In the ‘coolest’ city of the country finding a rocking warm place to do some hard partying is a rare combination - such is the popularity of Bangi’s ‘Hard Rock Café’. Situated in the heart, amidst the hot crowd of the city, M.G. Road, the Café appears to be an erstwhile, 2-storied building looking beautiful on the busy street.
The inside of the café is equally thrilling. It’s warm, with a trendy setup giving a tinge of 1970s British cafes with stone walls. However, if you are paying a visit to the Café on a Saturday/Sunday evening with a good numbers of people do not forget to make a prior reservation of seats; or else you may have to feel it from outside and wave a goodbye there. Dimly lit but enough not to knock on someone else sitting or standing, the Café is what you call a sophisticated pub.
No dance floor to shake-a-leg (thank god) and no one is supposed to smoke inside the pub make the pub healthier on fresh air! What makes you drool for it was the hard rock numbers that were played continuously. If you are a Hard Rock fan and “If ‘Hard Rock’ be the food for love / Play on…” and the DJ plays and plays for you endlessly till 12 @ night. From Pink Floyd, Black sabbath, Metallica, Korn, Nirvana to Bon Jovi, the platter of Hard Rock was huge with tons of varieties. We were almost 8 people and everyone apart from me was a rock fan. Oh! You can also request for your favorite number as they supply you ample of tissues to do so. So you can imagine the reason to rock-n-roll. :P
Another significant attraction of this Café was its wide range of appetizers and drinks. From huge list of hard drinks to cocktails to mock tails, it had all that you need to chill around for long hours. The appetizers and the junk food available were indeed irresistible – tandoori chicken, steaks, burgers etc all mouthwatering food for a hungry stomach. The veggies can turn non-veggies for a night over there as the veg-options were really less. While my other friends picked up their kind of hard drink I was confused with the huge list on mock tails. At that point of time, the friend who brought me there chose for me one of the hot priced coolest drinks on the menu card. Isse kehte hai; “Yaaron, Dosti, Badii Hiiiiiii Haseeeeen Hai..” :P
The music became loud and bombastic as the evening passed down into the Bangalore night-life. I took a corner couch now taking a keen observation. I love observing good places. It’s one of my favorite pass-time. And as the music was overflowing all the empty places, the noisy talks were overpowered by the strings of guitars and drums from the all-time renowned rock bands. That gave me a scope to watch everything around me as I got the excuse not to end up gossiping. The place was very well maintained and decorated. The memorabilia that hung at every wall was worth a catch. Mick Jagger’s Jacket, Roger Water’s & the Carpenter’s guitars, rare photo albums etc which once created historical events on music were on display. There was a raised stage done on the midst of the pub which indicated that the Café often host live-band shows right over there. The bar was amazing and stocked full-on with hard drinks. I often found the bartender into lighter conversations with guests surrounding him that seemed pretty sporting. I badly wanted to take a deeper look as to how he was making the drinks but then I was sitting quite afar, so missed it! L The best part of being entertained which I practice the most is by watching the people. The crowd was young, enthusiastic and stylish in their own ways. I prefer young people, people young at heart and not by age and you get it there. Everyone seemed to get groovy to the music played under the alcohol spell. While the gentlemen got busy choosing their drinks amongst the wide wish list of hard drinks; the ladies bore an air of class. From off-shoulders to hot pants, the Bangi-chicks turned the temperature warmer. What I liked in all of them was that, they were aptly dressed for a disc/pub. I hate to see ‘behenji’ like dressed is disc. As I glanced over the nitty-gritty of the place my eyes met my friend who looked at me alarmingly stating me to at take care of my stomach with few French Fries let on our plates, or else I would have to remain starved as he would only get up from his seat after his favorite Pink Floyd was played. :P
Overall, it was a fun loving place to hang around with like-minded people. Even if you are two and a hard rock lover the place simply rocks; and even if you are not into hard rock, trust me you won’t be bored for a second. Especially, when the weather outside in Bangi is cool, taking the warmth and coziness inside the Café is a treat by itself. Go there and experience it by yourself.
P.S: You can consult or get hold of the collar (either ways) of our own dear old MSian NJ for a Hard Rock list and a company. It is his fav spot in Bangi .... :P ;) :D