Bar Baar – The place you’ll want to visit #AgainAndAgain

Social Hub & Gastropub – that’s what they call this trending spot in D-town: Bar Baar. Located at Majestic Hotel Tower in Bur Dubai, this uber creative restaurant with some seriously quirky interiors opens doors at 12 noon as a shared workspace and transforms into an upbeat, entertaining night spot after sundown, all the way until 3 am in the morning.

So basically, you get to mingle, eat (and drink) with your co-workers all day while getting that work done, thanks to their attractive workplace packages.

And if that’s not enough, you can drink some more later in the evening and make the most of their special nights, every night of the week including bands, comedians, live DJ and much more.
Psssst: On Tuesdays they have a Wholesale night with selected drinks priced at just AED 10 each!!!!

Literally translating to ‘Again and Again’, Bar Baar’s concept is to get people coming back to enjoy more of their famous Indian café bar hospitality. Read on to find out about the food and drinks we tried at this gastropub.

Amma

Have you ever had rasam in a cocktail? I’m pretty sure you haven’t (unless you tried it at home, of course). This spectacular drink at bar Baar called Amma is one of the most creative concoctions I’ve come across in Dubai. The addition of rasam to the drink offers a royal flavor, which serves as a tribute to the charismatic lady who lived her life royally.

Other ingredients include tamarind, tomato juice (reminiscence of bloody Mary), black pepper and coriander leaves. Served along with the South Indian murku for a side of crunch with the cooler, this one’s truly refreshing.

But this is not the only drink that has a quirky title. One of the sections in their drink menu called ‘Lootere’ (thieves) is inspired by the politicians of India, and incorporates ingredients and names based on their personalities. Now that’s something cool isn’t it?

Kanda Bhajiya

Nothing beats the classics. Simple, albeit stylish, these onion fritters are quite the bomb. A very generous portion offering a mix of spicy flavors with crunchy textures makes the Kanda Bhajiya almost a default order at Bar Baar. Now here’s something I would order ‘Again and Again’.

Shakarakand ki chaat

What’s that in the shadows?

No, I’m not referring to myself, but to the bowl of Shakarakand ki chaat. Very much like your regular bhel (and one of my new found favorites), this portion of goodness is made with sweet potatoes instead and all typical garnishes of tomatoes, sev, chutney and coriander. Have you tried a sweet potato bhel before?

Baa-Pu

Quite a giveaway, unless you refer to every other person with that name, this drink is inspired by the man who loved beetroot juice. Made using a mix of beetroot puree, apple juice and dehydrated beetroot, this drink is frozen to the top with dry ice and served alongside a copper straw. The rustic-stylish cocktail requires you to break the ice with the straw and sip in all the frozen fruit (vegetable) goodness bit by bit.

It is served with a spoon of orange marmalade caviar, because, why not? Ask for an extra straw though, the copper one tends to get too frozen.

Prawn Kolbi Fry

Prawn lovers rejoice! Because you are not going to want to miss out on this one. Very similar to the Kanda Bhajiya, but with little sea nuggets inside, this too, like all the other food items on Bar Baar’s menu is worth a repeat order.

Especially for a prawn fan like me, this is pure gold. The crunch of the coating, the juiciness of the prawns, the spicy chutney, and even the hammer style presentation – all of these just magically come together to create one perfect starter.

Mitro

If the presentation of this drink in a tea kettle does not give it away, the name Mitro surely will!

Named after the man who made his way to the top from the humble beginnings of a teashop, this masala chai brew blends in aromatic star anise with cinnamon and spices to offer a subtle flavor and smooth texture.

Puffizza

Have you ever had pizza on a puff? Well, at Bar Baar you can!
One of their specialties, this Puffizza comes with a lip smacking chicken tikka topping along with olives, cheese and the works.

The base is a combination of crispy, crunchy and flaky puff pastry, which is reminiscent of age-old Parsi cafes in Bombay serving a host of puff pastries with varied fillings.

Spicy Mushroom Khari

If pizza is not your thing, you can also try their Spicy Mushroom Khari, which comes with 4 pieces of light puff pastry topped with mushroom sauce. This was actually one of my favorite dishes from the menu. And honestly, I liked it a little better than the puffizza. The creamy mushroom are a total win. #AgainAndAgain for sure!

Khujliwala

While the name might not be so appealing, this drink definitely is.

A fluffy cotton candy that represents the promises made to #aamaadmi is quickly dissolved with the addition of a passion fruit syrup, coconut cream and lychee juice mix. Sweet, just like the promises, this drink is quite a charmer. I would definitely have this one again, mainly for its coconut and passion fruit flavors, but if you’re a sucker for food theatrics, this one is definitely worth a try.

Jujeh Kabab

Yet another dish highlighting the strong presence of Iranian roots in Mumbai, Jujeh kebab is served on a shield like platter, similar to that of Spicy Mushroom Khari. These chicken kebabs are utterly tender and deliciously juicy. In fact, so creamy are these kebabs, they pair up perfectly with the plain Irani pulav styled rice.

I consider this comfort food, so I might not have this on their Wholesale night, but if I am in for a sit-down dinner, this will definitely be on my list.

Braised Lamb Boti Bao

Bao is definitely picking up a lot of pace in Dubai. I have tried so many different fusion Bao dishes in the last few weeks; it almost does not feel like a Far Eastern staple anymore.

The bao buns in this Bar Baar version are stuffed with tender braised lamb chunks, and covered with a spicy pepper onion relish. Mutton lovers, this one is for you!

Didi

This drink called Didi is inspired from the Eastern part of India. Very unique, just like all the other drinks, this pickle flavored concoction features coconut milk muddled with turmeric and chilli powder, and tempered with curry leaves and sesame seeds. The puffed rice makes a great accompaniment.

Would you try this spicy cocktail?

Baigan Bharta & Flambe Butter Chicken

Very to the point, these were two no-nonsense dishes on my preview menu at Bar Baar. As much as I would have loved to finish them, I was way too full with all the starters by then, and unfortunately for me, these guys didn’t offer take away. I did try a little of both though (couldn’t possibly not do that, right?)

I am used to Baigan Bharta being off whitish in color, with a slight tinge of green and purple and this one, quite surprisingly, is brown. Nevertheless, it’s one of the best, most comforting vegetarian gravies you can order at Bar Baar.

Flambe butter chicken on the other hand is rich, buttery, creamy and everything in between. The chicken pieces in this one (like in all their other meat preparations) are tender to the core. The gravy though is destined to fill you up, so make sure you have an appetite for this before ordering it.

Both these mains pair perfectly with the layered laccha paratha. I am not well acquainted with other bread options on their menu, but if you prefer something less heavy, I am sure they will be able to offer you plain chapati, naan, or the like.

PK

Very simply put, this drink reminds you of the famous Amir Khan starrer where everyone kept asking him ‘peekay hai kya?’ Composed of banana and coffee, this one comes across more like a digestif than a mid-meal drink.

But regardless of the flavors, it’s the sliced bottle in which the drink is served and the chain details that impress me the most. If only I could get them to serve other drinks in this bottle too…

Falooda Ek Number

Dessert drink goals right here! Initially I was confused whether this was a part of their drink list or dessert list. But turns out, it is very much a sober dessert, just like the falooda from your childhood.

Filled right up to the top with all the nitty grittys of rose milk, basil seeds and vermicelli, and topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream with some rose syrup garnish, this falooda is certainly what sweet dreams are made of. Keep some space for this one, please.

P.S. It’s milk based, so make sure you don’t mix it with too much spirit.

Motichoor Cheesecake

While I have seen numerous varieties and fusion editions of cheesecakes, this one certainly stands out. One of the most well-known laddoos in India – motichoor – combines with the global favorite – cheesecake – to create a one-of-a-kind layered dessert that is hard to find elsewhere.

Surprisingly, I am not a fan of either dessert, or most desserts in general for that matter. So I was happy with just a bite (also I was really full). But like all the other dishes on Bar Baar’s menu, this too was top notch.

Bar Baar

Location: Majestic Hotel Tower, Mankhool Road, Mankhool, Dubai
Contact: 04 2482877

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