Soliloquy

This is the first of a series of blog posts co-authored by Samaya Prasad and me. 

Hard Rock Café, a resto-bar franchise famous for its outlets across the world, always gets us giddy and excited as huge fans of rock. The most striking feature of it is that each outlet has a unique ambience, rock-and-roll memorabilia, and aura to it. No two places look similar. 

The outlet at the GVK Mall in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad is noteworthy in this aspect too. The cuisine served is American, with some naturally Indianized options to cater to local tastes. The ambience is accommodating with its memorabilia of apparel, records, accessories, and instruments (particularly guitars) of iconic rock and pop artists who defined the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The most striking piece in this outlet is a large framed portrait of the Beatles to go with a big set of drums on the stage. A true treat and conversation starter for fans of rock or indeed, a curious audience. 

The best part about this outlet though, is its rock playlist! It is the most enjoyable experience for a fan to be able to drink and dine while listening to their favourite rock tracks on a terrific acoustic system. They not just play rock, but also yield to the echelons of other mere mortals depending upon the theme for the day. To be sure, this outlet looks older and more rustic with a laid-back vibe.

What makes the HRC experience most enjoyable is that every weekend, a live band is asked to perform, as is the case in all its outlets across the world. Be it a local artist’s original compositions, the occasional Bollywood, indie and pop hits- and of course, rock- or even going as far as tribute performances, the cafe has it all. While one might argue that it’s not very Puritan for HRC to step away from its rock roots, it has to be done in Hyderabad to attract a wider customer base. 

There are a lot of contrasting views on this subject (on which even the two of us differ) but HRC just does what it has to do to stay afloat. There are also multiple screens which offer comfortable viewing experiences for live sport. The weekends get exciting with a lot of dance-worthy tunes being played and people shaking a leg (the HRC franchise has a ritual of closing for the day by playing the ‘YMCA’ theme song worldwide, with the staff getting onto the bar counter and dancing.)

Don’t miss this entertainment-packed experience at the Hard Rock Cafe in GVK Mall, Banjara Hills. The staff is friendly and the service rather fitting. There is very little to not like about the HRC experience here. We’ve had the most special experiences, conversations and times here.

What we liked about it: The options on the food menu are humongous, and one can truly be spoilt for choice. The ambience of the cafe once live music sets in is noteworthy. The memorabilia is worth taking a few looks at for those truly interested in the history of rock. (On a side note, it is also worth noting that metal has been completely bypassed by the cafe as a whole.)

What could have been better: For true-blue and moralist rock fans, the Hard Rock Cafe at the GVK Mall is, sadly, not the place to be. To cater to an audience comprised quite significantly of a generation that has grown up in environments diametrically opposite to what rock music signifies, the cafe has shed its aura of exclusivity. While not necessarily a bad thing, it does not offer the niche experience that you may be looking for.

Samaya
Taste: 5/5
Ambience: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money:  4/5

Mohul
Taste: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value for money: 3/5

Signed,
SP and MB

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