New Restaurant | This One is for Virat Kohli Fans

All the Virat Kohli fans, please say “aye”! If you like to get up close and personal to your on-field hero, here is a place that gets you a glimpse into his off-field world. The Indian Skipper is quite a foodie and has invested in a couple of restaurants already. His latest F&B venture is one8 Commune at the hip and buzzing Worldmark 2 in Delhi’s Aerocity.

If you haven’t guessed it already, the restaurant is named after the number on his jersey. And sure enough, when you walk in, you’ll find his autographed jersey displayed proudly. The waitstaff are as excited as us about Kohli’s visits, and he happily obliges them with taking selfies, giving autographs and of course reveling in the food on offer. We’re told Kohli is a proper Delhi foodie who can indulge in rajma-chaawal three times a day. While kadhi-chaawal follow as a close second, his fitness regime requires him to stick to a healthy meal plan. So he abstains from alcohol and sticks to nutritious food, like a bowl of red and white quinoa salad.

Kohli's Favourites
Top: Red and White Quinoa Salad
Bottom: Truffle Mushroom dimsum

What’s Hot

We are promptly served the same and we find it is as delicious as it is nutritious, with the combination of balsamic vinaigrette and chives dressing giving it a certain umami. His other favourite on a ‘cheat day’ is truffle mushroom dimsum, which also gets double thumbs up from us. In fact, the menu starts with a section called, “Virat’s Favourite” which includes a Buddha bowl and mushroom sliders, besides the aforementioned dishes.

The Eclectic Choice
Top: Sriracha Tacos; Butter Garlic Prawns
Middle: Spinach and Feta Puffs; Pepperoni Pizza
Bottom: Mock Meat Tikka; Roast Chicken

Among the other fare, the menu that has been designed by Chef Sabyasachi Gorai and Chef Pawan Bisht features a diverse range of multi-cuisine dishes. We start with delicious sriracha chicken tacos, have some fabulous pepperoni pizza, before moving on to a bowl of buttery garlicy prawns zinged up with olives, capers and cherry tomatoes. Vegetarians who look for mock meat options will be happy to know that there are more than a couple of dishes like mock meat tandoori malai tikka, soya keema pav, soya boti kebab and even a mock meat taco. Just as cricket unites the country, even this menu showcases flavours from across India. There are plenty of regional favourites like Amma’s tamarind brinjal, Gymkhana sandwich, and representatives of cuisines from Andhra, Malabar and Goa.

Raise a Toast

The drinks are at par with the food. With mixologist Yangdup Lama concocting signature cocktails, you needn’t expect any less. Cocktails are well priced and offer plenty of choice from millennial cocktails and disco age cocktails and prohibition era cocktails. So you can boogie with Hot Pants on The Rocks, that blends different flavours like Tabasco and apple juice with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, or shimmy with the Bari Manilow Copacabana, made with white rum, redberry puree, lemon juice and in-house Maraschino liqueur. Even though all the sections include interesting gin-based cocktails as per the current trend, you’ll find an additional section of Gin n Tonic Twists. The bartender is happy to help you choose one {or more} to suit your palate.

Chocolicious! 
Top: Chocolate Fondant
Bottom: Five Rivers Mud Cake

Finally, the desserts! Do not miss them, especially if you’re a chocoholic, we highly recommend the chocolate fondant and five rivers mud cake to finish your evening on a high.

What’s Not

The first floor has an entire wall made like a scoreboard featuring seemingly live scores of games of cricket, tennis, soccer and NBA. But alas! These are faux scores. This only makes us wish that there was more to offer for sports enthusiasts, either live scores, screens featuring live games and maybe even a few games like in sports bars in keeping with the ‘Kohli theme’.

Our verdict: one8 Commune is a fun casual hangout that works well whether you’re out with your colleagues or family, romantic date or a rollicking evening with a bunch of friends.

Details:

One8 Commune, 8 Worldmark 2, Aerocity, New Delhi.

Timings: 11am to midnight.

Ph: 011-66992235

This article was first published on LivingFoodz.com on 24th September'19.