Around the globe in one platter

Yes, the stakes are getting higher with each passing year. Valentine’s Day this year better be a sum total of all the nice things you did all these years plus the ‘X’ factor. While gifting an iPhone or creating a Facebook page for the two of you is so last year, a formal, romantic meal at a new award-winning restaurant seems to be the in-thing. It’s all about fine dining, honey. Keeping the upcoming Valentine’s Day in view, Thea Bar & Kitchen at Film Nagar (Road no 82) in Hyderabad is throwing in extra red into the day.

The 50-seater restaurant with an Irish pub feel has an ambience that is unwinding. Even on a work day, the place feels like a weekend with spirited music in the backdrop. Brown is the colour and smooth is the theme. With a fastfood joint attached to it, it is a good place to send your noisy friends for a burger bite while the couple catch up on sweet nothings.

The Mediterranean specialty fine dining place which also serves Continental, French and Italian delicacies takes pride in healthy garden fresh salads and soups, exotic main course preparations in lasagna, pasta and chicken, fish and lamb besides desserts. There is no dearth of global vegetarian delicacies either!

It is always a good idea to taste a regular dish or drink in a new restaurant to compare and contrast it with your benchmarks. Even something as simple as Blue Lagoon mocktail was served with class and élan. Roasted Pumpkin Shrimp had unique broth that balanced the taste of shrimp with that of pumpkin. Neither too thick nor too watery. Starters - Fish In Oyster Sauce and Ginger (non-veg) and Grilled Zucchini Rolls With Buffalo Mozzarella (veg) proved that the Mediterranean cuisine does have an edge over the other cuisines. Spicy enough to tickle your taste buds yet not so fiery that you cannot distinguish between the flavour oozing out in your mouth when you bite into it.

The only dish that seemed to defy the above observation was the extra spicy Schezwan Chilli Fried Rice, Chinese version ofcourse, but one that reminded the Hyderabadi of Andhra Biriyani. Beef lovers have a wide variety including Fillet Mignon Steak and Stroganoff. Thea’s specialty, says Director Rishi Kapoor, in being able to serve its customers customised food. “Tell us what you want and the chef will rustle up just that.” Seafood and continental veg lovers also have a good variety.

The menu book literally runs into pages when it comes to sub-heads like pasta, risottos and red meat. The Chicken Peti Spinach and Cheese (stuffed chicken breast served with roasted potato wedges spring veg and red bell pepper coulis) gets the thumbs up for its taste, texture and portion.

Those who love to experiment with global cuisine will find a big variety and luckily the staff will explain to you in detail the kind of fish they use or how exactly a dish is prepared.

The best thing always has to be saved for the last, they say. Although Thea’s dessert list is not too long, be it Seasonal Fruit Flan or the super yummy Fudgy Brownie or the classic Apple pie a la mode are all just what can end the meal on a high note.