You know The 1970s Café really wants you to sing for your supper when you embark on the long three-storey walk up to get to this new Italian eatery. And in a fitting end to our musical metaphor, we were seated next to a wall-mounted saxophone, with a view of Cat Stevens, Beatles and Bee Gees picture frames. Taking notes!

While the bright red walls with black and white images is a bit clichéd, the space still manages to please with an open kitchen and fun bar that will alas, only serve mocktails until the liquor license is acquired. Over a too-sweet virgin appletini and an overwhelmingly minty Italian Smooch, we browsed the menu featuring pastas, pizzas, mains and dessert.

Prawn And Off

The meal started with gambroni alla barbeque, a plate of prawns with an overkill of barbeque sauce. Following this disappointment, we had our hopes pinned on the pizza that was up next. Ours was a half-and-half featuring one part chorizo-e-gorgonzola and part prosciutto-e-rocolo, which arrived quickly and oven-fresh, on a smooth wooden carving platter. The thin crust was done almost perfectly, but the pie did not come without flaws: negligible amount of cheese, missing pepperoni we were promised, no rocket accompanying the prosciutto. Our waiter apologised politely, blaming it on a printing error in the menu and the absentmindedness of the chef. Reservations for a guilty party of two?

Next up, pumpkin ravioli with a yum spinach, gorgonzola and walnut sauce, and a pumpkin stuffing that was just the right amount of sweet.

In keeping with the courses that came before, our meal ended with a less than spectacular tiramisu that was ultimately on the house to make up for the pizza fiasco. Sweet! Well, sort of.

Flight Kitchen

To summit up, The 1970s Café is yet another Italian joint, up yet another long flight of stairs in The Village. One that really needs to get its kitchen in order if they want diners to attempt a second trek.

Getting there: The 1970s Café, 2, HauzKhas Village, call 26521970, Rs 2,000 for a meal for two without alcohol.

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