Geoffrey’s, Centrestage Mall, Noida – The good pub

Yes, Geoffrey’s indeed is a good pub. But not great; though quite clearly it has potential to be one.

The first impression

Okay, so I was there last evening for a casual eating and drinking experience with my lovely wife. First the décor: The brass bars, both inside and outside, shined well. The mahogany shade of the world around was pleasing, but the lighting too low, I thought. In fact, so low that when I couldn’t even read the menu card and the steward couldn’t place my need to read one very important, I requested for a change of table in one of the corners which was slightly better lit. The stained glasses lamps hanging over some of the tables and the clay models gave a near authentic, engrezi feel. Another thing, in their effort – perhaps! – to be more phoren than they should, I think, the music played was relatively unknown and tad bit louder.

The service

That said let me come to the service, which at the very outset I must say was fast and good (so what if the guys serving had difficulty in understating English very well). I chose to speak in Hindi, to avoid any confusion. It worked well. We chose all vegetarian during the course of the evening. Though I am a non-believing-non-practicing Hindu but out of respect for my dear wife who doesn’t eat non-vegetarian food during the nine auspicious days of navratras presently underway, I gave in to the duties of a good, tolerant husband.

What we ate and drank

Okay, along with the two bottles of Foster’s beer (Rs. 195), we first sampled the tomato and herbed olive bruschetta (Rs. 195) listed as a starter (pictured above). The bread, on which the olives, tomatoes and basil were baked, under a generous layer of mozzarella cheese, was average. The saltiness of the olive preservative was all too prevalent and that made this good preparation seem like just about okay. Plus, perhaps, it could have been a shade more garlicky.

Next we graduated to cottage cheese peperonota (Rs. 295) which both of us found to be truly amazing (pictured above). The roundels of paneer (three of them glued together with heavenly herbs and flavorings) were served in a bed of flavorful and warm Italian peperonata sauce, crunchy vegetables and aromatic yellow rice. Our stomachs were full, so we gave a rather impressive looking list of things sweet a slip. Total cost, a mere Rs. 845, including all taxes and service charges.

Recommendations

A must visit when time is irrelevant and darkness really a necessity. Good, economic place to hang out for longer durations if one has the capacity to adapt to the loud music. Average meal for two with beer: Rs. 800-1200. Cost wise, it is truly a steal.

Kulpreet is now also the Wine blogging expert for Chef at Large

Well, I am truly privileged to be an expert wine blogger on Chef at Large. It is a wonderful community of experts and enthusiasts, a forum really, to put across views ranging from the most serious, to the most casual of experiences, fantasies, information and knowledge. It is a highly interactive medium and I already have some of the articles put up there. Take a look from here.