If one can brave the secluded and lonely floors of Star Tower with the not so visible direction signages, then one is in for a surprise, because one discovers a huge 10,000sq ft multi-cuisine restaurant with both indoor and terrace seating, set on the 60’s theme that is grungy yet classy. Different style of seating, a four side open bar, a jogging machine kept in a corner with many photos of yester year actors adorning the wall. Music is just right to give a feeling of privacy while enough room to strike a conversation.
I ask the director Tania Arnolda about the unusual name, MADNESS and the audience it wants to attract. Madness, she says, is a playground for adults where we provide the place and people bring in the madness. “People who are young at heart and who want to enjoy a conversation while listening to retro music are the ones I am looking at”, she says.
I don’t know if few salads mentioned as bar solids is part of the madness, but I move on to ordering. The Watermelon Frappe salad (Rs 220) is addictive. Nice scoops of watermelon, cottage cheese, kalamata olives, few breadsticks, fried onion done in citrusy-chilly dressing bring up my expectations from this new restaurant. Madness’s own version of Sali Boti (Rs290) of dry and thick gravy is an appetizer and eaten on its own. It is another winner.
Malay Butter Prawns (390) is an exotic dish with tossed coconut and curry leaves. I love the dish except the prawns are small shrimps and the paste can be reduced to go well the overall quantity. Much recommended Vegetarian Chili Cheese fries (260) done in kidney beans is a disappointment. Soggy house-made fries topped with cheese is hardly my idea of an appetizer.
Madness signature vodka based cocktail known by its own name has crushed seeds of cardamom and fails to impress both with the texture and the flavors. However my second drink Sazerac, a whisky based oldest American cocktail is beautifully made but almost at Rs600 post taxes and with no happy hours on cocktails, I find it expensive.
The tenderloin burger (Rs 390) is done medium rare as I ordered and except the bun, I like it. Perhaps Madness is the only place in Gurgaon which does baked potato in a standalone restaurant. The interior was fluffy and skin crisp, just the way it should be, but at Rs 220 for two pieces I find it expensive compared to other dishes it offers. My last dish beautiful looking seafood Laksa (490) is a complete disappointment. Neither is it soupy enough, nor the quantity of coconut milk adequate. Shrimp paste and salt are both low, and after two spoons it is sent back to the kitchen.
Nice Crepes Suzette (Rs220) marks the end of my roller coaster meal. Madness has a lovely theme which is to be polished. It is a classy case where kitchen delays, service training and pricing of few dishes are to be corrected till it can catch fancy of its target segment.
Ratings (Out of 5)
Food: 2.5 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 3.0 | Overall: 3.0
Meal for two: Rs1500 (Without Alcohol) | Credit Card: Yes | Alcohol: Yes
Address: Madness, 2nd Floor, Star Tower, Next to Star Mall and Above Coopers Grill & Bar, Sector 30, NH-8, Gurgaon | Phone: 0124-6460221
