When I was working full time as a reporter, I remember coming to the Polo Club at The Oberoi and holding interviews with scores of personalities who visited the city. It was the one, and continues to be, that central place, which had a fantastic space to look over - whether you are talking to a pharmaceutical giant or sitting with your photographer waiting for an interview slot that is getting unnecessarily delayed.
One of the things I remember the most is the endless cups of tea I have had here and how that tea sometimes was the only thing saving me from nodding off during a boring interaction. And that one time when I ended up skipping breakfast and lunch thanks to work and a very fabulous Club Sandwich at the restaurant came to my rescue!
Anyways.. that was a long time ago and since then, The Polo Club menu has had its fair share of revisions to bring in newer trends, newer approaches and some great food. Just one such wave of change has been steered right now by Chef Ajit Raman, who has recently taken over the reins in the kitchen. The idea, he says, is simple - the food business has seen enough of grandiose displays and gimmickry - its time to go back to what its really all about - simple, good, wholesome food. And it is this very approach that you see in the new menu that now features. I was invited to experience the new menu at Polo Club for lunch a while ago.
To understand the menu, you have to know that The Polo Club goes through a few avatars during the course of the day. It begins as a space for breakfast, in the beautiful landscaped environs and around the indoor space - where you can have a leisurely one, or a quick one when you are dashing out for your meetings for the day. Come lunch and you see everything from friends catching up to business luncheons taking place. Early evenings, the mood lighting kicks in, guests settle in with a drink in hand and the food choices can be varied.
Now the food experiences offered have to change to suit the need of the hour. The new Polo Club menu does just that - so if you are a solo diner looking for a meal that gives you the freedom to try out a few dishes at one go, the small plates on offer help you do just that. Or if you come with a ravenous appetite like when the Club Sandwich came to my rescue, you have several hearty meals to choose from. Healthy salads - check, filling gourmet burgers - check, something to go with your drink - check, decadent desserts - check. And oh yes, some delightful new cocktails - doubly checked!
So let me tell you all about what I enjoyed that afternoon with the lovely Pinky Padmaraj.
Let's start with the very interesting set of Barrel aged cocktails that are now on offer - 7 of them to be precise. Imagine your cocktail, created and then aged in wine barrels for a minimum of 21 days before being chilled and presented to you. Let me tell you, you will be sipping on it as though it were an aged single malt, taking in the deep flavour infusions. I started with the Angel's Share, that brought together Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire and Martini Rosso. Since it was a working afternoon I stuck to the one drink, but the Ruby Spritzer, the Cantaloupe Cooler and the Sea Buckthorn Reduction are all on my wish-list now!

From this we moved on to something for which you definitely want to switch off your cellphone, cut off from the world, stop talking and enjoy. The Artisanal Burratta, over asparagus and mushroom in a truffle broth with potato roesti. Let me tell you that after this dish, a small bit of nirvana was definitely mine!
Chorizo Fritters - now these are little babies of fried goodness are good company any time of the day or night.


The trio of desserts that came our way began with the Churros with chocolate sauce. Crispy, sugary, cinnamon laden and that chocolate sauce completed the deal.
The Mini Summer Sundae is a complete party in a dessert bowl and you will like the fact that you are the only one invited to this one!
And when you want to go all prim and proper, yet treat yourself to something sweetly indulgent - the Berries and vanilla gelato is your best bet.
The new menu at Polo Club is something you want to try. Good thing is, just about any meal and any food craving in between will be amply satisfied. A meal for two here is an average of Rs 3000++
The Polo Club
Address: The Oberoi, 37-39, MG Road, Bangalore
Phone: 080 25585858
Cuisine: International
Parking: Valet
Location: You will find it here
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