They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab
When we pictured a club called Rehab, we imagined a stark space with white padded booths and fake capsules in shot glasses doled out by bar maids dressed like nurses. But that clearly isn't the case at the soon-to-open bar at Linking Road, Bandra where bpb got a sneak peek last night. The 1,700 square feet bar (formerly Shooters) owned by Suvedh Lohia - the fellow behind Fellas cafe - houses medieval chairs and laser lights and furniture that gives you advice. So lights spell out "be amazing", tables tell you whether you're 'insane ' and wall posts urge you to 'whip me'. As one of us Scouters leaned towards the 'sane' table (yes, you think otherwise, but who asked you anyway?), the floor pointedly told us to 'loosen up'. While most of these are fun, we're not sure we can say the same about the random notes scrawled across grungy walls that don't go with the decor in the first place.
As for the interior not having a literal connection with a rehabilitation centre, Suvedh says it's simply a place you go to get rehabilitated after a hard day at work. For group therapy sessions, Rehab also has a fun medieval style table with a pair of thrones resting under a carpet of rainbow ceiling lights that you guessed it, change colour to the beat of the music. Nights of the round table, anyone? Misfits at Rehab include trunks with British flags on them, a Marilyn Monroe-inspired pop art picture and random sketches of women on the walls. But like Suvedh says, "everyone is welcome to sign up for Rehab".
Pump Up the Basa
The kitchen, headed by the chef who formerly worked at Le Soleil (Juhu), has a surprisingly vast number of dishes on offer for a bar, featuring everything from sushi and dumplings to risotto and soft shell crab. In fact, only 30 per cent of their menu will feature fried bar snacks, we were told. The chef recommends you get the zucchini rolls and basa fish in orange sauce. Tenders of the bar wear T-shirts asking if you need a check up, and recommend the grape mojito. The drinks will be priced between Elbo Room and Trilogy, with a cocktail costing Rs 700.
It was only when we were leaving did we notice the restrooms - one said 'stable' and the other, 'unstable'. A lengthy debate about which was for which sex was interrupted by the staff telling us that the 'unstable' was unisex. You do see things more clearly at Rehab, after all. Unless of course you've had too many grape mojitos.
Rehab is slated to open on January 10, but we suggest you call before to check or follow us on Twitter (@bpbmumbai) for updates.
Getting there: Rehab, Linking Road, in the lane after National College, Bandra (W), call 26002224/5/, Rs 700 for a cocktail.
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