Detroit- A ‘Spirited’ Drive and Refreshing Vibe!
“Detroit is known for its automobiles; It really built the nation on wheels; To me, Detroit means a different thing; It’s got the little girl that makes my heart sing.” -The Satintones (Motor City)
I’m not sure if the Satintones were singing about ‘Detroit- the city’ or ‘Detroit- the hip garage styled bar’ in Connaught Place (CP), Delhi. With vintage car models all over the place, a live band set up, and an interesting food and drink menu to choose from, ‘Detroit- the bar’ is quite something else to me!
Situated in F Block, CP, the place is hardly 20 meters from Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. Detroit is a complete step-away from the run-of-the-mill bars in CP. It is spacious, well-lit, airy and has a very welcoming vibe. Not surprisingly, it is always crowded- albeit not overwhelmingly so.
Decor wise, they take their theme very seriously. Some of the tables here are placed within vintage cars so you get the feel of dining inside a classic motor (at an extra cost, of course, but it’s worth it). It is the only non-risky and acceptable way to sit in a car and drink if you know what I mean.
They also have a place set up for live bands, sports matches, and small get-togethers. They have an elaborate menu with something for everyone.
After taking in the ambience, I had decided to dive right into the cocktails menu.
The Flaming Lamborghini
If you fancy flamed drinks, this is the one for you! Packed with the freshness of lemongrass, the zestiness of lime and the polite energy of Ketel One vodka, this cocktail was one pretty charmer in white. There were just two unfortunate things about it: The dancing blue flame refused to be captured on camera! And,
(obviously) I had to put out the flame to drink it!
Apart from that, it made for a refreshing start to a fun evening.
The Kentucky Sour
This cocktail was a twisted take on the classic ‘Whisky Sour.’ It was customised with Johnnie Walker Red Label whisky, lime, gomme syrup and garnished with a flamed orange twist. The cocktail had smoky undertone despite its citric sweetness. It tasted beautiful! If you are a whisky person, you will like this interpretation of the classic. If you aren’t a whisky person, chances are, you will have a change of heart after trying this.
The Classic Cosmopolitan
As a tried and tested cocktail and a personal favourite, the cosmopolitan can never go wrong with the combination of cranberry juice, triple sec, orange zest and Smirnoff vodka. This cocktail felt like a pink chevy- cute and swanky all at once.
Now let’s get some food to go along with the cocktails...
The Oriental Spiced C2
This ‘Detroit special’ lived up to its name. It was a reinterpretation of chilly chicken, and tasted as good as it looked. It worked as a great accompaniment to the cocktails and was great on taste, flavours and quantity.
The Ratatouille Thin Crust Pizza
For a loaded veggie pizza, this dish was just about okay. It took longer than expected to prepare and somehow didn’t live up to the name or interest it created. But at least it tried, and to be fair, it was filling.
From the live band playing a cool set, to the cricket match, to the vibrant colours popping out of the cocktails being served; the place was booming with energy and had a ‘totally chill’ vibe. It felt like a nice long drive with good music and great conversation. If you’re in Delhi, Detroit must be on your ‘Must Visit List.’
And if you’re from Delhi, why haven’t you been there already!?
TL;DR
You get cars, drinks and food- everything Delhiites are passionate about, in one place! Detroit is a must-have experience in ambience, drinks and hospitality. Their Oriental Spiced C2 deserves a special mention along with the Kentucky Sour. A trip to this Garage (bar) is worth it. They’ve got local Sufi bands every Friday and English live bands every Sunday.
Ratings
Food: 3.5 out of 5
Drinks: 4 out of 5
Ambience: 4.5 out of 5
Staff: 4 out of 5
Value for money: 3.5 out of 5
*Drink Responsibly!
