Poor man’s Aer

How would you like to visit a roof top bar and then trudge up three flights of stairs to get there? We didn’t. So even though The Terrace’s name and prices make it sound posh, we suggest you leave the stilettos and dinner jackets at home.

How would you like to visit a roof top bar and then trudge up three flights of stairs to get there? We didn’t. So even though The Terrace’s name and prices make it sound posh, we suggest you leave the stilettos and dinner jackets at home. Oh, and it’s a vegetarian joint.

HT Image

Unlike contemporaries — Aer (Parel), Dome (Marine Drive) — this doesn’t have a view. Despite being located on Girgaum Chowpatty, all you can see is an ocean of people on the beach and streets below. The beans bags are comfortable, but the heavy railing blocks the breeze, forcing you to keep standing. The good thing is, we presume, The Terrace saves on their electricity bill because a bright hoarding sitting on the same roof lights it up.

Though it launched a week ago, we were only given five options from the menu to pick from. They were generous with the olives and peppers on the eight portions of the bruschetta (Rs 275), but the cheese was missing. Surprisingly, despite being a vegetarian place, the kitchen seemed to have limited vegetables, and every second dish was garnished with either corn or peppers.

Unfortunately, when you’d expect a chilled pint to beat the heat, they offered us not-so-cold old beer (dated November 2010). The fresh fruit peach sangria (Rs 495) began changing things around. The Long Island Iced Tea (Rs 500) was mixed well, but could have been served in a bigger glass, if only to do justice to the atrocious price.

The classic cocktails (Rs 375 to Rs 500) had the usual lot on offer, and nothing that seemed even remotely adventurous.

What we like
The bean bags
The sangria

What we don’t like
The prices
The huge bright hoarding to light up the place