Curry Cousin

A dimly lit stairway leads down to a spacious hall with plush lounge sofas and a massive wooden acoustic guitar hanging from the ceiling.

Noida8217;s Sector 18 gets a new lounge-cum-resto bar, which peps up the punch on north Indian fare

A dimly lit stairway leads down to a spacious hall with plush lounge sofas and a massive wooden acoustic guitar hanging from the ceiling. Say hello to Nine Steps Down, the new lounge-cum-resto-bar in Noida8217;s commercial hub, Sector 18. The place, which was formerly Hard Rock Cafeacute;, has tried hard to do away with its earlier trappings. The guitar, says first time restaurateur, Atul Mishra, 27, is the only surviving relic. 8220;We wanted it to have a new identity of its own, but the guitar blended with the setting, so we kept it,8221; he says.

That apart, the restaurant has now been partitioned into a lounge with low leather sofas and a bar. The service is rather lethargic, but the recorded retro tracks played out from the DJ8217;s console will keep you pleasantly occupied till the food arrives.

Must Try
The menu is a fusion of sorts, with a decent selection of the usual Italian suspects like vegetarian Penne pasta Rs 145, and veggie pizza Rs 175. Stick to basic Indian food on the menu and you won8217;t be disappointed. For starters we tried a rather curiously named dish, chimi changas Rs 99, which is nothing but crisply-fried tortillas stuffed with cheese and cabbage, spiced up with a calypso dip, just the right munchie while you nurse your drink. There is also roast chicken Rs 250 served with mashed potatoes, a fancy name for tandoori chicken, but definitely worth a try. The main course offers a decent array of grills like Lahori Tangri kebab Rs 225, chicken legs stuffed with minced mutton and eggs or the succulent Reshmi kabab Rs 175, all of which stick to true north Indian traditions. 8220;We have kept a wide selection because our patrons trust us with Indian food. It is familiar ground,8221; explains Mishra.

Give a Miss
The Mutton Rogan josh Rs 250, which comprised diced lamb in a rich gravy was too greasy for our taste. The Dal Makhni Rs 130, on the other hand, lacked seasoning and tasted bland. nbsp;

Meal for two: Rs 1,200
Contact: 95120- 4248405