Zinc is one of those few places that will encourage you to walk in even with a slim wallet. For once, the club-cum-lounge has too pricey a menu for you to indulge in and better still, no entry charge at the door
Zinc is one of those few places that will encourage you to walk in even with a slim wallet. For once, the club-cum-lounge has too pricey a menu for you to indulge in and better still, no entry charge at the door
It's the details that make or break a place. The guys behind Zinc -- the club-cum-lounge ('clounge', if you please) now occupying the same space that was once Zenzi Mills -- are sure to know that. They happen to be the same guys who gave us the famed Poison (we miss you!) and Bling (lesser mortals, including us, have often had to wait endlessly for guests of a certain DJ to enter before being granted access).
The interiors of the lower level Mini Spring Roll
PICS/ Prathik Panchamiau00a0
So, how come they managed to ruin what on most counts could have been a club with the power to imprint itself on the city's night scene! Why was our attendant so clueless that he had to return to make us repeat our orders? Why was the volume of the music suddenly pumped up, so that we couldn't hear ourselves speak? (We were the only customers they had that night and repeated requests to lower the volume went ignored). And why was our bill rounded off to a higher denomination?
While we don't have answers to any of those questions, what we do know is that the place is well done up with beaded curtains, blingy cushions and globules of mirror-work splattered on the walls. The upper section is smaller and reserved for VIPs, with the tiny space outside the washrooms deemed the 'smoking section'.
The good news? There's no entry charge yet, and we weren't looked down on for entering in our jeans, T-shirts, backpacks and sneakers. Guess they could do with a few patrons. The menu is skewed in favour of meat-eaters, in terms of choice, leaving the vegetarians among us to munch on Mini Spring Rolls (Rs 245), which we did quite happily, even though our joy was punctuated by the Lemon Chilli Crispy Lotus Stems (Rs 245): a deep-fried dish that could only be described as blah. Our carnivore friends were relatively happier with their Roast Pork (Rs 350) that was well done, and the La Cha Chi (Rs 325) that had chicken with a generous dash of cinnamon. Yum!
Blah-zay, did you say?
Considering Zinc is pushing itself as a lounge too, they could have done better with the drinks. The Watermelon Daiquiri (Rs 550) was refreshing enough to be our top summer drink, had it been less sweet, while the extra dry Martini (Rs 640 -- ouch!) lacked punch.
Any martini lover knows how much they savour olives. Sadly, our miniature olives swam around in a zing-less drink, instead of being on a toothpick that makes it easier to pop. The Long Island Iced Tea (Rs 450) was potent, though we've had better.
They play commercial music on Fridays and Saturdays. The rest of the nights see a mix of Hip-Hop, Retro, Lounge and R&B. Aside from the pricey drinks, the VAT and 10% service charge is bound to pinch.
Our suggestion: walk in if you are in the mood to do a little jig, minus having to pay an entry fee or the hassle of getting on the 'guest list'. And like the neighbouring Blue Froggers do, get your high at the Ambience bar nearby before heading to Zinc.
At Zinc, Mathuradas Mills Compound, opposite Empire Mills, Tulsi Pipe Road, Lower Parel.
Call 43455460/ 43455455
Timings 9.30 pm to 1.15 am
Zinc didn't know we were there. The Guideu00a0reviews anonymously and pays for meals.
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