Monkey Bar has been the much hyped up transplant from Bangalore. It has the DNA of a funky bar with an attitude. The glass prism housing Money Bar in Delhi ensures that the bar with a difference can be seen from a distance. As I enter the premises post a spontaneous plan at office to celebrate the beginning of 2015, I like the openness of the bar that comes from an open, naturally lit, very high glass ceiling. It is raining and that adds to the charm.

The restaurant has quite an eclectic menu, with a focus on small plates. We raise a toast to the New Year with a well prepared watermelon mojito.

Soon the starters also arrive. Bang bang prawns with kadhi patta is nice but there is no bang – it is more like a whimper. The dish has South Indian tempering but contrary to the name, does not pack any heat, which would have been welcomed on this wet chilly day. I try the bottle of hot sauce lying on the table which is super-hot oh yes, but does not compliment the taste of the prawns.

A bigger disappointment is the chilly brain cutlet which is too thin to enjoy. I wish the cutlet was chunkier like the one that Park Hotel used to serve at their restaurant Fire during the Bakshish Dean days.

In the mains, while the Bengali kosha mangsho goes well with saffron glazed Kerala parathas and is competently cooked (the meat being slightly underdone but otherwise fine).

The Coorgi Pandi curry with pita bread is a disappointment. The curry is not really authentic, missing the robustness of freshly ground spices and there is just pork fat in it with hardly any pork pieces. Also pita just does not pair well with Pandi curry is generally had with rice roti or kadambuttu (steamed rice dumplings) only and for good reason.

A visit to the rest rooms here can be confusing. Both the ladies and gents toilet have a monkey on the door. First I almost enter the ladies’ toilet but was stopped just in time by a kind hearted serve staff. However no staff was there to stop another confused lady from entering the gents’ toilet which did lead to some embarrassing moments.

The desserts fail to entice and we decide to end our meal. I definitely will come back to Monkey bar for its cool interiors and pleasant service. But not really for the food.

The review was anonymously done and the meal was paid for by the author himself.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 4.5 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 3.5 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs.2500 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: Plot 11, Upper Ground Floor, LSC, Pocket C 6 & 7, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi