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Patiala @ Junoon: Casual Indian may be having a moment, what with the recently opened Desi Shack in Midtown and Old Delhi in Curry Hill, but Junoon's new Patiala cocktail lounge is anything but casual. The Indian-inspired elegance of the restaurant eases into the lounge, opulently outfitted with ornate jhula swings, wood-paneled walls, curtain canopies and a long obsidian black bar. Cocktails are inflected with Indian flavors, from the strands of saffron swirling in champagne in the “Sparkling Saffron” (though tartly tasty, the texture’s a bit off-putting, $12) to the masala-infused dry vermouth in the “Spice Trail” martini ($14). The lush lounge offers a selection of small bites from Junoon’s just-Michelin-starred menu. Nosh on squash-blossom pakoras with cilantro-yogurt chutney ($11), spicy piri piri shrimp ($14), and lamb kebabs punctuated with pippali pepper and rose petal ($14). Despite the dapper décor, the sensuous space is less stiff and stuffy than Junoon while still retaining the museum-like quality. Maybe it’s the fact that whether you’re hailing a drink from a Nehru-jacketed bartender or settling into one of the artfully arranged seats, you’re constantly on display at Patiala. Patiala might have been conceived as a place to casually lounge, but ultimately, it's more a place to be seen.
Reviewed: 10/13/11 |
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