Sen5es

Critic´s Review

• Food: 3 / 5
• Service: 3 / 5
• Decor: 3.5 / 5

-By Deepali Gupta

light and airy, single diners are actually treated like royaltynnThe long awaited Pullman Hotel finally opens its first restaurant to the public. It's just the coffee shop so far: two more restaurants will be open before long.nnAtmospherics: Pure white marble, multiple glassed-in counters and coloured glass art work on the walls makes Senses look pleasant. The 'high table' consists of an old-fashioned square table made of real wood from railway sleepers (Pullman was originally in the business of railway wagons). All single diners can opt to sit at the table so that they're not alone. It is just one of the innumerable quirky ideas that the hotel contains.nnTable Talk: The buffet is not only extensive, it is more interesting than the brief menu. There is a range of cold cuts, the likes of which you don't get to see in the NCR. There is also a small but interesting cheese platter, featuring an organic Vacherin from Manali. That's Pullman for you: they will ferret around for an inspired local substitute of an imported ingredient wherever appropriate. There is a range of innovative flavoured waters: orange and ginger, apple and celery and so on. There are also cold consommes: I tried a pepper consomme that was a revelation. There were also steamed prawns in their shells and slipper lobsters, as well as pizza from a wood-fired oven.nnBasically, there are three live counters in Sen5es: Indian, Chinese and pizza. The latter is the most interesting: a pizza acrobat from Sicily is on the premises till Tuesday to show off his skill and to train the staff who has reached a surprising degree of proficiency. The pizzas have interesting, off-beat toppings and are well worth a try.nnPlus and minus: The menu could be much more interesting and varied than it currently is. I ordered a noodle soup 'your style' (Rs 350) from the menu, but the noodles were the readymade variety and the stock lacked any distinctive flavour. On the plus side, the bread, served free of cost with every meal is the most delicious wholewheat with prune and walnut you can hope to find.nnDo not miss: Pizza Bianca, Smoked salmon sandwich, tandoori jhinga