Raise a Toast

Complementing the fine-dining restaurant’s plump spread of Mughlai and Lucknowi fare is the bar menu. The shelves are stocked with well-known brands of liquor including an assortment of wines. If you are going for the bottle,an Australian Cabernet Shiraz will cost you Rs 1,300. “As an inaugural offer,we are rolling out Happy Hours from 11 am to 7 pm,” says general manager Raja Singha. “If one orders two whisky pegs,the third is free. Same goes for beer. The third drink is on the house,” he explains. The sodas are not charged for and the crunchy peanut masala and papad are complimentary as well.

The rather no-fuss drinks menu brings in regular cocktail favourites such as the vodka-based Caprioska (Rs 150). If you are looking to get back at the heat,settle for either a Jamaica Cooler (Rs 150) or Beer Buster (Rs 150). While the former is an unusual mix of red wine,white rum,lemon and orange juice,the latter is a chilling combination of vodka with beer and a dash of grenadine.

Having decided to try the Mocktails,we settle for Passion (Rs 100) which is a cool mix of mango,orange and pineapple juice with a liberal addition of mint leaves. It’s a tad sweet but very refreshing.

One can also team the drinks with Siona’s special snacks that offer a spread of Mughlai and Lucknowi dishes. We ordered Gulafee Surkh Paneer Tikka (Rs 210) and Mutton Galawati Kebab (320). Both proved to be a melt-in-the-mouth experience. While the paneer marinated in Indian spices,rose petals,cream and curd was succulent,the mutton was tender and delicious. One could also choose from a range of kakori kebabs and tikkas using mutton,chicken and fish.

Meal for Two: Rs 400-500 (excluding taxes) Location: SCO 477-478,Sector 35 C,Chandigarh.

Contact: 0172-4011222/ 40111223