Smoke House Boom

When a biker,a banker,a fashion choreographer and an entrepreneur pool together every funky and functional idea they have,the result is white noise.

Smoke House Room,the third,elegant sibling of Smoke House Grill in Greater Kailash II and Smoke House Deli in DLF Promenade Mall,has a white obsession. Situated on the top floor of Crescent Mall near the Qutub Minar,it has art gallery-like,fluid and pristine white interiors. Everything — the tables you sit at,the minimalist crockery,the floors,the lights and the mushroom-like structure in the centre of the dining area — suggest edgy experimentation. Riyaaz Amlani,the unofficial Incharge-at-Large (also an enthusiastic biker) admits that the day the music starts playing at a new restaurant of his,he feels like a baby has been born and umblically disconnected from him. The partners seem to have divided their work portions judiciously. Siddharth Mathur,formerly a banker,now urges the Chef to bake a birthday cake everyday (“someone or the other with a birthday will come everyday”). Shiv Karan,an enterpreneur ropes in business,and Harmeet Bajaj,one of Delhi’s most known fashion experts,makes sure that Room and Shroom (an 1800 sq feet nightclub atop the restaurant) become a must-visit place for Delhi’s glitteratti. You do spot a high-heeled model here,a high-on-himself designer there and a Chanel bag-toting guest at another table. The Sommelier,a cheerful French gentleman earnest about getting the wine pairings right,distracts you.

The menu is a pleasant shocker. There is one for ‘The Hunters’ (non-vegetarian) and another for ‘The Gatherers’ (vegetarian) and it comes with eight courses each. There is also a grand degustation (tasting) menu. The gathering of mushrooms (a global assembly,no less) the cinnamon honey marinated quail and smoke mussel vinaigrette make the palette riotous. Thumbs down though for naming the spice duck confit,the ‘Sick Duck Breast’. Not sensitive,not even funny.

The food engages,but because of its extraordinary presentation and the passion of its servers; not for its taste. Unlike Smoke House Grill and the Deli where food is the clear winner,here,the restaurant’s sophistication and its funky nightclub Shroom,get the attention. Should you step out for a smoke,there is little to compete with the sight of the Qutub Minar (if it remains lighted up after 9 pm). Shroom offers memberships for an annual fee of two lakhs out of which one lakh is the spending credit. A meal for two will set you back by Rs 7000 at least without alcohol. Try it,and if you do,wear your high heels and carry that logo bag.

Address: Crecent Mall,3rd Floor Lado Sarai,

Contact: 29523737