In the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chennai Express, a dialogue by the actor left Dinesh Arora, managing director at the newly launched pub called The Common Room, pondering. “Don’t underestimate the power of the common man,” Shah Rukh had said. In the days that followed, the words reverberate through Arora’s ears, travelling swiftly to the doors of his heart, knocking to be heard. Attention was paid at once, though nothing much came of it then.
Like they say, there’s always a right time for certain things to happen. In Arora’s case, the right time for the words to find meaning was now. With the opening of his restaurant, he’s been able to incorporate the dialogue’s essence into his hospitality environment of his restaurant, as well as its name. The Common Room is a place for the common man, irrespective of his eminence, affluence and ‘approach’. Simple. It’s a place for anybody to eat, read, play, sing and loosen up a little.
The identity of the restaurant lies in its name, which is a far cry from some of the up-market restaurants with needless flummery, snooty waiters, grossly priced dishes and suffocating dress codes. Here, you can walk in wearing bermudas and flip-flops and no one will care. “It’s a place where you can just be,” says Arora, pointing towards one of the couch chairs in the distance. “That’s what you want to aim for when you get here. Select a book of your choice from the library, order food and enjoy our service. Of course, you can play board games too,” he says.
The place offers common man’s grub too; Things one had while growing up—Raastey ka Omellete, Puraani Dilli Kulcha Roll, North Campus ka Pasta, Keema Pav, among others. Lovers Point Pizza, Meat ki Jugalbandi and The Common Room Tiffin Box are also thoughtful additions to the menu. The drinks menu too has some interesting blends, including beer cocktails like Diesel, Skull Island, Walk the Plank, and cocktails like Breezer Wooho, Day Walker, Playboy and Not so Bloody Marry.
Food at The Common Room is just the starting point of conversation. The live music there adds an entertainment dimension that makes the pub stand out among the majority of restaurants. “It’s a great way to promote professional talent that most often goes unnoticed. Now is their time to shine. Tum mujhe talent do, main tumhe stage doonga,” he says laughing.