ODEL's once meagre food court has gone through a chic transformation and the final result is a trendy al fresco spot with a couple of hip eateries. Brand new, pretty, and central, we just had to check it out.
Food
They're famous for their statement burgers, so I decided to swap the fitness regime for a New Yorker burger (Rs. 1,200). Stacked with a big juicy chicken patty, a few slices of excellently prepared salami and mushrooms sandwiched between two lightly toasted buns, this is a definite treat. The lettuce was super fresh so that's a bit of consolation to the health freaks who choose to indulge. There's a little serving of chips on the side and while they were nice and chunky they didn't really deliver in terms of crispiness or seasoning so that was a bit of a fizzle. There's also a little dish of tomato sauce for the chips as well as a dish of pickled vegetable to cleanse your palate, and all this is served atop a wooden board to cater to your hipster soul.
Since our fierce local spirit couldn't be sated without rice, we got the Saffron Rice with Mutton Curry at a somewhat pricey Rs. 1,350. Hidden amongst the soft, saffron infused rice were chunks of perfectly cooked mutton infused in gravy. The rice was a bit overcooked, but the excellent flavour from the mutton managed to balance it all out.
Saucers of Cucumber Raita, Mango Chutney and Onion Sambol were also served as accompaniment. The raita wasn't spectacular and the onion sambol was a little lacklustre in terms of flavour but the winner here was the chutney. It had a distinct sweet yet tangy flavour and tied the entire dish together.
For dessert, we ordered a portion of Churros (Rs. 450) which were served in a little glass along with fresh strawberry coulis and chocolate sauce for dipping. The churros were fresh out of the fryer, crispy and light. Both the coulis and the chocolate sauce were equally appetising.
Drinks
To wash it all down, we got two freshly blended juices. The shocking green one that looks like a meadow on a bright day is the Mint and Lime Cooler (Rs. 500) and the bright yellow one there is the Passion Fruit, Pineapple and Orange Juice (Rs. 650). Both juices were tart and fresh, so if you're loitering around the area on a hot afternoon get one of these to cool down with.
We got there after 2 PM so we couldn't try their cocktails, but visits to the bar on other occassions proved that these guys definitely do their cocktails right (and not too expensive). Mojitos come with plenty of booze and fresh mint at about Rs. 600, and Lion Lager at a reasonable Rs. 400. You'll find bottles of wine starting at about Rs. 3800 too, which doesn't break the bank the way 41 Sugar's menu does.
Service & Ambience
The restaurant is a mix of rustic vintage and hipster thanks to its red brickwork walls, wooden furniture and copper/beige interior. The tables are decorated with little buckets of grass because flowers are too mainstream and there's a bunch of eye-catching photographs of random things on the walls. You can choose to sit at the cushioned benches by the window, or at the tables scattered throughout the place. There's also an outdoor seating area if you want to smoke or catch the live band on the weekend.
The waiters not only provide some stellar service but are also pleasant and well-spoken. If you're having a hard time making a decision with your order, just ask them for suggestions and they'll gladly help you out.
Conclusion
I'd recommend this place if you're looking for places to take your significant other, or if you're simply craving an al fresco burger.
Is it a little overpriced? Yes.
Is it worth it? Absolutely.
