Interiors at Lord Of The Drinks in Nungambakkam

Lord Of The Drinks comes to Chennai with South India-inspired dishes and we can't keep calm

Situated a few paces away from Taj Coromandel in Nungambakkam, the 4,000 sq ft space is a whopping 300-seater, and is probably the city’s biggest pub.

If you're in the city, it is a good time to witness the nightlife flourish, as Lord Of The Drinks, becomes the newest pub to get added to the evolving scene. Foraying into South India for the very first time, restaurateur Priyank Sukhija has partnered with city-based partners Raj Thirumal, Manish Khubchandani, Kartic Ramesh and Kartik Elamvazhuthi for the Nungambakkam franchise. “I realised Chennai has a scarcity of good places to party unlike Mumbai and Delhi do, and the people here definitely want to party, so why not!” exclaims Priyank on why he shifted focus to the city after opening in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

Flavours of Madras
Situated a few paces away from Taj Coromandel in Nungambakkam, the 4,000 sq ft space is a whopping 300-seater, and is probably the city’s biggest pub. While the food menu explores classic as well as modern Indian cuisine, it also has a spread of Asian and Continental with unique cocktails that explore different flavours. It is interesting to note that even though the name gives us the Hobbit vibe, it doesn’t offer any such suggestion. Instead, it is a medieval-themed bar with gladiator murals on the walls, with black and gold interiors. With a reference to pop culture, it looks more like the crypt depicted in the GOT series, and even houses a copy of the famed iron throne, which makes for the ideal Instagram picture. Diners can lounge on the vintage-styled leather sofas as they sip on chilled signature cocktails like Spicy Love and Berry Cosmo. And what’s more, if you are unable to finish your bottle, they will save it (with your name on it) for the next time you visit. The food menu has Tamil Nadu specials like Madurai Mutton Chukka, Guntur Chicken Plate and even the classic Curd Rice with Ghee Roast Chicken which also make an appearance!

Burmese Khao Suey

Roll with it
We start with the classic Arabic Chicken Skewers, with creamy pairs of chicken tikka, malai and hariyali kebabs. While the classic version is perfectly charred and medium spiced, the mint and coriander variant, along with the peppery creamy malai kebabs are a delight. The Mushroom Spring Rolls have a dominant turmeric flavour as they are stuffed with a mix of spiced minced mushrooms and fresh vegetables. They are so good we cannot resist taking a few more. To beat the heat, we sip on a citrus-flavoured Mystical, served in a classic martini glass. With a heady concoction of mace (nutmeg) infused vodka and orange juice, it is simple yet delicious.

Naan with whiskey?
Exploring their take on the popular Punjabi classic, a Jack Daniels Dal Makhani arrives next. Served with garlic chilli mini naans, we love the hint of whiskey in the buttery dish, as we tear the naan to savour the different flavours. A Burmese Khao Suey adds to this comfort food experience, serving a bowl full of soupy chicken topped with fried garlic, noodles, shallots, chillies and a dash of lime. We gorge on this while we wait for dessert, which turns out to be a classic brownie topped with vanilla ice cream.

Meal for two Rs 3,000.

Click here to Check out the Best Restaurant in Chennai