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Mar 20, 2008
I'm already telling stories about this place
One of my guiltiest pleasures as a student in Bangalore has been this wonderful place. I know that 'wine shops' are a student's best friend, and Pecos is treated as a luxury by our ilk, but after my first visit to the Tavern, there was no way I could deny myself such a rewarding indulgence.
Everyone has places they tell stories about; in many cases, the establishment becomes part of your life, even part of you. In Bangalore, as unlikely as it may seem, the 'Tavern', as we call it, is my Story Bar. I've experienced every shade of human emotion here. The unlikely start to a lifelong friendship. A raucous boys' night out. A nervous first date with the girl of my dreams. A tense night watching a critical football match. A solitary session with a glass to drown my sorrow in. A quiet drink with my inner circle to celebrate a team victory. Trying to impress family and friends from far-flung places, making them fall in love with Bangalore. Worrying about college, life, and my future as a young lawyer. It's all happened here, in this beautiful tavern.
I'm an old hand, to say the least. Yet still, to this day, I feel a tug in my gut, a skip of the heart, every time I climb the narrow stairs and round the corner that leads me to the door. That's saying something, isn't it? Maybe my connection with the Tavern is purely emotional. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I made it my best friend and home-away-from-home, knowing I'd spend the next five years of my life in an alien city, building a future from scratch.
Still, I know you'll love it too. The service is eccentric, yet always friendly and unpretentious. The waiters will shake your hand, and the barman will chat with you if you're alone. It's almost as if everyone's a regular.
This is not 'cheap', certainly not by a student's definition of the term. But my way of looking at it is that you're paying not just for a drink, but for an experience. The music is always spot-on. You'll never hear anything that makes you cringe. The snacks are well-thought-out; try the American-style corn kernels. The drinks are great, too. The beer comes in a solid pint mug, mixers are served in businesslike glassware, and the cocktails are tasty and unpretentious.
Yes, it can get more than a little smoky. It can also get *very* crowded. Make a reservation if you're arriving anytime after 8.30. It's dead in the late afternoon/evening, but undergoes a kafkaesque metamorphosis in the space of half an hour or so. Still, the crowd adds to the charm of the place. The decor is tasteful and subtle to a fault, themed as it is around an old English alehouse. Nothing gets in your way, and even when the table next to you is full and your elbows feel constricted, you'll never feel like your personal space is being encroached upon.
If you've already been here, you're probably a regular. And if you haven't been here yet, your first visit will probably turn you into one.