[Rated: 2.5/5]
The recession seems to be long over, at least in the hospitality sector. The plethora of new hotels, restaurants and bars seems to imply as much. We visited the Nostradamus bar in the newly opened Fortune hotel on Sohna road, Gurgaon.
This modest 40-seater bar seems to be a Vodka specialist, with 15 variants of Absolut and 42 overall options to choose from. Apart from this, they seem to have fallen into the Millers Trap what with nearly everything seeming quite run of the mill. The bar stocks average options in wine and whisky and offers commonly available cocktails lacking innovations in this area. Nostradamus’ snacks menu is still to be published and so is the promised iPod in the smoking room. In the interim snacks may be ordered from their 24-hour coffee shop, Zodiac and nicotine inhaled as normal. I felt premium beers like Hoegaarden, Peroni, Amstel lite should be available at this prestigious hotel chain but alas and woe, they aren’t.
The drinks, LIIT (Rum, vodka and gin on a coke base), Mojito, Caiprinha (Cachaca, demerara sugar and lime), Kir Royale (crème de cassis and dry white wine), each for Rs 299, were nice though the Kir Royale was served at nearly room temperature whereas it should be chilled. The food and service has a long way to go before it can match the expectations of the well-travelled denizens of Gurgaon. Apart from Makai Paneer ke Kebab (Rs 349) which was exceptional; soft, tender, and nice, and Mutton Kareli Kebab (Rs 349) which was cooked to perfection, nothing else could hold our attention. Nachos with premix Salsa (Rs 199) lacked sufficient salsa to go with the Nachos, Mutton Seekh Kebab (Rs 349) and Chicken Nuggets both were chewy and hard; even the frozen varieties taste better, Lasooni Jheenga (Rs 699) was cooked-well but had packets of salt within. The dips that go with starters - Tartar sauce with Fish Fingers (Rs 349), Mint Chutney with Murgh Afghani (Rs 399), Ketchup and Mustard sauce with Chicken Nuggets (Rs 299) were not served. We were told that accompaniments are served only if asked for. We couldn’t understand that line of reasoning.
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| Veg Kebab |
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| Chicken Nuggets |
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| Chicken Tikka |
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| Fish Amritsari |
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| Fish Finger |
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| Lamb Kareli Kebab |
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| Lahsooni Jheenga |
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| Nachos |
Nostradamus has a long way to travel before it can be opened up to public scrutiny. It would be an apt expression to call it a body without a soul. Since the hotel is new, we understand the empty bar on a Saturday evening, but unless the hotel pulls up it socks big time it will be difficult to change that pattern in times to come.
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