A COLD winter wind greeted us as we stepped off the lift and onto the terrace on the fourth floor of Southern Star Hotel on Lavelle Road. This is the location of Tree Tops Bar & Kitchen, an open-air space with views over Cubbon Park and the central business district. While the decor is minimal, large plants placed around the terrace gives it some much-needed greenery and freshness. Taking in the easy and laid back vibe of Bengaluru, which is hard to come by these days, and wrapping our jackets tighter around ourselves in an attempt to stay warm, we sat down to sample their offerings.
The menu is a combination of classic bar eats that span Indian, Italian, Chinese, American and French cuisines, and the cocktails stick to conventional recipes, with options such as Blue Hawaiian and Sex On The Beach. First, we tucked into a portion of their Crumb Fried Prawns, which is butterfly prawns coated in batter and deep fried till golden brown. Crunchy and fresh, it made a winning combination with the tangy and sweet marinara sauce it was served with. The Southern Fried Chicken was next, and did not disappoint either. Strips of chicken breast are tossed in corn flakes and deep fried. A classic bar snack, this one is served with honey mustard sauce. Another must-have is the Loaded Nachos. Their take on the Mexican staple is the use of seasoned chips, which adds a tangy punch to the dish. The Bacon-Wrapped Tandoori Prawns, offer an Indian take on the classic appetiser. The smokey notes from the prawns went rather well with the bacon.
Another innovative starter we sampled was the Basil Pesto Infused Paneer Tikka. The pesto was so fresh and flavoursome, we simply couldn’t get enough. Should you require something more substantial, they also have a selection of interesting sandwiches (such as Indie Cristo — Indian version of the Monte Cristo with ham, cheese and chicken), burgers (such as Cajun Spiced Lamb Burger and Chickpea Burger), quiches (like Broccoli and Bacon and Cheese), pasta (Pomodoro, Mornay and Carbonara) and Indian curries (Paneer Makhani and Chicken Chettinad among others). For dessert, we tucked into the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was warm and perfect for the chilly evening.
Tree Tops might not be up there in terms of concept, theme and decor, but we enjoyed the ambience, which is used to its full potential. We also loved that the food was unassuming yet well executed.
Rs.1,000 for two. At Lavelle Road