Effingut Brewerkz, Kharadi.

The al fresco area of the third outpost of Effingut Brewerkz, located in World Trade Centre, Kharadi, offers views of the horse-shoe shaped glass structures in the adjacent Eon IT Park which are more stunning in the evenings with all those lights peeping out of the windows. It's also strangely ironical to observe people slogging their backsides off in their cubicles while you're merrily glugging fine craft beer and feasting on delectable nosh and listening to The Eagles reminisce about another Tequila Sunrise. Damn, alcohol makes everyone philosophical! 

Chicken Thecha Roll

This third outlet is not as expansive as its elder siblings in Koregaon Park and Baner but the vibe and heart are firmly in place. Wooden benches and panelling, the regular playlist comprising classic pop and retro rock followed by Bollywood remixes {a.k.a. - my cue to make a quiet exit} and warm service are all Effingut's signatures that have been carried forward to Kharadi as well. So what's different? Well, located within a commercial zone has necessitated the addition of a few dishes like kathi rolls and 10" pizzas that serve their patrons popping-in for post work pints well.

Kölsch

Loaded BBQ Potatoes

Crispy Chicken Bites

My favoured brew of late, the Grapefruit IPA, not being available on tap allowed me an opportunity to try some of the other beers - Kölsch, Best Bitter and American Pale Ale. Fine beers, all of them, but I stuck with the Best Bitter for the evening. Loaded BBQ Potatoes*, crispy till the last morsel and redolent with smokey BBQ sauce but lacking the generosity of cheesy goodness; Chicken Spring Rolls; Crispy Chicken Bites, crunchy popcorn sized deep fried chicken served with a tangy dip; Golden Fried Prawns*, satiating but a tad soggy with the unnecessary smother of sambal on the prawns; and Tequila, Lime and Thyme Prawns, in which all the 3 starring ingredients were conspicuous by their absence even as the dish works as a creamy seafood preparation, arrived as nibbles to go with the beers.

Golden Fried Prawns

Pulled Pork and Bacon Pizza

Kathi rolls and pizzas followed, both adequately substantial in size and fillings / toppings. While the Mexican Veg Roll was stuffed with cottage cheese, bell peppers and onions, the Thecha Chicken Roll came with succulent pieces of chicken marinated and grilled with the incendiary Maharashtrian chilli-garlic paste. Both the Quattro Formaggio {orange cheddar, parmesan, scamorza, mozzarella} and Pulled Pork and Bacon pizzas scored on taste though the pizza bread was more flat bread like in texture. I'm happy to neglect that flaw and recommend  you try either {or both} of the pies on your next visit.

Hazelnut Cheesecake

The Hazelnut Cheesecake had a lovely layer of Nutella and the cream was light and delicious as well, but the consistency suggested that the dessert veered more towards a mousse than a cheesecake. The Hefeweizen Banana Trifle* was a tad disappointing with a banana flavour that wasn't very nice on the palate.

{*After our tasting session we gave feedback to the chef and management about the dishes we thought needed some tweaking. A few pics from blogger tables following ours show that some of our suggestions have been incorporated and so: a} Loaded fries seem to have more cheese sauce, b} The Golden Fried Prawns aren't doused with sambal but the sauce is served separately, and c} The Hefeweizen Banana Trifle is now topped with a layer of caramelized bananas. I've yet to taste either of these dishes though.}

{The bloggers table was hosted by Effingut Brewerkz, Kharadi.}