A few years ago, Forresta, a club-cum-diner, stirred up a revolution in Jaipur’s dining scene. That was the first time I witnessed traffic jams outside a restaurant with people (teenagers and adults alike) lining up outside it, only to find themselves inside after a rather long wait. Peer-pressured, I found myself in one of those lines only on one occasion and owing to the lack of space for a human to stand, forget dance, I never returned.
But no two ways, they were doing something right. Many other clubs cropped up in the city around that time but no one could take away Forresta’s clientele for a considerable time. Recently, the news of Forresta’s founders, Maniesh and Pallavi Devraj, opening up a speakeasy-style cocktail bar piqued my interest. I chose a Sunday evening to find out what was happening behind Room No. 102.
“Mirror mirror on the wall, the real fun is behind the wall,” that was the clue on my key card.
On entering, I found a fleet of doors. The trick was for us to locate the right door, enter, find the mirror, tap, and voila! we would be where we wanted to be. Inside Room No. 102.
The Space
I choose to consciously talk about the space before the food. The scale was unlike anything else I had seen in restaurants across Jaipur. The wood-clad walls and ceilings, an expansive bar that lies at the heart of the space, stunning chandeliers, and hues of bottle green and red come together to create a generous space that does not come close to resembling one of those crammed up hidden bars that are currently doing the rounds across the country. But with dimmed lights and female servers dressed in suspenders and newsboy cap, the space stands true to speakeasies and America of the 1920s.
But what killed the vibe of the space for me was the music. I belong to the club that believes in tunes and melodies being the most important element of a restaurant’s ambience. If you have not spent enough time choosing your playlist and more importantly deciding the decibels, you have failed in setting the space right. Live Bollywood numbers were the most out of place element at the restaurant and the volume made whatever the person across the table said, inaudible. “We take Bollywood and jazz them up just to make sure that they fit the space while making it familiar for the diners,” said Pallavi Devraj when I addressed my concern with her.
Well, she is right about Pink City’s audience and their love for familiarity but I continue to believe that what American jazz could have done to the space, Bollywood can never.
The Food Menu
That was my take on the setting. Now to everything delicious that landed on my plate. The small plates Room No. 102 are unmissable. My appeal to you is to not leave the bar without trying at least a few, if not most of them. I started with the broccoli wasabi cloud which features tempura-coated broccoli dunked in a wasabi and avocado mousse. It was simple yet textured to allow the slight pungency of wasabi in the creamy mousse complement the coated broccoli. I devoured.
Up next, came the crispy fried olives, one of Devraj’s reccos. Five tiny fried balls came arranged in a coupe glass. Oozing with cheese and chunks of olives, this one is a safe bet but worth ordering. The chana garlic fry was quite average on its own but would make for great chakhna.
From the two salads, I would recommend you try the burrata and argula salad. Slightly sweet for starters but once you mix it all together, break open the burrata, and take everything in a single bite, it will prove its mettle.
One preparation am proud they have done and experimented with is the kachori ravioli. Kachori is quite intrinsic to Jaipur’s food scene (a pity if you have not eaten the pyaz ki kachori at Samrat- please do) and Room No. 102 gives a ravioli twist to it with its filling, and places it in a ravioli jhol. I was not convinced with the idea first, but everything about the bite worked quite well. The spinach and ricotta crescents were another highlight from the roster. The baked filo coating was crunchy, thin, and perfect to wrap the ricotta and spinach filling. The poached wontons were a little too spicy for my liking but if your tolerance is high, you might enjoy.
From the mains, I only had the appetite for a pizza. Nothing about the peppers and capers pizza stood out for me and not something I would reorder. Other than that, the expansive roster features everything from an avocado and mushroom dosa and Lebanese and Japanese classics to Indian classics like Saag roti and murgh korma. Standouts from the Orient section of the menu include the miso udon noodles with vegetables, bibimbap (both vegetarian and the chicken version), and the Sri Lankan chicken curry.
Heard great things about the blue pea chicken risotto. I couldn’t try but you definitely should.
I have said this more times than needed but no matter how full you feel, there is (and should) always be room for dessert. The Basque cheesecake was like any other you would try elsewhere. The burnt top and creamy heart was indulgent. I also tried their tiramisu which was slightly more bitter than my liking. Served in a glass, I would let it pass.
The Drinks Menu
To the drinks now. Named after professions of individuals who would frequent speakeasies during the Prohibition Era. You could pick the one you feel like on the given day. I chose the night watchman (not because I was feeling like one at all). The whisky-based cocktail came with a torched marshmallow on top and featured notes of dark chocolate. Served hot, I thought the drink was a little too potent for my liking. For those who enjoy a strong whisky cocktail, this could easily become your winter favourite at Room No. 102.
The next one I chose was more floral. Featuring notes of elderflower, rose, yuzu, and fig, the gin-based The Painter was delicious. The ice block was topped with a picture of Mona Lisa sipping on the drink. The rose and elderflower elevated the aftertaste.
Read more: At 304, Three Friends Bring Their College Days To Life, One Drink At A Time
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