PCO

‘PCO’ at vasant vihar, South Delhi is a cool mytical place to spend evening with friends. This restaurant is so popular that it doesn’t even advertise its entry. The vague and unlabelled entry is guarded by a black PCO box. It certainly heightens the anticipation. How you enter the restaurant is another story. A four digit password is required to beep yourself in like a private club. You need to call in advance and ask them for the passcode. Intimate and buzzing with life PCO has a charm of its own. The dark wood bar with blackboard overhead reflects the menu. Hardbound books with black and white photographs of American idols on the wall sets the American theme. The interiors look like an American home’s drawing room. Thick sofas, tall lampshades, patterned chairs all seems to be inspired right off an American home.

The drinks are mixed by the expert bartenders. Not only are they well balanced, they are delicious too. To munch the restaurant offers butter popcorns, baked nachos, chicken wings, chicken skewers, gourmet truffle fries, bocconcini with basil pesto as a first step towards your meal. Mushroom & cheese and chicken crostini can also serve as a wonderful first course. The restaurant prepares scrumptious vegetarian and lamb burritos to fill your heart. If light salads are what you are looking for then choose between goat cheese salad, caperese and Caesar chilli tenderloin fry. The salads are fresh and dressed in lovely dressing. Pastas in cream sauce and white wine cream sauce is cooked too. In mains artichoke stew is highly recommended. Besides the stew baked aubergines, grilled vegetables, fish ‘n’ chips, sole, tenderloin and BBQ Belgian pork belly are served. Bacon & mushroom stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes & grilled vegetables is one more example of their fine cooking.

The dessert section portrays Philadelphia cheesecake, quark & sourcream cheesecake, fresh mango pannacotta, hazelnut & dark chocolate pave, almond & orange torte and walnut & chocolate brownie. Each of the dessert is delicious and tempting. Do not exit without sampling atleast one of them. The bar menu is extensive with six pages dedicated to cocktails alone. The innovative twists like spiced pineapple julep and the 40 deuce are worth trying. Classics like old fashioned and whisky sour are widely ordered due to their smooth taste. The bartender is talented with liquors and blends them well together. PCO is on the expensive side but that is expected for unique concept and quality service.