Noodle Bar

The Scene
Step in to Noodle Bar at Hyderabad Central, and the first thing you see is a smiling Santa for a restaurant manager. Only, he wears business formals, and doesn't gift away manna.

The ambience is a no clat chic display. The wooden benches are high on the style quotient, and a pain in the you-know-where if you intend a long session in 'noodling' or 'sizzling'. Grab a seat on the Chinese characters print lounge if you intend to chat up over the meal.

The restaurant attracts all kinds of junta, and then there are the regulars who walk in with dishful smiles. It's about a no-fuss food experience here. My surprise package - Tambrahm septuagenarian aunties taking turns to 'toss-up' their choice of noodles.

The Food
Thankfully, Noodle Bar is one place you wouldn't find the predictable chowmein, manchurian and other Indian adaptations of Chinese fare. For a start, it's Oriental cuisine, and extends beyond Chinese, Japanese and Thai.

For starters, try Hakka Chicken. Spicy definitely, but leaves a tingle on your taste buds. For the greens brigade, Crispy Vegetables in Schezwan Sauce is your pick. You may even want to try the peppered alternatives.

Oriental Sizzlers do sizzling business here. I bet you have a blocked nose if you weren't forced to stare into your neighbor's plate from all the gastronomic sauces rising in the air.

With a range of noodles to choose from - flat noodles, the popular smoodles, wholewheat for the nutrition conscious and spaghetti for the twist - Toss It Up is another favorite here. Tick your choice of noodles; choose the greens and reds to be tossed in, the sauce you want it to be cooked in, and they "wok" it for you.

A healthier alternative is Noodle Broth, which is fat-free and as much slurp as they'd offer to, yes, "wok" it up.

Oriental Pastas is the way to go if you ain't the noodle person. My favorite - Thai Penne. Glug a beer to wash it down, and you just got over your perfect epicurean indulgence for the day.

Those with sweet sufferings must not miss the sizzling brownie. Sinfully dripping in chocolate sauce and Vanilla scoop, for the extreme experience.

The Verdict
If it attracts business out of grannies and seedlings alike, this place must be strumming the right culinary chords. Amen.