Seventh Heaven

The Scene
Number-crunchers, rejoice. This building's all about numbers. BNP Paribas. HDFC Bank. Sixth Element. And, perched like an eagle atop its eyrie, Seventh Heaven.

A custom elevator whisks you up several floors ? seven, if you must count ? and opens to a corridor that's flush with plants. Potted plants, of course, they crowd out of every corner and leer at you as you take the crooked walk to the entrance. Tables on the terrace are inviting, on the few cold winter days that Hyderabad experiences every year, but these are only for night-time use.

Turn right and duck into the unexpectedly club-like atmosphere of the air-conditioned restaurant. Club-like in the lighting, club-like in the wood-dominated decor, and club-like in the proximity that grows over you.

Effective use has been made of the level differences and alcoves. Tables are sort-of-kind-of screened from each other, and there's even room for a bar. Most of the tables, however, are for the larger groups. This is not for the romantic couple seeking to linger over that glass of wine and that red, red, rose.

This is not for the single diner, either. Given the setting and the crowd it attracts, single diners will feel like Kim, perched on his cannon, captivated by the river of life flowing swiftly by.

This is for the office-goers. Service is quick, and the waiters know how to deal with that rushed-feeling that's the hallmark of office-workers in this technology century. They'll sweep you off your feet, usher you to a table that fits the size of your group, and with friendly insistence, take care of what you should eat and drink.

If you're here for a working lunch, the bar is ready with that quick beer or cocktail. When the shadows lengthen outside, you can let your hair down, kick off your shoes, and launch into animated discussions about the yesterdays and tomorrows of corporate world. Have no fear: Seventh Heaven will take care of you and your cares.

The Food
Cast off morbid thoughts of obesity and blood-pressure for the nonce and work at play, for a change. Boiled vegetables forsooth! The Atkins diet, the GM diet, and other such culinary straitjackets have no place here. This is the home of the spice, the masala, the fries and the drinks.

The bar can dish out pretty much any mix you can set your mind to, as well as some you can't. The menu is like Hyderabadi traffic rules: a guideline only, meant to be broken as and when convenient. If you're serious about your drinks, it's a good idea to walk up to the bar and have a friendly chat.

Appetisers are often a way to hold off the hunger pangs while the kitchen dawdles over the carbohydrates. Not so in the Seventh Heaven. Service is quick, so you'll pick the starters to go with your soup, your liquor and your conversation. Checking with the waiter on what's recommended for the day is a good idea.

The main course holds standard fare for both vegetarians and for non-vegetarians. As with many restaurants that serve alcohol, non-vegetarian food has that slight edge. Chinese is passable, the taste improving with every cocktail. The Indian fare is a touch heavy on the lubrication, but is certainly palatable.

Appams are a good bet. Opt for either the vegetarian or the meat stew: both are good. The mixed-chicken-and-mutton dishes are different.

If you've room for dessert, you've probably been neglecting the meal. A cup of coffee with an ice cream will wipe away a few of those blues and get you ready for the road again.

The Verdict
Quick, unpretentious, and down to earth. Custom made for that sit-down working-lunch for the office-goers.