A Kommune-al cocktail party

Occupying real estate opposite the Accord Metropolitan Hotel on GN Chetty Road is Kommune, a new restopub. It's split level, three floors high and even has a soon-to-open rooftop space. Seating is a mix of tables with bar chairs and sofas with pouffes. The low tables hold a selection of crockery and cutlery which is such a neat idea. The bar is on the ground floor, as is the DJ's console. A projector screen covers an entire wall, all the way across 3 floors.

Cuba Libre; beer in a sleeve

Mohit, Kommune's bar manager, makes me a Cuba Libre. The cocktail menu is a condensed one, the bar is well stocked so it's good to let him make suggestions. I try sips of cocktails friends have ordered and find they are fine. The beer is a lot nicer and the bottles are fitted into sleeves to keep them cool and condensation free and that's another neat idea. However, it's the food that's a hit.

Comfy seating

View of the bar from above

Avocado fries, nuts and more nuts

I had been reading about avocado fries that day and that's exactly what I see on the menu.  When it's served, we are told that the fries don't like to be sitting around too long. They are really nice especially when dipped into the salsa; maybe coating them in panko would have made for better textures. Peanuts and cashews are served too. 

Volcano beef

Braised & slow cooked pork ribs

The food menu is impressive. We did have a tough time deciding what to order when we spied Volcano beef. Gently poached egg white formed a border around stir fried beef tossed in soy and oyster sauce. Braised pork ribs with red wine and demi glaze was brilliant. Slow cooked for 2 hours,  the meat just fell off the bone and the sauce was absolutely divine.

Salad of roasted beets, feta and walnuts

Panniyaram in Schezuan sauce

Kommune hasn't neglected the vegetarians. The salad platter of roasted and caramelised beetroot with feta and walnuts. The chef was generous with the beetroot and even though the dressing was sweet, the feta brought about balance. Panniyaram with a schezwan sauce is fusion with a twist. The dumplings were tossed through the spicy sauce and if spice is your thing, go for it!

Lemon garlic prawns

Peppery prawns

Prawn gyoza

Prawns tossed in lemon garlic sauce was yummy. Briny capers brought in lots of zestiness and those prawns were very succulent. Discs of peppery prawns were also very good and came with a serving of battered onion rings. We also ordered prawn gyoza and these looked more like star-shaped sui mai. But the bases were crisp which make them gyoza in a different avatar.

Shish taouk

Kommune serves a range of international cuisines and we had shish taouk from their Mid-Eastern section. Subtly spiced, the cubes of chicken had been well marinated and cooked to perfection.

This pub has great vibes and great food. It's a good place for a business lunch as well on weekday afternoons when you can get a starter, main course and a beverage for 349/++.

Kommune is at 60 & 62, GN Chetty Road, T'Nagar.
Do call 078688000777/ 044 48651119 for reservations.