Italiano from Down Under

Yummy pizzas, affordable rates and a range of choice are enough to make Eagle Boys a perfect destination for a pizza lover, finds rakesh kumar

Having tasted a variety of pizzas from an equal number of outlets, big and small, one was enticed by the chance to explore a new taste at Eagle Boys ~ an Australian brand. Having opened in Delhi last year, the brand claims to own the largest number of Pizza joints in Australia. This fact has also whetted my excitement as well as curiosity to check out the outlet in Connaught Place. What surprised me most was its menu. Going by their name ~ Eagle Boys ~ I expected a hardcore Australian pizzas on offer. On the contrary, most dishes were Indian, such as chicken keema, kadahi chicken, tandoori chicken, delux lamb, and veg tandoori varieties among others.
“Since we have to cater to the Indian customer, therefore, we need to Indianise the menu. so that it looks familiar to every customer,” explained the manager of the outlet.
I was all set to put the offerings to test and requested for a starter Money Bags and Cheese Garlic Bread. The Money Bags was bags of flour pastry filled with vegetables and deep fried to form an interesting dish that can be found only at Eagle Boys. The Cheese Garlic Bread was soft but heavy for a single person. Now it was time for the main course. So we went for their best offering ~ Chicken Mexicana pizza and Tandoori chicken pizza in non-vegetarian. The Chicken Mexicana was made up with jalapenos, capsicum, tomatoes, onion, baby corn and red chillies. Tandoori chicken had the perfect crust with the chicken topping releasing the flavours of a classic tandoori delight and marinating the succulence of chicken.

Now it was the turn to try some dessert as well. You would surprised to know that in dessert too they offer a pizza. The sweet variant of pizza, termed as sweetza, comes in two flavours. We settled for a triple chocolate loaded with white and dark choco chips and garnished with a decent helping of chocolate sauce. The pizza was not warm enough, which made the bread chewy and the chocolate lost its taste. “This sweet pizza is very popular among kids. It works both as a pizza and a dessert, and that makes them happy,” said the manager.

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Be social

Ask anyone about getting social and the person would start off about Internet or social networking websites. Thanks to Internet, people now turn to this tool for everything ~ information, mailing, entertainment and much more. Thus, social get togethers have now moved from coffee house to online world. However, this sort of social gathering did not excite Mumbai-based entrepreneur, Riyaaz Amlani, who has trendy eateries such as Mocha, Smoke House Grill. Therefore, he came up with a new social space, a "cafe bar for the youth" that he unveiled last week in the Capital's Hauz Khas Village. "The only thing they have to do is to become a member by shelling out Rs 5,000 per month. And yes the entire money will be refunded as meal or drink vouchers," said Amlani, the brain behind the concept. The place split over two floors of an old building that gives a wonderful view of the Hauz Khas lake behind. At first look The Social leaves one wondering whether or not the place has been done up ~ the design of the building is that of an under construction place. 

In terms of food, the menu contains soups, salads, all-day breakfast, sizzlers, biryani, a Chinese box, burgers, hot-dogs, hot and cold beverages and dessert ~ all at subsidized prices. We sampled the BBQ chicken sandwich served with crisp fries on the side. If it is anything to go by, we'll be leaving our dabbas at home.

Social, Hauz Khas Village 

Phone:

+91 7838652814

Address:

Hauz Khas Social Hauz Khas Village, Delhi NCR, India address

9A & 12, Hauz Khas Village, New Delh

 

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No barrier

With more restaurants opening up their cooking areas, diners are encouraged to watch their meals getting fixed. Rakesh kumar delves into how and why open kitchens are getting popular

Gone are the days when kitchens were relegated to a corner of the restaurant and considered a place to be hidden away from their customers. However, with different trends of lifestyle ushering in, the wall between the kitchen and the diners has dissolved, leading to the concept of open kitchen, which is the latest trend in restaurants. 
 "Although the concept of open kitchens is recent in India it is fast catching up. Open kitchens are replacing traditional dining spaces at homes and are becoming increasingly popular in restaurants across the country," said Nilesh Dey, executive Sous Chef of the Taj Mahal Hotel Delhi.  
In an open kitchen restaurant food is prepared in plain sight, either behind a counter or right in the middle of the dining area. However, the million-dollar question is how and what led the open kitchen to become a culture that is catching on so fast. Whether it is the daily dose of fast food horror stories that led modern customer to want transparency, open kitchens are here to stay. No space
In the past, restaurant customers would prefer food to appear from behind closed doors, with no indication whatsoever about how it has been made. Moreover, open kitchens were once part of mostly small urban establishments that didn't have the space to support a "back of the house". Now, one can find them in a five-star restaurant too. 
 "These days consumers have become more conscious about their food," asserted another chef. "They want to know how this is being cooked, who is cooking it. They want to see the freshness and quality of your ingredients, the health and safety steps you're taking. They're consuming this food. They want a comfort level."
 The concept was once limited to fast food chains like Domino's Pizza, KFC, TGI Friday and Subway. In these restaurants customers could see the tossing of dough and making of pizzas, all of which gave them a fresh feeling. Most of these chains have opened with a smaller and more centrally located kitchen, which incidentally has proven to be more energy efficient. The restaurant franchise with the most locations worldwide, Subway has always assembled their sandwiches in full view of the customer, and even their bread ovens are completely visible to anyone in front of the counter. 
Food safety
With food allergies on the rise, one hears every other day news related to food and food poisoning. Moreover, with concern about allergies, people would much rather see their food being prepared. 
Live entertainment

Among the variety of reasons that open kitchen restaurants are so popular, the major of course being health, cooking shows with celebrity chefs are gaining popularity. Customers appreciate the effort of a well-prepared dish and they really look forward to the opportunity to see the chef working in person. An open kitchen restaurant supplies that opportunity. 
Ask the chef
These days, after placing the order, one won't have to merely wait for your order. One can also ask the chef for a recipe, reward him with a thumbs-up or even ask him to hurry up. "Very often customers love standing and watching the food being made. Another advantage is that you will always know what's cooking with the fragrance surrounding the cafe," said one of the chefs of five star hotels. 

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Taste from street

Why hunt around in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, when one can enjoy the cities' street cuisine at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ghaziabad, advises rakesh kumar

Stepping into the lounge of Radisson Blu Hotel, Ghaziabad, is bound to leave a visitor a little nonplussed these days as one is greeted by a railway signboard in Hindi that reads: "Ghaziabad Junction". As one follows the signages, one will land up in a place where four train coaches flanked by rehri, thela (push-carts) and street food stalls will welcome you. Welcome to the ongoing Street Food Festival, where one can sample an assorted range of lip-smacking desi flavours from the streets of India. “What could be a better gift than this on this festive season?" the hotel chef emphasised. "Since street food is the backbone of the country, every individual in this country has a liking for it.”  The restaurant, wearing the look of a railway station, is all set to take a visitor through a very unique culinary journey of specialties belonging to different regions of India. From the Aloo Tikki Chaat, Dahi Bhalle, Chilla and Kachodi from the

Capital or Paav-Bhaaji and Paani-Puri from Mumbai's Chowpati, Momos and Jhalmuri from the streets of  Eastern India to Idiappam, Paniaran and Saboodana Vada from the southern part, the hotel has tried to capture the spirit of Indian street food. To add to the look of roadside eateries, the food is cooked and prepared inside the train bogies or on the thela and rehri. And yes, there is a wine shop too, with the legend Theka Videshi Sharab ka.
“We have seen so many hotels doing it earlier, but they failed to give a look of roadside eateries. We have not only taken all-time favourite street foods from across the nation, but also tried to give an experience of roadside eateries in an ethnic style,” said Mohit Khana, executive chef of the hotel.

 At the restaurant, one could start one's culinary journey from Chennai Express Idiappam or Paniram then move to the Mumbai Central for Wada Pav followed by Eastern Railway bogies offering Jalmuri and the last stoppage will be Delhi, where one could taste Chaat. In dessert one can find Jalebi or Maal Pua. One section is dedicated to kids, where one could find Maggie, Chuski and other delicacies.
 “Every two days, we change our menu. For instance, today we are offering Momos at the Kolkatta counter, after two days you will find some change,” added Khana.  Even though it is street food but the hotel has tried not to compromise with hygiene and actual flavour of the original dishes. It is a culinary journey that takes a guest from one part of the country to another one in no time and that too under one roof.

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Taste of Nawabs

The Hyderabadi food festival at Zambar restaurant, Gurgaon, reflected both the influences of the South and the Nawabi influences of Luckhnow. Rakesh Kumar samples the fare



Hundreds of years ago, when the Mughals conquered the southern parts of India, Hyderabad came up as their central hub. Soon, the southern part of the country became a blend of North and South Indian culture. Even today, be it their culture, customs or food, one can certainly find a trace of North India. Credit goes to none other than the Mughals, who ruled over Hyderabad, for bringing to the twin city a culinary infusion to make its food, mainly its Biryani famous all over the county and even the world. 
“Hyderabad was a city of Nawab,” informed Arun Kumar, Cuisine and Brand Head of Zambar. “And you all know Nawabs are famous for their cosy life. Therefore, they came along with their chefs so that they could enjoy their food. Therefore, the famous Hyderabadi food may have been introduced by none other than the Nawabs,” Thus, in the present day, who better to serve an authentic Hyderabadi cuisine than a restaurant that has earned a reputation for serving authentic South Indian food ~  Zambar. Located in the Ambiance Mall, Gurgoan, Zambar offers coastal cuisine from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It is only apt that it should host the ongoing Hyderabadi food festival. 
“In the recent past many customer would enquire about the Hyderabadi food, or Biryani. Therefore, to fufill the customers’ demand, we are coming up with this festival,” shared Arun Kumar. 
The menu starts with Aloo Ke Garlay ~ potatoes flash fried in a savoury batter ~ , Shikampuri Kebabs ~ pan fried minced mutton kebabs ~ and Chicken Tikka ~ boneless chicken cubes marinaded, slow cooked and stir fried. The main course was Mircha Ka Salan ~ large flash fried chilles in a spicy peanut-sesame seed-coconut paste curry ~,  Achari Murgh Chicken cooked in “pickle” style, Nawabi Kofta Curry ~ the Hyderabadi version of the popular minced meat ball curry ~ and popular Hyderabadi fish curry Machchli ka Saalan. Last but not least, was the famous Biryani, which was mild and flavourful, with the rice tossed in meat. 
 “All these dishes are a selection from the homes and royal kitchens of Hyderabad and all of them reflect both the influences of the South and the Newabi influences of Lucknow,” informed the chef, Arun Kumar.  

For dessert, the restaurant offers Qubani Ka Meeta, a stewed apricot dessert, and Double Ka Meetha, the ever popular bread dessert. 
“It took months to research for the food. I learnt about the recipes from the ancestral cooks of Nawab. And what I found was that North Indian Biryani is full of masala and oily. However in South India, especially in Hyderabad, they play with ingredients,” explained Arun Kumar.

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Take a break

Holidays and vacations have taken a new meaning with people now opting for short weekend breaks at off-beat destinations closer to home. Rakesh kumar explores some of them

Weekend is no longer a mere break in the office routine, when one relaxed at home with family or friends It has taken a whole new meaning with outings becoming a growing trend in India, particularly with the young, who would rather spend quality time at some holiday destination than turn into couch potatoes at home. Reasons for this change in attitude are plenty but the average Indian domestic traveller is becoming more experienced, adopting the characteristics of evolved and discerning travellers both in behaviour and travel purchases. “Down the years, there has been a huge growth in the outings c

ulture and the credit goes to none other than the advent of corporate culture. Thus, you would notice these days, every other office goer making plan for a break in some hill station or nearby tourist destination rather than killing time at home,” pointed out Gajender Singh, general manager of Hotel Hiva in Alwar.
However, a Delhi-based tour operator has a different take on this. “We agree that the corporate sector played a vital role in promoting outings culture among Indians. But another factor is the growing affluence of middle class, compared with earlier. Now people are more open in terms of spending money. They do not mind spending on tourism related activities.”
According to a report, India Tourism Market and Future Forecast (2009-15) domestic tourism is expected to increase at an annual compound growth rate of 12.29 per cent in 2008-15. At the same time, this sector could generate the second largest number of jobs in the country in the coming days.

Love for adventure
Just a few years ago, a holiday for an Indian meant typically a trip to the nearest hill resort to escape the heat of the plains, or a weekend break at the beach. But now people sweat away hard-earned vacation mountaineering, paragliding, rock-climbing, scuba diving, skiing, trekking, and white-water rafting have. In addition to leisure holidays, spiritual tourism and short weekend breaks are popular among Indian travellers. In fact, adventure tourism has grown by 65 per cent world over last year.
 “Earlier during summer vacation or any other long holidays, we would get inquiries for travel packages. But now, the scenario has totally changed and people ask for tour packages for weekend. And most of the inquiry is for adventure activities,” said a tour operator. 

Not far from home
Where once popular tourist destinations such as Shimla, Mussorie, Nainital and Agra were sought out, now the taste has changed. People love to explore places closer to home for a two-day holiday as it saves time and are cost effective. There are a number of such places near Delhi NCR, for instance ~ Western Resort Country Club, Manesar; Golden Huts, Heritage Village, Manesar; Pratap Garh Farms, Magsons Resort, Kosi; Damdama lake; Fun ‘n Food Village; Surjivan resort, Manesar; Turtle Farm Resort, Gurgaon; Aapno Ghar, Manesar; Fun Town; Camp Wild, Dhauj, Faridabad; and Classic Golf Resort, Gurgaon. Moreover, other places gaining popularity are Amritsar, Chandigarh, Chail, Jaipur, Gwalior, Khajuarao, Neemarana and Jodhpur.
“Over the last 10 years, there has been a dramatic shift in the mind-set of people in terms of wanting to explore and go beyond the regular adventures that they normally take,” said the tour operator.

Corporate culture
A major factor, which spread the love for weekend travel among the people, is the growing multi-national companies. As per their strategy, they engage the hearts, minds, and hands of their employees with the trips to nearby areas. “To make our customers happy, we have to make sure our employees are happy first,” said Sharif Ahmed, Team leader of IBM. “The atmosphere at workplace can positively or negatively affect a worker’s performance, hence one good way to build and maintain the company’s culture is through opting for team outing.”


Some favourite destinations for a weekend getaway:
Bharatpur (Rajasthan)
Apart from the birds sanctuary, the place is famous for forts, palaces  and

Mughal and Rajput architecture visible almost everywhere.

Corbett National Park
The Park is located in the foothills of the Himalaya, in the midst of lush greenery and uneven mountains with varying heights, ranging fromabout 1,300 feet to nearly 4,000 feet above sea level.

Jaipur
The Pink City of Jaipur proliferates in its magnificent past, bellicose history, renowned tradition, architectural elegance andnatural vista.

Mount Abu (Rajasthan)
The cool and fragrant ambience with rich flora in Mount Abu attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Khajuraho (Madhya Pardesh)
A historic city widely acclaimed for its lovely temples with erotic sculptures, Khajuraho is located in the woody plains of Bundelkhand region and readily accessible from across the country.

Pushkar (Rajasthan)
Pushkar is one city in India that everybody knows and wishes to visit someday. This sacred city of Hindus is only 10 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan

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Sizzling taste

A variety of sizzlers offered at Flluid restaurant in Noida set up a visual display for the palate
 says rakesh kumar

Just a two-minute walk from the metro station (NOIDA Sector 18) will take you to Flluid Restaurant in Mosaic Hotel, where a Smoking Hot Sizzler Festival is going on. We entered the restaurant looking forward to some new arrivals and, as per the chef’s recommendation, ordered for Achari Subz Sizzler in vegetarian and, in Chinese, Beijing Style Spicy Sizzler. Sizzlers are essentially meats and vegetables served on a steaming hot metal tray, whose sizzle announces its arrival. The platter was full with fish, mutton seekh and chicken tikka, with lots of veggies. At the very first sight, the food surprised us with its sound, look, smell and then came the taste buds. 
After tasting a full platter, we could only say no to more food, but executive chef Diwas Wadhera, who was sitting with us and explaining intricate details and specific theme behind each of the sizzlers, requested us to sample another dish. It was hard to say no because the way he was explaining them tempted us. And we tasted Cantonese Style Sizzler, Naabz-e-Aab, Surf and Turf, Banana and Walnut Pie on Sizzler. As our taste buds sizzled, I would only say one must try them at least once. 
Flluid, Mosaic Hotels, Noida 
Price: Price starting from Rs 555 (taxes extra as applicable) 
Date: 6 September until 6 October

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Unearthing history

During the last decade excavations have revealed a settlement at Sirpur, a small village on the banks of river Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh, that was educationally, culturally and economically far ahead of Harappa in the Indus Valley Civilization. Rakesh Kumar walks through the past

All over the village, there were several blue painted signboards reading, "For Surang Tila take

right", "For Tiberdev Bihar go straight", or "For Laxman Temple take left". Though one has read these names in history books but one never thinks of coming across these places.
Our first stop was at Surang Tila, a 4.65 metre-high pedestal from the 6th century. The monument is a humongous pyramid sort of structure made of blocks of white stones. A courtyard at the top of the monument has several broken pillars and smaller shrines of Lord Shiva. From there we made our way to the ruins of Swastik Vihar, a monastery with two mandapas in the central part and entrance from the west. The shrine on the eastern end contains a stone image of Buddha flanked by standing Padampani on either side. The next halt was Laxman Temple, one of the oldest and famous excavations of Sirpir. Laxman Temple is a brick temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and stands on a prominent platform and consists of a Garbhagriha, Antarala and an enclosed pillared Mandapa. This, in a nutshell, was the rich heritage at the village Sirpur, around 100 km from the bustling town of Raipur.
 
Excavation begins

Located on the banks Mahanadi, till ten years ago, Sirpur was a lesser known village like any other Indian village, its inhabitators busy with their chores. In 2000, the calm around this sleepy village was broken when hundreds of people descended with spades, shovels and other digging tools and started digging at different points. Initially, villagers didn’t get to know what was happening. By the time they realised it, the small village had put itself on the list of the richest archaeological sites in the country with the finding of 22 Shiva temples, four Vishnu temples, 10 Budha Vihars, and three Jain Vihars, remains of an ancient market, an Ayurveda treatment centre, underground granary market and a sixth century Ayurvedic Snaan Kund (an ancient spa).
These findings, instantly turned the place into an immediate tourist destination, where people not only from India but also from the world started flooding in. The Dalai Lama and the South Korean ambassador have also joined the league of visitors. Till now, Sirpur was known for the magnificent and ancient east facing Lakshamana temple built by Vasanta, the mother of Dakshin (south) Kosala king Mahasivagupta Balarjuna in the 7th century AD, and the Gandeshwar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. But during the past decade excavations have shown that the region was educationally, culturally and economically much more developed than the famous Harappa in the Indus Valley Civilisation.
  Hoary past

Situated in the Masamund district of Chhattisgarh, the history is quite eloquent of this place. Sirpur or Shripur ~ the city of wealth ~ was once the capital of the Sarbhapuriya and

Somvanshi kings of Dakshin (south) Kosala. The town of Sirpur is also mentioned in ancient epigraphic records, dating back to the 5th and 8th centuries AD. The place was a well-known centre for Buddhist study from the 6th to 10th century. Therefore, it was also mentioned in the travelogue of Hiuen Tsang, the 7th century Chinese pilgrim and scholar. Among the findings, while the 8 ft tall image of Lord Mahavir testifies to Sirpur having been a centre of Jainism, the Buddh Viharas point to its being a centre of Buddist learning. Apart from these, Sirpur had once been blessed with the arrival of Lord Buddha himself. It is believed that a devastating earthquake buried the ancient town under mud and debris in the 12th century.
  Mark on the map
Up until 1872 history was mum about the existence of this settlement. That was when Lord Cunningham, the then director general of Archeological Survey, visited Sirpur and discovered the now famous Laxman temple. This was the beginning of the unraveling of the long journey

undertaken by Sirpur through the dark aisles of time. After that, there was no looking back for the city, spread over an area of about 4x6 kms. It has really proved to be a veritable gold mine for historians, archeologists and the common man alike. A flood of finding, such as 12 Buddh Viharas, one Jain Viharas, monolithic statues of Lord Buddha and Mahavir Jain, 22 Shiv temples, five Vishnu temples, stone and copper inscriptions, hundreds of statues and much more.
"There are 184 mounds with archaeological remains in an area spread over 29.25 sq km in Sirpur,"  said octogenarian archaeologist and excavator A K Sharma, who is also an archaeological advisor to the Chhattisgarh government. "In the last 11 years, 48 mounds have been exposed through archaeological excavation and steps have been taken for conservation of the sites,"
  No match 
Going by the claim of Chattisgarh tourism department, many findings are much bigger and more relevant than Nalanda and Khajurao. For instance, one of the Budha Vihars, an ancient complex found during archaeological excavations, is being cited as four times bigger than Nalanda, with

unmatched stone carvings ~ not even seen in Khajuraho. The tourism brochure reads: “The monasteries are larger than even the great Buddhist University at Nalanda”, vindicating Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang’s assertion of having seen more than 10,000 Buddhist monks at Sirpur.
The Tivaradeva Mahavihara is the “largest and most ornate” of all the viharas. Among other captivating sculptures are a Naga couple, an amorous couple, and many Buddhist figures and an ancient market complex ~ considered the biggest excavation so far in the world. The findings include materials from ancient grain market, iron market, metal market and even remains of ports on the banks of river Mahanadi. This ancient market is considered an active trade centre from the 6th century BC to as late as 18th century AD. The unearthed complex, apparently a 10-bed hospital, where ancient surgical instruments were also recovered, is located in front of a Vishnu Temple and at a most suitable place for a treatment centre as per Vastu Shastra.
“The Boudh Vihar, found during excavations, is magnificent and it's the biggest temple complex of 6th and 7th centuries to be uncovered so far,"  inoformed Sharma. "For the first time, stone carvings depicting sexual activity among animals have been found ~ a rare form of carvings in Indian archaeology. Such carvings are not even seen in Khajurao and Ellora."


Other attractions 

Gandheshwar temple 

Situated on the bank of Mahanadi, this Shiv temple was built with the architectural remains of  ancient temples and viharas. Although the temple is not basically known for its architecture, the statue of Buddha touching the earth, Natraj, Shiv, Garud Narayan and Mahisasur Mardini are the rare ones in the premises. There are various pictures of Shiva-Leela above the entrance to attract the visitors.
  Barnawapara sanctuary
Barnawapara Widlife sanctuary is a land mass of undulatings terrain dotted with numerous low and high hillocks well forested in the north-eastern corner of Raipur district . The tributaries of the

Mahanadi are the source of water. This sanctuary is famous for the frequent sighting of the Indian bison (Gaur) Cheetal, Sambhar, Neelgai and Wild boar. Bar-Nawapara  boasts of over 150 species of birds. 

Sirpur music and dance festival
The Sirpur music and dance festival is an annual fest organised by the Chattisgarh Tourism Board. This grand festival showcases the diverse art forms of the country, bringing together artists from across the nation in a cultural celebration. This festival has established its own unique identity in the sense that eminent artistes of national and international repute participate and perform Indian classical, folk and tribal dance and music on the enchanting

stage of Sirpur. 
Nearby attractions
Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary (15 km), Kodar Dam (17 km), Narayanpur (43 km, famous for temples), Malhar (88 km, famous for ancient temples), Arang (46 km, famous for temples) and Shivrinarayan (83 km, famous for temples) are located around Sirpur. 

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Soothing colours

Park Inn by Radisson Bilaspur offers a tranquil getaway amid a riot of colours, reports rakesh kumar

The hotel’s tag line read, “Adding colour to your life” and one could experience this as one stepped into the newly opened hotel by the Carlson Chain, Park Inn. There was a different colour everywhere. In fact, the whole hotel is full of colours, be it rooms, lobby or restaurants. All the floors are differentiated by various colours ~ blue, red or purple. The only logic behind these colours is to be in tune with the mood of their patrons. For instance for someone who wants calm or peaceful environment, it is colour blue for them; if it’s a honeymoon couple, the colour is red. Colours are what attracted us as we made our way to spend a day away from the bustling Delhi to peace and calm at Park Inn by Radisson Bilaspur.
.
Location
If a hotel has a good location it is already half popular. This is true of Park Inn, which is just an hour’s drive away from Delhi Airport. Its convenient location is a  delight for business travelers as the guests can move around the business and manufacturing hubs of Manesar and Gurgaon with ease. Moreover, one can locate it without any difficulty as it is on the road and a big attractive signage is ready to welcome all the time.

Other attractions

The hotel does not limit a guest to its premises or swimming pool. It is surrounded by a multitude of leisure options for guests who opt for extended stay to relax after a business meet. The tourist attractions are Sheetala Mata Temple, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary and Damdama Lake. Apart from this one could fix their booking at India’s first transport museum, which has a collection of everything, from howdahs, bullock carts, palanquins and a boat that once plied in the Yamuna to motorised vehicles of different makes, including classics such as a 1924 Ford, a 1932 Chevrolet, a 1935 Buick and many more.

About the place
Park Inn by Radisson Bilaspur has 98 rooms and suites that provide the perfect place to stay while visiting Gurgaon. It has lovely rooms with a moving table that can be used sitting on the bed for meals, computers or tablets. There is a colourful light above the bed, which one can change to suit one’s taste or convert into a disco light (changing colours automatically). Each room is equipped with modern-day amenities like air-conditioner, mini-bar, cable television and attached bath with chic fittings. Other facilities for the convenience of guests include laundry, doctor-on-call, car parking, tea-lounge and a well-stocked bar.
 There is a conference hall on the top floor, which is wide enough to accommodate 60 people at a time, allowing guests to organise birthday parties, wedding receptions, seminars and meetings. And all this is backed by a staff that is both courteous and helpful. 

Food and bar

The in-house restaurant RBG (Restaurant, Bar and Grill) offers Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine. Food is average. However, to compensate it, they have a very good Japanese menu. This caters to the number of Japanese working at the multi-national companies in the area. At RBG, guests are sure to experience international and local cuisines that are simply delicious and fuss-free.

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It's party time

 Lounge City 75 Pub and Patio is all set to become the favourite party spot for many in West Delhi, reports rakesh kumar

Though Dwarka as a residential hub preceded neighbouring Gurgaon, it lagged as far as places to party or quality pub or bar were concerned. The residents either hit the satellite city or made their way to Connaught Place or nearby Rajouri Garden. Now a club, City 75 ~ Pub and Patio, has come as an answer to those big and famous lounges of Gurgaon and CP. The restaurant, which opened a few months back, will save the residents and party lovers a lot of travel. We checked out the place, which is increasingly being patronized by the local residents. 
Ambiance 
Located in Malik Plaza, Sector 4, City 75 ~ Pub and Patio has an attractive and colourful ambiance. On the first floor they have a huge club area with different lighting arrangements. On this floor an assorted seating arrangement allows people to enjoy their drinks, food or Hookah. Though music is a bit loud, but since place is meant for party lovers, no complaints are heard. However, the main attraction, or USP of City 75 is its rooftop. In contrast with the first floor, this is an open space, which seems a perfect place to dine with family. The DJ’s loud music gets bit muffled here ~ perfect for the ears. The place is thus just right for both diners as well as for a party. 
Food 
The restaurant offers a variety of menus, including Indian and Chinese. As it is a club, most guests settle for starters only. Therefore, they have incorporated a variety of starters in their menu. Among them are Lahori Paneer Tikka, Achari Khumb, Shahi Subbz Seekh, Paneer Roomani for vegetarians and in the non-vegetarian segment they have Chappli Kebab, Gosht Angaar, Gosht Hazarvi, Bhatti Ka Tikka, City 75 Special, Cheery Chicken, Stir Fried Fish with Oyster Sauce and much. 
In the main course, the fare on offer includes Kadhai Makai Dhingri, Khumb Hara Pyaaz Masala, Noor-E- Nawab, Adrak Lipta Murgh and others.Food is good but it could be better. 
Staff and service 
They have huge staff at the bar. The only word to describe them is that they are very cooperative. And don’t be surprised to find their general manger and head chef approaching your table to ask about the food and service. As they keep coming back.  

Why visit 
Club 75 ~ Pub and Patio is the only a quality club in the area, which offers a good food and better environment.  
Why to avoid 
The prices are a bit high in keeping with the location

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This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

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