Piccadilia: The Theatre Cafe, New Chandigarh, Chandigarh

Restaurant Name: Piccadilia: The Theatre Cafe, Chandigarh
Phone: +918699333678, +918699333677, +919915088555
Address: The Palm, Manohar Infrastructure & Constructions Private Limited, Mullanpur Garibdas, New Chandigarh, Chandigarh 160009 India
Time: 12:00 Noon – 12:00 Midnight
Meals for two: Rs. 1400
Cuisines: Italian, Beverages, Desserts, BBQ, Fast Food
Facilities: Full Bar Available, Table booking recommended, Outdoor Seating

The Theatre Café, in Mullanpur, houses the region’s first drive-in cinema. Their palm-fringed café, with its cabana-style seating in classic blue and white tones, sports a strikingly Mediterranean appearance. I have found the ambience remarkably lively, especially around their al fresco bar that tosses up very appealing cocktails. I reckon the relaxed outdoorsy nature of the place has much to do with it. Their menu comprises European fare predominantly, and offers soups and salads, grills, pasta, pizzas, burgers and a handful of desserts. They have introduced Lebanese food lately, so expect many a kebab and mezze platter.

Piccadilia: The Theatre Cafe, New Chandigarh: Food

On a visit with friends last month, we picked shareable food to go with our drinks, rather than order individually. That way we could try out an assortment of dishes without over-ordering or overeating. We chose the cheesy and expectedly messy Piccadilia Nachos, a serving of Avocado Bruschetta, Fish Kebabs, and Chicken and Falafel Mezze Platters. The Chicken Chilo Kebab, served on a bed of rice, was an afterthought. It won in a toss-up with the Parmesan Crusted Crumb Fried Chicken that I had tried and absolutely loved on an earlier visit.

Plus & Minus:

The portions were sizeable, more so of the salad; in an ideal world the meal should have ended there. Stacked with all manner of vegetables, fruits, garnished with basil and cilantro, and drizzled with minty-fresh vinaigrette, it was one of the finest and most satiating I have crunched through in recent memory. The Turkish bowl was a first, and I must say the lemon garlic grilled chicken and roasted pepper hummus left a lingering impression. A craving for piquancy that day was assuaged ably by the burger, but it was the creamy parfait topped with summery fruit and granola that truly stole the show. I would return for that alone.