This no-pretence watering hole in Versova scoffs at snooty cocktails and French fries, and whips up quirky takes on bar bites and taproom faves
Public rice beer and Kathiawadi Lasaniya Batata Bhungla, Mushroom and Bandel cheese patishapta, and Chakli Churros and Schezwan sauce
First-Timers will be greeted with a yellow nondescript font announcing Public Beer Hall & Snack Bar that has opened in place of JamJar Diner. Founders Sahil Timbadia, Nevil Timbadia, and Anup Gandhi, the trio who also launched Bonobo, explain the philosophy, “There is no added storytelling. It’s a spot for chilled beer and straight spirits with Indian chakna and snacks.” The concept stemmed from a personal need for a good space with good beer.
Sahil Timbadia, Anup Gandhi, and Nevil Timbadia
The 100-seater has bentwood chairs with black-and-white checkered table cloth and menus slipped under the glass tabletop. We love the daftar-style reception, and pop of red geometric-patterned grills typical of old Bombay Art Deco homes. For those who spent their youth getting wasted at Gokul, Yacht and Totos, Public will remind them of those dive bar vibes, fused with the comfort of gymkhanas and clubs.
Chilli Cheese Pineapple
Apart from commercial pours, craft beer includes an in-house pour of an easy and light rice beer, Public (Rs 350 by glass) produced by Igloo. They also serve England IPA by Great State Aleworks and an Amber pale ale by Susegado. Straight drinks will be on tap soon.
Buff Sekuwa
Chef Sohini Bhattacharyya, who planned the menu with Timbadia, divides it into touchings, snacks, sigri, Tangra classics and a special hot meal. Gujarat gets attention with Rajkot’s famous green chutney served with Sweet Potatoes (Rs 180) and Kathiawadi Lasaniya Batata Bhungla (Rs 240) — a regional delight of garlic and red chilli chutney slathered on potatoes, served with fryums.
Chef Sohini Bhattacharyya
Most Mumbaikars will rejoice at Chakli Churros and Schezwan (Rs 250), which has a twist that is almost similar to a Gujarati muthia, but crispier. The in-house Schezwan sauce holds its mettle in a rustic punch. Bengali roots turn the patishapta into a savoury Mushroom and Bandel (Rs 420) bite, with fermented radish and slivers of its leaves. The humble suran finds a fit in a spicy Shami Kebab (Rs 360); the coriander chutney is fresh with coriander, mint and green chillies make a tikhat pact.
Public opens in Versova in place of JamJar
Rekindle the childlike joy for Chilli Cheese Pineapple (Rs 180) on skewer toothpicks, but finished on a sigdi. The light charcoal douse lends a sweet finish. Buff Sekuwa (Rs 450) has a Nepali-style marinade of spices, yogurt, and ginger garlic. The Fried Calamari (Rs 400) with a squeeze of lime juice gets elevated with the sweet-sour Injipuli chutney made from jaggery and tamarind.
Nevil Timbadia pours Public, an in-house rice beer. Pics/Shadab Khan
CKP Prawns Khichdi (Rs 550), a comfort dish cooked in a mush of coriander and coconut paste, got our full attention. If you like us, prefer to end meals with dessert, the Orange Juice Cake (Rs 320) with a dollop of orange-chocolate creamy ganache, ensured it was a sweet ending.
Public
AT Beer Hall & Snack Bar, 7A & 7B, JP Road, Aram Nagar Part 2, Machlimar, Versova, Andheri West.
TIME 5.30 pm to 1 am
CALL 7506640066
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