Polo Lounge, Hyatt, New Delhi

I don't like going to Hyatt too much since they started the Rs. 100 parking fee - if at all I go there it is always under protest. I do not have an issue with the amount or the fee as such but more with the fact that they do not distinguish between a genuine customer and the GAIL building people who were using their valet service and basement parking which encouraged them to bring about this fee in the first place. For a genuine client - who uses any of the services of Hyatt, they should revalidate the parking fee. In any case, back to the point, recently I discovered a new gem at the Hyatt, which was always there right under my nose - The Polo Lounge. 

Went there recently for a business meeting on a saturday evening around 7.30ish, the idea was to catch a drink. When we got there, the bar was sparsely populated with a few foreigners who were there for their pre-dinner wine / beer etc. We started off with a pint of beer along with our choice of cigars, after a couple of hours the drinks grew heavier along with the conversation and we were on our second cigars now (of which they have  a very good selection). Then hunger pangs began and we decided to have a look at the menu - expecting finger food only, but we were mistaken - the food ranged from pizzas of La Piazza, Kebabs from Aangan and some stuff from TK's too which I forget. We settled for some kebabs from aangan which weren't half as bad as I remember Aangan to be. It was the basic menu of all the restaurants (obviously, they do not want to take away the importance of the restaurant itself), but the concept of being able to spend a couple of hours there having food, drinks and smoking options was good. The Ambience was unique, atleast for that particular night, we had illustrious company - Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra on one side and Nanda & Shveta Bachchan Nanda on the other along with their respective safari suit clad security people hawkingly observing our every move. 

For a relaxed evening with some good drinks, variety of food, great ambience and at the pretext of having a business meeting getting some good time in, Polo Lounge is ideal !

Food: 7.5/10

Ambience: 8.5/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

Value for Money: 6.5/10 (carry your hotel card)

Repeatability: Yes

Cost: Varies on how long and what you do there

Sanchos, Mexican

Mexican, South Extension, South Delhi

With bated breath I read the review of the new mexican restaurant in town, it joins not too many pre-existing mexican joints in the city (I do not understand why that is the case, mexican cuisine after all is a close cousin of Indian food - beans, rotis-fajitas, sauces like chutneys etc.). There are only a handful of mexican joints in Delhi such as Rodeo, TGIF and another new joint opened by the market cafe people at the Janpath Hotel. I mark a caveat on the use of the word mexican here since most of these restaurants actually serve tex mex cuisine and not mexican cuisine - the former being an anglicised version of mexican food with heavy influences of southern american flavours. 

At the first opportunity which presented itself, there I was sitting in a group on a Saturday night at Sanchos (which has replaced the older Delhi Devils) on the 3rd floor of the restaurant - there is also a 4th floor with the bar and more seating. The music which seemed to be live DJ music (could not figure out as most of the speakers and the mythical DJ seemed to be on the floor above - but the music was good, quite good. The place is spacious and has high ceilings giving the restaurant a regal feel. The ambience is quite good with most of the tables occupied by foreigners (even they love mexican cuisine). We were in a group and ordered a few margheritas (but of course) which were quite good and followed it with a round of beer. This was accompanied by the nachos with various sorts of dips - which in my opinion were all more or less regular - there was a mango sauce which was different (mind you not good but different). For the main course we all ordered different stuff - no one actually said the food is good - 'cause it wasn't - again it wasn't bad either, but I will not be going to Sanchos for the food - but more for the ambience and the pocket friendly drinks. 

A great place to get a group together or drop by for a drink post work. Well located, service is enthusiastic, food is average, drinks are good. Overall - I am glad there is a mexican choice in town - high time ! Cheers !

Food - 6/10

Ambience - 8/10

Service - 7/10

Overall - 7/10

Value for Money - 8/10

Repeatability: Yes

Cost: Rs. 750 / head