Where the Wild Things Are

Thick ropes line the entry,the matte teak floor stretches in the distance ushering you towards an Alice in Wonderland-esque door.

Thick ropes line the entry,the matte teak floor stretches in the distance ushering you towards an Alice in Wonderland-esque door. Shiro,at Hotel Samrat in Chanakyapuri,is not your average dining experience,nor is it your average club or resto-bar. Every now and again an establishment challenges conventional notions be it on dining or late night revelry. Shiro opened its doors amidst much buzz a couple of months back,before shutting its door to the public to cater exclusively to the guests at Commonwealth Games last month. Now its back in action,with its interesting night-out concept. Owners Jay Singh and Sanjay Mahtani,who already have the Hard Rock Cafe franchise in the city,have seen to it that the patrons are privy to an experience they are not likely to forget in a hurry.

True to the hype,the decor at Shiro does impress. On entry an intriguing set-up greets you a giant consort stares down at you as you dine and two curvaceous consorts placed on either side of the room majestically pour water down a steep 20 feet cascade. Innovative,yes,but also a tad too loud. The teppanyaki tables further down thankfully provide a refuge. Velvet curtains create a regal feel and red glass raindrops shimmer in the background.

Inside,its lounge heaven. The deep burgundy seats,the dim lights both under the table and on the majestically high ceiling create an ambient fine dining atmosphere,and for those up for a boogey,the Beatles and Morrison pulse through the air.

On weekdays Shiro serves as a suave fine dining option. The operation manager on duty assures us that the cuisine is a real Pan Asian affair,thanks to their Phillipino chefs. The tempuras are crisp,and the sushi fresh. It is also the fastest moving options on the menu,apart from the tantalising fig mojito. Shiro takes on another form over the weekends,when the floor is cleared out for much clubbing and dancing.

While giant projector plays images,the music is bit of hit and miss. Shiro is modelled on the world famous Buddha Bar,which set a new bar in lounging. It also introduced house music to a hungry public. Shiro has taken pains to differentiate itself from a concept it has somewhat emulated,playing solely retro music.

Seating in Shiro depends on how much money you are willing to fork out. Spread over three levels,with 120 covers,the rule of thumb is that the more you pay,the more privileged is your experience. Tables on the lower level operates much like in normal restaurants,but if you covet a more fancy experience and want to sit on the top level,you have to shell out a minimum of Rs 17,000 (which includes a minimum of four bottles of alcohol). Its no surprise then that Shiro has naturally brought in the big spenders. In its first month a guest famously spent rupees one lakh on a night out.

But this shouldnt deter the more thrifty customer. An evening out can be a Rs 1000 affair as well,if you choose to party on the mezzanine floor. All in all,Shiro has brought to the capital the much needed lounge atmosphere,marrying clever marketing strategy with keen business acumen,to provide something for everyone.

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