145 as we saw it!! .
With 145 opening up its second outpost recently, this time in Bandra, I was all excited. And unlike town places, which I would never venture to on a weekday, I with fellow vegetarian friend landed up on a weeknight – Tuesday to be more precise.
Ambience: Few things hit you immediately. To begin with colours, lots of them. Talking of lots, there is lots of space. By that I mean, the place is huge. But more importantly it is not unduly jampacked with tables and more tables. Right at the centre is this huge bar with interesting seating arrangement around it. Me likes.
Me also likes, giant screen in one corner which showed the live match for bit and then for the rest of the evening Tom and Jerry. That kind of sets the tone! Doesn’t it? Paired with loud music (may be at times too loud) the place from word go tries hard to get u into the fun high energy space. The other corner has a pool table where a group of friends were busy playing pool. On your table is the menu which also interestingly has your coloring book. Wow. And a chance to win free drinks on creating some fun doodles.
Food: Strange that is the last thing I am talking about, and on the contrary that is what I was most excited about. Not that we were disappointed. The menu is huge, serving all kinds of cuisines. Fairly good healthy options. And who doesn’t like all day breakfast?? Has all the right things and some not so right things (read a newer take on classics) like pao bhaji cone – which we tried. I would have liked to try many other items too.
Here is what we ordered for two; for starters after much debate we tried Dal Pakwan, Pav Bhaji Cones and very interesting Paneer Pasanda Bao. Berry Tart Cooler (Vodka based cocktail) to accompany the starters. Cocktail was sweet like the name suggested.
For main course, we had – Paneer Makhani Biryani. Which was well cooked with a layer of paneer included.The Paneer Pasanda Bao was made in freshly cooked sauce which tasted great & that’s a dish I would order again.
Lastly, dessert was the most interesting dish of the evening. We ordered the tutti fruity icecream which was wrapped in cotton candy & in the shape of a burrito. It was as good as it looked. Only bit I would comment is it was too sweet.
So coming down to few recommendations: Certainly have Paneer Pasanda Bao. Try the cocktails, try the unique crazier ones, try bar tenders recommended ones (the staff is helpful), try them all – trust me you won’t regret.
Other dishes I would certainly would try on my next few visit are Avocado on Toast, waffles, Khousey, stuffed cheese Naan, kurkure Bhel, Mac and cheese cones, Spaghetti Yolo, Amritsari Chole. As I write this, I am starting I need to visit again soon may be and hopefully with largish group – so we can try many more of these dishes.
Aptly that kind of sums up the place. With booze in the gut and some interesting food to accompany it one would be well taken care of. But what would make people come back again and again is the fun, masti, parties, company and dhamal times. Lastly right at the end, with the cheque came something unique – ice candy popsicle (In a plastic bag just like you’d eaten it during your childhood). And we were hit by nostalgia!
So next time when the world sucks life out of you, end your day with you sucking one of these popsicles. Okay may be that didn’t come out right. But then, it is 145 we are talking about, needn’t be perfect as long as it does the job.
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