Breaking the code

Tried & Tested: Food Review

The newly opened bar in Andheri is setting the standard for simplistic drinks in the world of over-the-top presentations. Trisha Ghoroi pays a visit to Barcode 09 and comes away with a different view altogether

Located in an area right next to Infiniti Mall in Andheri, Barcode 09 adds to the complex of restaurants and bars in the vicinity. True to its name, there are a few series of barcodes painted on the wall inside the restaurant. One side of the wall is splattered with music related graffiti and fashionable quotes such as ‘Of course size matters’ and ‘No one wants a small glass of wine’, which we agree is absolutely true. Inside, there is a hookah section as well, which is fast becoming a norm for every restaurant out there.

Though the restaurant is not extremely spacious, there is enough seating space to accommodate a large number of people without it being claustrophobic. The seating arrangement is quite simple, with plain square tables and black upholstered chairs, and there is also a section of booths, each of which is perfect for a group of five to seven. Serving up delicious  food and drinks, and the DJ playing groovy tracks, the launch party was a great hit. The food we had came from a specially curated menu, and thankfully their regular menu consists of  a lot more variety.

The menu here is simple, focusing more on casual comfort food and finger foods that go well with the drinks. The bar menu consists of signature as well as classic cocktails. The Long Island Ice Tea and the Dynamite came in tall glasses, which we felt was convenient, and better than the over-the-top presentation trend that is plaguing restaurants nowadays. Both drinks were strong, especially the Dynamite, since it was a mix of quite a few liquors.

Moving on to the food, we decided to try the starters that were served, the Chicken Salt and Pepper and Murg Kalimirch Tikka. An interesting aspect of how the food is served here is that they have different coloured plates for non-vegetarian and vegetarians (black and white respectively), and we were quite impressed by this innovation. The Chicken Salt and Pepper was a great dish with bite sized pieces of chicken marinated in a spicy and tangy sauce. The chicken was perfectly cooked and tender; we loved it so much that we heartily ordered seconds. The Murg Kalimirch Tikka was also a good dish, not too spicy and with an Indian touch to it.

For main course, there were two options, the Penne Pasta in Mix Sauce and the Slice Chicken with Packing Sauce. The melt-in-the-mouth penne pasta had a slightly tangy taste with a creamy texture. We chose the chicken variant, but they have a vegetarian option too. Don’t worry if your choice of sauce differs from the one we’ve mentioned, because the regular menu has other sauce options as well. The Slice Chicken is supposed to be had with rice, but we tried it simply with the gravy and we don’t regret our decision. Juicy pieces of chicken with veggies and a sauce that is spicy and tangy with a soup-like consistency, we loved the dish and licked our plates clean.

The ambiance of the bar is nice, but the music was a bit loud, making it difficult to communicate. However, many guests were grooving to the music and enjoying their drinks, so we can’t complain much. With dim lights and strong drinks, put Barcode 09 on your must-visit list, especially if you’re a fan of something simple yet hearty.

Where: GI, Ground Floor, Morya Classic, Opposite Infinity Mall, Andheri (w)

Meal for two: Rs 1,500

Alcohol served: Yes

Contact: 9769815737