They all claim to be the bellwethers of new ideas, but upon closer inspection, most restaurateurs that launch new spaces today are nothing more than copies of each other. Of course, in that pool of similarity and familiarity, there are a few like Nest, launched last month, which abandon the need to cash in on being too different. They thrive on the old school philosophy of delivering good food with excellent service. No frills attached.
The need to build his own nest came from owner Sudhir Nagar’s love for Pan-Asian and Continental food, just like it is with many new restaurateurs these days. When passions sore high, dreams manifest in different forms. “It’s true that when one is really fond of something, they work more to achieve it. That’s why I built this nest of my own,” says Nagar.
The Nest has done a few things really well. The bird cage chandelier is one. The other is the large bird-on-a-tree artwork on one of the walls. Besides that, they do a really good Veg Tangine, Jalapeno Margarita, Aglio Olio Pepperenchino Spagetti, Thai Spinach and Coconut Chicken and Artichoke and Palm Heart with Pecorino salad (caper berry, mesculn greens, onion marmalade, asparagus, apple). They also make a good deal of Mr. Chi Ni Shredded Pork Salad, Lost Hill Honey Chili Twigs (French fries, spring onion, sesame), Duck Breast with Roast Apple Puree, Spinach and Ricotta Crepes and Shukmavavit Yellow Curry. “You can never go wrong with Pan-Asian and Continental. Who doesn’t enjoy a hot bowl of Thai Curry and Rice, or a well made wood fired pizza. These dishes are also my personal favourite,” he says.
The menu stays unchanged for the most part, but every four to six weeks, a special music and drinks night is put together, called Under My Umbrella. No prizes for guessing, sundry umbrellas hung from the ceiling—blue, purple, green and red—become the signature props for the evening. It’s a quirky attempt to break the monotony of the ambience. It’s about giving you something different to look forward to. The evening also extends special offers on food and drinks. “The nights are a lot of fun, filled with laughter, and with me running the show, you can always expect a lot of drama-hungama,” he says.