Culinary Delight At Manhattan Bar Exchange...

Manhattan Bar Exchange is one of the many breweries that Gurgaon has gradually become a hub of. It, however, manages to stand out among the crowd. A brewery or bar exchange, or any similar concept for that matter, should be able to stay put basis its food and not just liquor, and Manhattan does just that.

Perhaps more than that because it borrows the concept of fun and food from Smaaash, by incorporating Kinect Games that rely on AR/VR to establish bowling, marathon running, boxing, and tennis for patrons at Manhattan Bar Exchange, and thus, is a step ahead of Vapour Bar Exchange that functions on similar lines.

As the name suggests, the prices of beverages fluctuate in accordance with their popularity at the outlet at any given point in time. Featuring moderately lit premises, Manhattan is a quite spacious one too, with seating arrangements varying from couches to bar stools to comfy chairs.

The restaurant boasts of an in-house brewery and spectacular dishes that are a treat for both the eyes and the palate, courtesy Chef Bharat.

Each preparation has a number of elements constituting its preparation and there is thus a palatable burst of flavors in each.

Here's what I relished at Manhattan Bar Exchange.

Beverages

Kiwi Blast is a refreshing fruity concoction featuring the Chilean fruit.

Excuse Me is a mix of citrus - orange and kaffir lime - and it has the orange pulp too.

Litchi Panna borrows the concept of the beverage from Farzi Cafe, to balance the sweet litchi with the tanginess of raw mango.

Appetizers 

Kathal Pyaz Ki Kachori is the classic onion snack paired with jackfruit, potato mash, and cumin, topped with micro greens.

Ajwaini Fish Tikka had soft fish fillet chunks served with two kinds of mint dip and a salad on the side. It was simply melt-in-mouth.

Mumbai Sev Puri is a quick bite to make one reminisce a stroll along the Chowpatty of Bombay. The crispy Puri goes well with the tamarind and mint sauce.

Tandoori Prawns are a flawless Indian style preparation.

Sesame Paneer Bao features steamed rice buns with soft cottage cheese filling on the inside.

Tandoori Soya Chaap is one of Chef Bharat's signature recipes with chargrilled soy chunks being stuffed with nuts and paired with Burhani Raita that is high on the characteristic garlic flavor.

Mini Margarita Kulcha is a mini Pizza, Indianized and served Manhattan style, with mozzarella cheese and olives stuffed in bite-sized flatbreads, accompanied with a drizzle of tomato sauce.

Mushroom & Corn Tarts and Creamy Prawn Tarts are must-have when visiting Manhattan, and you'll only be able to taste why I am saying so.

Main Course 

Spinach Mushroom Risotto was well-prepared with the creamy aftertaste and crunchy pesto layered garlic bread.

Nadru Ke Kofte with Garlic Naan is one of the classic combo meals on the menu and the platter consisted of soft and crunchy lotus stem fritters in a creamy sauce, accompanied by a portion of authentic Dal Makhani.

Desserts

Chocolate Galaxy was an aesthetic layered dessert, suited best for chocolate lovers.

Rose Cinnamon Ice Cream had subtle flavors of the edible flora and the versatile spice scooped up in softie cones.

On the whole, I had a pleasant time at Manhattan Bar Exchange and would deem a visit fit for lazy weekends with friends, complete with fun, food, and frolic. :)

Savoring The Legacy At UCH Rewind...

United Coffee House is an iconic brand in the F&B industry since 1942. Taking forward a rich 75-year-young legacy, UCH Rewind is the result of an amalgam of the mature and the contemporary.

From the iconic outlet in the heart of the city at Connaught Place to UCH Rewind's newest outlet at one of the F&B hubs in the city at Epicuria, Nehru Place, not much has changed.

A visit to UCH Rewind is spelled as nostalgia, with some antiquities from the past complementing the brick and mortar, artworks, and freeze-frame moments.

The menu at UCH Rewind is elaborate, to say the least, with signature dishes sharing the same set of pages as innovative recipes.

Though UCH Rewind is barely a three-week-old baby here at Epicuria, the feel, and vibe of the place makes for a leisurely stroll down memory lane.

Here's what I would recommend trying at United Coffee House Rewind...

Begin the meal with a warm broth from among Mainland Classics. I opted for the classic Talumein served with puffed rice on the side.

Appetizers:

Calcutta Puchka Shots from among Indian Street Staples had crisp semolina puffs with a filling of mashed potato and pomegranate topped with tangy Jaljeera.

Mahi Saunth Kasundi had soft fish fillets with a subtle hint of mustard marination.

Mewari Paneer Tikka had soft cottage cheese inside a crispy shell, with a tangy aftertaste thanks to mango pickle filling.

Makai Malai Seekh was a cream and cheese mixture accentuated by corn kernels and was melt-in-mouth.

From among the hand-curated flatbreads that feature a thin, crisp wholewheat base and that unmissable cheese pull moment, I opted for Farm House Delight, which was a veggie delight in the true sense.

Beverages:

Cona Coffee is the ultimate beverage synonymous with United Coffee House served with milk and fresh cream.

Kesari Thandai is among the plain jane or Seedha Saadha concoctions at UCH Rewind. It was a subtly flavored, chilled beverage.

Pudin Bhara is among the signature beverages that balances out the sweetness of litchi with the bitterness of ginger complemented by the freshness of mint caviar.

Masaledaar Chaas is a staple beverage from Punjab served in the classic manner at UCH Rewind.

Saunth Papad Panna features the childhood favorite Aam Papad and crunchy Boondi interspersed with crushed ginger.

Main Course:

Calcutta Khumb Rezzala is among the signature recipes at UCH and features button mushrooms in a silken gravy.

Dal Dera Ismail Khan is UCH Rewind's take on the authentic Dal Makhani recipe with a hint of spice.

Telangana Aaloo Parantha is a hot delight for the taste buds straight from down south. Pair it with the Raita provided alongside to cool it off.

Desserts:

Atomic Kala Jamun can be aptly said to be Jumbo Jamun as it an Indian nutty delight fit to be finished off by a group of five.

Topped with a large scoop of Pista ice-cream, it is easily the must-have sweet conclusion.

Broadway Baked Cheesecake has one of the contemporary aesthetics with a neat salted caramel drizzle and nougat crunch.

Malai Kulfi Popsicle had pistachio flavor interspersed with Gulkand flakes. It was a chilled delight.

On the whole, my meal at United Coffee House Rewind was among the memorable ones and I believe that they can continue the pleasant hospitality consistently. :)

Leisurely Dining At The Mellow Garden...

The Mellow Garden is one of the fairly new entrants on the F&B scene in Rajouri Garden. As the name suggests, the outlet has been modeled in the form of a garden.

Spread across two spacious floors with aesthetic interiors based on the garden thematic, I was here recently for lunch and had a pleasant time. Though the ambiance and interiors had a great part to play in forming my impression, the dishes as it is, though retaining the typical presentation, aced the flavors for the most part of it.

The outlet is well-lit and the premises have been designed in accordance with the brand name i.e. garden. The atmosphere, on the whole, is also calming and leisurely just like a stroll in the garden.

With a rhythmic stream flowing at the entrance, cobblestones pave the way to the seating area and a play area for kids, both of which have been tastefully designed.

Here's what I would recommend trying at The Mellow Garden...

Soups

The Talumein or Manchow Soups come across as warm broths to try if you relish a wide bowl serving of veggies and noodles.

Appetizers

Punjabi Machhi Tikka had soft fish fillets complemented with mint dip.

Peshawari Mushroom Kebab had cheese stuffed between soft skewered button mushrooms.

Indian Street Food is a particular section on the Menu mentioned as 'Chatori Chaat' and it had some well-prepared street fare.

Puchka Chaat is served with an assortment of five dips comprising of Jaljeera, Hing, Kala Khatta, Santra, and Pudina.

Fried Dimsum Chaat was an Indo-Oriental preparation, with Chinese dimsums being done the Indian way.

Ragda Masala Chana Tikki had crispy cakes topped with tamarind and paired with mashed peas.

Palak Patta Chaat had crisp spinach leaves topped with pomegranate, tamarind dip, and yogurt.

Main Course 

Veg Dum Biryani came with nicely cooked rice and veggies, accompanied by Raita and salad.

Paneer Tikka Pizza was a crisp thin-crust preparation topped with cottage cheese chunks and veggies.

Desserts 

The desserts at The Mellow Garden earn a special mention as they have some unique flavors to offer.

Jalebi Kulfi and Rose Kulfi with chunks of the round sweet and rose petals respectively had apt flavors.

Paan Ice Cream was yet another refreshing dessert with the appropriate Gulkand flavor.

Kesar Badam Phirni was a sweet delight served in an earthen bowl, topped with nuts and silver work.

On the whole, I had a nice meal at The Mellow Garden complemented by attentive service and would suggest a visit to spend quality time with friends and family alike. :)