Bar review: Upbeat in Bangalore

Upbeat
No, 15, 5th Floor, Favourite Plaza,
Banaswadi Main Road
How much? Rs1,500 (evening for two)

There’s something fun about the swing rock ‘n’ roll music of the 60s and 70s. They can ensure the even those with two left feet can unknowingly begin shake to the rhythm. Sadly, with most drinking places in the city concentrating on rock, house and electro music, the old fashioned dancers don’t seem to have a place where they have the right music and can break into a little jive anytime without feeling uncomfortable.

Run by a family from Chennai, Upbeat is a favourite of the Catholics living around the Cantonment area especially. I landed there on a Saturday night. While one floor was rented out by the African expatriate community in Bangalore for a Mr and Miss Africa pageant, I chose to check out the rooftop lounge. The place was quite packed with families, who seemed to be all set to rock through the night.

Managing to find some space I decided to call for my orders. I started off the evening with Upbeat’s signature cocktails — Lady In Red and Moscow Mule. To accompany that, we asked for chicken momos and Pepper Mushrooms. While we waited for the order, the friendly staff and management chatted with us and told us how the place has karaoke nights and other interesting events that are quite popular with the regulars here.

The Lady In Red is a vodka based drink with watermelon juice, which is quite nice. But, the Moscow Mule would be my favourite pick of the two. This drink with ginger beer and vodka is something that could liven up even the dullest day. With the drinks and cocktails priced very competitively, this place has the charm that reminds you of those family run restaurants by the beaches of Goa and Pondicherry.

Meanwhile, the food arrived on the table. Much like what you’d expect from one such family run place that exudes such warmth, the food is nothing extravagant but you sort of end up liking everything they serve, simply because they don’t have that whole artificiality some fine dining joints bear. The momos didn’t leave any room for complaint and the mushrooms were quite delectable. The crispy fried mushrooms in pepper sauce had us wanting for more, considering our plates was empty in no time.

We asked for Fried Vegetable Wantons along with Apple Martinis for our second round of orders. The martinis weren’t anything extravagant. There was just a hint of apple flavour in what was otherwise a dry martini. It was a change from the extra sweet martinis I am often innundated with. The wantons served with sweet garlic sauce complemented the drink perfectly.

Upbeat is one of those places that you can pick for that fun evening with your folks. Wear your dancing shoes, put on your favourite clothes and get ready to groove to all those oldies that are hardly played anymore. This one is no fancy joint, but it promises a good time the old fashioned way.

Upbeat fact file
Smoking section: Yes
Valet: No
Credit cards: Yes
Music: Retro, classic, pop and rock ‘n’ roll
Dance floor: Yes
Specials: The lounge has karaoke nights every Friday and Sunday. Saturdays, the dance floor is quite abuzz!
Happy Hours: No