Located between two well recognised hotels from the city of Chennai,( The Le
Meridian and the relatively new ITC Grand Chola) rises The Hablis like a proverbial phoenix, right in the midst of the hustling and bustling GST road.
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The Hablis is a new hotel to blossom on the ever-growing
hospitality segment, what with the burgeoning population of the IT crowd. This
important section of society has prompted the need for more and more hotels and
has eventually led to the expansion of Chennai.
Invited for a Chennai Food Guide showcase to be
held at the hotel premises and to check out the new Irish pub, Moon and
sixpence (named after the novel of the same name by the famous British author
Somerset Maugham) a group of bloggers/photographers and avid food connoisseurs,
descended on the place with as much gusto and cheer as a cheering squad.
Well having never visited Ireland or ever had Irish
coffee, and with a clichéd notion of all Irishmen and women are red heads with green
eyes, I wondered how my evening would turn out. For one, my notion was
corrected when we met a few Irish people who cleared my doubts, that it’s a myth
and not as above. To say that the pub was right out of novels and books
that I have read during my college days would be clearly an understatement. Wooden flooring, the deep smell of rich coffee, the old Irish sayings hanging on the
wall, kind of transports you to another space and another time.
The pub is located on the first floor of the hotel.
The lift leads you right into the passage lined with portraits of old Ireland
and old Irish sayings. Further on it leads to a comfortable lounge with plush sofas,
bar stools and a fully stacked bar. The bar,I was informed was very well equipped
with all kinds of alcohol suited for any occasion or palette. Strangely
enough,I was informed that children were allowed entry to the pub.
Further in there is a larger seating area, some
cordoned off into cubicles with a DJ station and a make shift dance floor.A
clear demarcated space is available for smokers at the far end of the pub.The pub,I was told can seat and hold close to 240 at any given time.Well,I must say, that's a big pub.
The ambiance is by far what would draw crowds to
this place, its subdued lighting, quaint tables and chairs and the softened
music (probably for us I guess) is just brilliant.
As it was a CFG showcase and what was close to us
as a group is food, let me begin by saying I have never had Irish food or for
that matter been to an Irish pub,as such would be the last one to judge its food.
However I know good food from bad and this food was excellent, well plated,
fresh and absolutely delicious. The food started in sequence from the soups,
starters to the main course and desserts; it was an endless sampling of just good
food.Priced at an average of 450-500 per dish,each ones as spectacular as the next one. Don't just go there for a pub experience,but go as well for the quality of food and the visual splendor that the club is.
The Moon and Sixpence, to my knowledge is going to
be the next new revolution in the pub scenario. It has huge success written all
over it and could be just the change Chennai has been waiting for.
So those of you, wanting a change in the pub atmosphere,
do head over to The Moon and Sixpence, I am most certain you will enjoy your
time there.
The pictures are courtesy good friend Roshan Kuruvilla Thomas...thanks Rosh.
Thanks to Karan as well.
