Mischief Dining Bar

There was much talk about this restaurant when it first opened, and none of it was about the food. Muscle-man Suniel Shetty's brand finally hit Hyderabad, and there were enough celebrities gathered to take the focus off everything else. But at the end of the day, when the stardust had been swept off and Mischief was on its own, the cautious Hyderabadi finally went and checked it out. Hmmm, he thinks, was this what all the fuss was about?

Oh, don't get us wrong. Mischief is all it promises to be, a place with nice if somewhat cluttered d飯r, pleasant service, and a menu that takes a couple of days to wade through. And you will, most likely, have a good time here. But whether you'll make it all the way back for seconds is a doubtful thing.

Oriental in theme, Mischief serves Italian, Mexican, Continental, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian and Indian cuisine. Phew. Zen symbols and Indonesian masks cover the walls, and a big Buddha reclines in front of an aquarium.

You will need your steward's help in deciding what you want, and thankfully, the service here is quite helpful. Let's tell you of the more delectable starters on offer. The Paneer Tikka Kebab and the Saut饤 Babycorn dishes are pretty good. As is the Chicken Yakatori, which is skewered and cooked, and the Hara Kebab with its oh-so-delicious mint chutney.

The main course has a very good plate of Thai Fried Rice with chillies and basil, or you can go Mexican with the Herb Rice. With either as base, you can order the Thai Red Curry, the Pomfret In Schezwan Sauce, or the Crisp Vegetables In Garlic Sauce. Pasta-lovers won't be disappointed by the Sophia Loren, or the Escalope Of Chicken, served in a lovely white sauce. If you decide to make a meal of kebabs, try the roti platter as accompaniment. The Makkai Di Roti is especially good.

Popular desserts include date pancake with ice-cream and caramel custard - there's no escaping it, and they do a good version of it here. Qubani-ka-Meetha is as well-loved as it is everywhere else. Not as much choice in this section.

Mischief also has a private dining room, with a bar and karaoke, which can host up to 25 people. The restaurant's bar offers a special range of mocktails, and the ice tea, with its range of seven flavors, is the most requested.

Most of its crowd visits Mischief on the weekends. This is not the sort of place you 'do' between shopping, simply because you won't be fit for much activity after a meal here. But that isn't the only reason Mischief hasn't lived up to its much-hyped opening. Being at MPM Mall in the middle of the Abids hustle and bustle, makes this restaurant a little out of the way for most people. We don't mind traveling for our food, but not when there's stiff competition from closer home.