Elbow (Makes) Room for Lunch

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According to restaurateur brothers Dino and Nicolo Morea, The Elbo Room, which opened in early September, is Mumbai’s first singles bar, designed to be intimate enough that you can’t help but rub shoulders with fellow drinkers and potential partners. But when we visited on a Diwali weekend afternoon for their newly launched lunch hour, the place was empty. We were the only people there, arms free to flail about to the beats of How Bizarre, pumped through formidable speakers into the English-pub style setting.

Bandra’s Inn
On a better day, The Elbo Room could be Bandra’s answer to Woodside Inn. The international beers, unusual music (we hadn’t heard Malibu by Courtney Love’s awesome-but-forgotten band Hole since high school) , non-stuffy food and an unassuming vibe earned bpb’s stamp of approval right away. The steep price of the drinks, though, weighed down slightly on the casual feel.

The afternoon we visited, confusion reigned supreme over whether the kitchen was serving lunch. After much waffling, we were told we couldn’t order the Bento Boxes or Bangkok Salad (the most exciting dishes on the menu), but were offered Cheesy Garlic Bread, chicken tacos and nachos on the house. The insipid nachos with a side of baked beans and three specks of cheese were a sorry excuse for Mexican food, but the other two fared well. The drinks menu, with its varied choice of cocktails, beers and wines, didn’t disappoint either.

For main course, we ordered the Margherita pizza that was too bready, and a spicy-tangy pomodoro pasta which turned out to be the best choice of the afternoon.

Teething Troubles

But a month into its existence, there are still a number of teething problems that The Elbo Room has to tackle. The strange blinking strobe light-like situation in the bathroom, for instance. Or the fact that they have tap beer on the menu, but can’t serve it yet.

Gay’s Anatomy
But by the time we finished, we were lulled into a happy haze that more than made up for these short-comings. The combination of chilled Stellas, sunlight and Sting’s dreamy vocals reminded us of a drowsy Sunday spent reading in bed, while propped up on our elbows. Not perhaps the kind of room it was meant to be, but one that worked for us.

Getting There: The Elbo Room, Sant Kutir Apartments, behind Levis' Showroom, Linking Road, Khar (W). Call: 26483316

At Brown Paper Bag, we review restaurants anonymously, and pay for our own meals.