premiere spicefest

Hidden off Park Lake Drive is an innocuous restaurant called Premiere Club. Very simple in decor but the Hindi movie playing on the screen sets the context straight. The menu helps too. The last time I came here was over a year and a half ago. Nothing much has changed -- there was just one other table occupied by a group of gaggling arguing gents. Memories of India. The food may turn off people who watch their oil and spice, but this is their loss. The tikka appetizers (chicken/paneer) could knock your socks off, and once you're done with them, you're left with red pepper seeds floating in spicy oil. Not too much oil, mind you, but ymmv. We placed our order in typical group dinner fashion -- three entrees, supplemented by rice and quartered naans. From the free paapads that tickle your palate as you peruse the menu card to the final burp, a splendid (eye-watering, perhaps) time is guaranteed for all. And if the hardware is set up, you could even end the night with a Hindi film hits karaoke session -- something my friends indulged in the last time we were here: just when I thought I had heard enough versions of khaike paan banaraswaala and o mere dil ke chain!