Fire and Ice

Synonymous with Delhi’s nightlife for the last decade,Agni at The Park,was a combination of garish lights,house music and an excellent bar. The club re-opened on Friday,after a month-long makeover. We strained our eyes to spot some obvious transformation,and failed to find any. Then,we decided to listen up.

Agni’s entire sound system has been redesigned,and the final effect is powerful. Famous for its House tracks,Agni reincarnated will now ring in EDM (Electronic Dance Music) as well. The colour scheme remains amber brown,but a new orange wall behind an irregular trellis of bronze lamps adds a ghoulish effect. In such a setting,the low leather divans with golden pillows and leather tub chairs that surround the glass tables look comfortable — but are not.

The evolution of Agni is more evident in the menu. Though a tad disappointed to see that the signature drinks were no longer listed,we were willing to try the new offerings. This includes thin crust pizzas,paninis,tandoor roasted chicken,beverages,cocktails and mocktails. New signature specials called Ananda,Darsana and Chakra will be added soon. We started with a ham-and-rocket pizza with a wafer-thin crust,and a Falafel stuffed with crisp beans,onions and tomatoes,and served with hummus. While the pizza was undercooked,the Falafel was well made and altered to suit the Indian palette. Nonetheless,the menu seems to be the reason Agni will be a favourite hangout for its clientele again.

(The writer was a guest of Agni)