Lava-ish stuff

At 400, your food's cooked on a lava stone heated to that temperature. and the rest of the place is smokin' hot, too

Behind the splendid Select Citywalk stands an almost invisible Square One mall. Enter, look about, head to the sole concierge you spot somewhere near the elevators. "400?" "Rooftop," he smiles, promising a high. The real deal: close.


'Out'done: The al fresco ambience is soft and sensuous at night, with
red tints and luxe lounges. In the day, it looks bright and cheerful

Paint my platter
The place believes me in graphic gourmet. The Pan Asian menu, for instance, is full of tempting meal shots against names of dishes, and what you see is quite what you get. Ditto with the drinks. We began with a cup of Monkey King jasmine tea. It smells like orchid and tastes mild and refreshing. The name, of course, comes from the trained monkeys that are employed to pick these leaves from river banks. There are nine other varieties on the list, if you'd rather keep away from the beasts.

In soups, the Mongolian hot pot of noodles with chicken and vegetables is a slurpacious original we loved. It's high on herbs, so health'd be happy, too. Team it with Edamameu00a0-- lightly salted, blanched green soybean podsu00a0-- probably the best peanut substitute we've tasted in long. Next on the table was the 400 House special saladu00a0-- a mix of pineapple, mayo, lime leaf, corn, exotic herbs, chillies, lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Too many flavours, too little zing. Some things taste better simpler yet spicy. In skewers, we recommend the Prawns Sambal doused with Asian chilli paste. It's just the way you want it - tough on top, tender inside. And it all rests on a hot lava stone in front of you, par-cooked, if you please to do the honours yourself.u00a0

Stoned
Amid the course changes, you're struck by the soft, sensuous al fresco ambienceu00a0-- live semi-classical percussion, red tints, pots placed up the wall, dark wood under the foot, art picture cards under your table glass, sheeshas waiting to be smoked (Pan Salsa's superb). The bar is a beauty, too, leaving you with a multi-hued hangover from wines and beers that belong to everywhere. Add to it Romeo Y Julieta, a cigar that costs Rs 1100, and you couldn't feel grander. Tabula Rasa's cousin, after all. The washroom, we wished, was a tad closer though. Clean, yes it is.

And oh, don't forget to ask the manager to let you in on their stone heater section. Therein lie slabs of volcanic rock, heated to 400 degrees centigrade, as opposed to ovens that burn out at approximately 260 degrees. The quick searing ensures a healthier meal. Our favs: lobster tail and fresh Basa fillet with prawn roulade.

Once the walking makes you hungry again, keep the mains simple. The Vietnamese lemon grass scented sliced pork with sticky rice is a rewarding choice in a city where good pork is still a rarity. For herbivores, it's the Thai green curry platter we suggest. You may've been there before, but it's still the best option on the spread.
In desserts, chocolate fondue competes with apple cake and cinnamon ice cream. We declare both winners.

At: Rooftop, Square One Designer Mall, Saket District Centre.
Timings - lunch - 12.30 pm - 3.00 pm. Dinner - 7.30 pm - 1.00 am.
Meal for two: Rs 2000.
For reservations: 9910588226