Grin and beer

The wall opposite the door has a world map in orange and black,detailing the origins of various beers they’ve stocked up. But the panoramic view of this artwork is lost because the pub is way too small to take it all in from one spot.

One can tell that the bar has been infused with as much character as possible,given that there is only 500 sq ft to work with. But this rectangular pub,housed in what might pass off as a rather large storage room,is a little claustrophobic,so there’s no question of lingering around after you’ve had your beer. Good thing,there are 30 imported varieties to get through,because the DJ’s

music isn’t an incentive to stick around either.

To Cereveza’s credit,the manager is quite keen on customers’ feedback. He was the first to point out that the space is small and that expansion plans are underway. Whether it would be taking over Silk Route almost filled to capacity on a Thursday night,was unclear.

Once settled in,it’s the imported beers you can busy yourself with,though a few cocktails are also on the list. There’s Chimay Red (Rs 800),a Belgium beer brewed by Trappist Monks and Murphy’s Irish Stout (Rs 550) for those who enjoy drinking darker,heavier brews. For novices,there is Liefman’s Fruit Beer (Rs 550),infused with light and fresh fruity aromas with a hint of sweetness.

The food menu is limited to

appetisers,which mostly features beer accompaniments,both

vegetarian and non-vegetarian. We enjoyed the Mongolian Fried Prawns (Rs 450),king-size,oily and sinfully good in their Indian Chinese preparation,they were served with onions and lime. The Vegetarian Bruschetta (Rs 450),merely oodles of capsicum and cheese served on tough base,

was unappetising.

Cereveza’s potential,if anything,lies in its long list imported beers. However,it remains to be seen whether they can keep the supply consistent,something many other bars struggle with.

Drinks and starters for two costs approximately Rs. 2500. This review was conducted anonymously.