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Review Hard Rock Cafe : Not so Rocking!

Finally after a week loaded with office work, I managed to indulge myself in an atmosphere filled with cigarette smoke and alcohol smell.

Went out on Saturday night with some known friends and some newly acquaintances to India’s very first Hard Rock Cafe. Located in one of the old-ages estate, the Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, South Mumbai side. This world famous joint was opened sometime in September this year but had closed down for couple of weeks due some legal issues. However the place is now open to the Mumbai public in full swing.

Melody (The Voice In My Head) who happens to be one of those “party-till-I-die kinda women” and who was also a BIG part of my outing that evening, has put up her views of the place along with some dark but visible pictures.

“The music is great, the crowd is decent & the ambience, well, it is a Hard Rock Cafe! There are all the necessary rock star paraphernalia that goes with the HRC name – the autographed guitars, the crazy outfits (I saw a nice one belonging to the artist formerly know as Prince), the photographs, the trivia. I love it, I love it, I love it. Yes, in case you didn’t get it, I really love it.”

Though I agree with the whole music and ambience bit, I still wouldn’t say that it’s THE place to be on a Saturday night. And No! It’s got nothing to do with the company I was hanging out with.

See, the thing is for me besides good music and ambience; I need good food and plenty of alcohol. So even though Mumbai’s Hard Rock Cafe flaunts about good music, decent crowd and spacious look - sadly, it totally sucks in service.

It took us an entire evening to get a table and if that was not worse, take this – as soon as we parked our already tired (but still sexy) butts, we were told, “Sorry the kitchen is closed for service”. WTF at 12.30 am!

And this is not it.

The entire time we were waiting at the bar area, we had to fight our way through a crowd of 30-40 odd people to get our drinks off the bar. Fuck this, there was also a time when we after much struggle managed to get the bar-tender’s attention we were told, “I can’t serve you because we have no glasses for the drinks”. Huh!!!

So by now you must have got the drift that I really think much of the place – I would have rather enjoyed at one of those smaller lounge bars and pubs in Bandra.

But as Melody mentioned, maybe the place would be a much better experience once the whole show-sha dies down.

The Final Word – Go there for the experience but do have back-up plans. And definitely not a Saturday night place.

Ps : Would like to put out a special THANK YOU message with a gun pointed at me for party-licious Mel and yes I shall forever be hating grateful for the time you took out of your ever so busy schedule to party with me.

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lads the chance to sing “whoa oh oh oh oh Sweet child o’ mine, whoa oh oh oooohh sweet love of mine” while inebriatedly leaving the bar. Oh yes, I’m not going there again. For a saner, rant-free view, please read earlier posts by Sakshihereand Rashmi here.

Pingback by Bombay Diaries — September 14, 2007 at 6:19 am | #

Comments

7 comments | Add your comment »

Melody
Dec 5th, 2006 at 5:29 am | #

To my dearest darling, ever-so-wonderful-I-can’t-help-taking-time-out-of-my-busy-schedule-for Sakshi:

I wasn’t hungry and didn’t drink (apart for the Virgin Colada our dear friend so promptly got me right at the start) so didn’t really notice the lack of service – except when you were raving about how hungry you were… so yes, I guess it’s not all that – but considering the time we got there (the time we left + unforced errors in directing/being directed to the place ;) ) I didn’t really expect to get a table anyway.

And my regular night out usually ends with food at Vistas, so I wasn’t let down in anyway…

… except that I didn’t have your lovely company till the very very very end :)

Love,

M

PS: Now stop that @$&^@* gun at yourself, I ain’t :P

Saakshi O. Juneja
Dec 5th, 2006 at 6:13 am | #

Dear Mel,

Frankly speaking I am at loss for words after reading your (as always) generous comment. And I completely understand your POV, so holding nothing against you for liking the place.

One thing for sure, next time I shall be with you till the very END. ;)

ps..hope you happy with this response, now kindly move the gun off my head.

shadows
Dec 8th, 2006 at 2:25 pm | #

Ohh wowwwzzz.. The Hard Rock Cafe in India !!!

Well, would surely visit sometime, when I have the time.

Sakshi,

Tell me about the music they play. I mean do they play really heavy rock. Also, the kind of bands they play.
(I am generally okay with the ambience, as long as it meets basic criteria like cleanliness and crowd quality).

Sakshi, your bad experience might be because its overcrowded. Its a new place, everyone is dying to try it out. LIke when mocha started, I had to wait for about 1 hour outside, and then when I went in with my pals, some hookah flavours were not available (sorry sir, lemon-mint is not available). But if you go now, you will find a place easily. Try it out after 2 months and then a review would be great. :)

Saakshi O. Juneja
Dec 9th, 2006 at 8:58 am | #

Shadows – Yup…you are correct. But when you open up a big (reputed) branded place , you are expected to be prepared. Music wise, yes they do play semi-rock and complete rock. Live band….no idea.

Anyways will check out the place again once my best friend is down from NYC. :)

shadows
Dec 11th, 2006 at 9:27 am | #

>> Music wise, yes they do play semi-rock and complete rock. Live band….no idea.

Live bands are generally on some days… or when they organize some concert. Guess they dont play so regularly.
You must have tried Toto’s in Bandra. Good place for some heavy rock. But then, dunno if you gals will like such an ambience (dark and smokefilled).

Sakshi, try this new album by evanescence. Not as good as the previous “Fallen” album, but a good effort in the end. I like that gal, Amy, such beautiful vocals.

Saakshi O. Juneja
Dec 11th, 2006 at 9:37 am | #

Shadows – Ofcourse I have been to “Totos” and I love the place. Another good pub around the area is “Shooters” they mostly play Retro…which I again enjoy to the fullest. I would go such places any day since they are more comfortable dress code wise, great music, good food and light on the pocket when it comes to alcohol.

And Yes…I enjoy listening to Evanescence, don’t have their latest album but I have the new song “Call me when you are sober” on my poddy (I Pod). :)

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Sakshi Juneja

We all have a right to express our views. In many instances; it will be against ours and in some; with us. To hear them out is 'decency' but to let them get to you is 'weakness'. More info »

I also blog at DesiDabba and DesiCritics

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