Mar 20, 2008
I'm from NOIDA, and I love the place, but let's face it; the nightlife here consists of Elevate, and little else. I study in Bangalore, and as much as I detest the city, I have to admire it for its unparalleled pub culture. It is, undoubtedly, the country's drinking capital. Imagine my surprise and excitement, then, to visit a pub in Noida that manages to out-pub Bangalore!
At least in terms of ambience, that is. When you walk in, there's a pool table and covers of the New Yorker on the wall. Keep in mind that this is, effectively, a neighbourhood drinking place (I use the term relatively, given that this IS Sector 18!) This is a veteran joint, it's been around for the better part of the last decade, and it's seen change. The older venue, on the other side of the block, was lavish and overstated, with a vintage jalopy outside adding to the well-done Americana theme. This is carried over to the humbler new premises, and after a couple of whiskies, this could well be Chicago or Tennessee!
Liquor is, understandably, the first thing on everyone's mind here. The happy hours are generous (one-plus-one), the beer is smooth, and the cocktails are no-nonsense and get the job done. Dinner, however, is best done elsewhere. But should the munchies catch you, this place does some decent snacks. The emphasis is on filling Tex-Mex fare, and everything satisfies, from the Nachos to the Enchiladas. Six years ago, this place would have been a great dining option. But with the redesign, it really is a proper 'local', and fires on all fronts given this role. If you're in NOIDA, and want to avoid the Radisson, I'm confident you won't be disappointed.