shish touk (Rs. 350). It arrives relatively promptly in ten minutes; and is well cooked—bringing relief to me and the staff at the restaurant.
The restaurant has an impressive looking bar, with draught beer on tap. And to be fair, restaurants do have bad food moments.
Read More...