Everything Fishy!. Review on Something Fishy, Madhapur, Hyderabad

Location: Situated next to Durgam Cheruvu (formerly known as Secret Lake) on second floor to give you a view of the lake.

Ambience: Filled with smoke all the time, this restaurant needs some good airconditioning to keep it less stuffy. Lights are dim and the music is just about OK. It is crowded most of the times but you always have an option of taking your drink downstairs and sit on those plastic-chairs facing the dirty and stinky lake.

It is generally very noisy and the gentry is bad to average.

In short:

As the name says, there is something fishy about this place. Good for bachelors. It is stuffy and your wife/gf wouldn't be too amused.

The Bar

The drinks are resonably priced and there is not much choice in terms of brands. On most weekends you may have to settle for a lesser beer because your brand may not be available. In Beer, usually, Kingfisher, RC and UB are avaialble. Whiskey: RC, McDowell, Signature, Blender's Pride, 100 Pipers and Teachers are available most of the times. On weekends, they run out of glasses to serve liqour. In that case, you have to wait a while till he washes a few or you may opt for a disposible mug.

Snacks are not very good but reasonably priced. These snacks are prepared at the ground floor and the waiter goes down to fetch your order up from there. You get a variety of fish recipes but not all of these are good. Also, can't name one here as it depends on the day and the cook's mood.

'Boiled-peanut masala' at Rs. 20 a plate is the best bet. Do ask him to put extra onion. No snack worth its taste is worth eating. You can try manchurian - veg/chicken/gobi/paneer. Ask him to put less salt otherwise you may be cursing me for recommending it. Noodles are bad and are best avoided.

Coming back to the bar. It is a sort of lounge bar. They have around 30 chairs and some 8 tables. Three of these tables can accomodate only two people. These have been placed next to the window giving a view of the lake. They wanted it to be a place for couples but I guess the ambience otherwise does not allow couples to grace these tables. The view is actually good at night and add to it that it does not stink(as it would have if you sat outside).

I am told that these people plan to offer cocktails in near future. I don't know if it is going to happen but you can make your own cocktails if you wish. From a former part-time bartender that is me:) I am not going to get into technical jargons. Will make it simple so that you can prepare it anywhere on the fly.

1. Silken Thorns

Put 30 ml Vodka in a glass.

Pour 10 ml Whiskey and shake gently. Don't stir yet. This gives it the color.

Add (preferably Crushed) ice and top it up with Sprite.

Add another 10 ml whishkey and stir.This gives it the flavour

Add fresh lime-juice (or lemonade) - 1 lemon equivalent.

2. The last drink

Add 60 ml Rum to a tall glass.

Add 10 ml Gin to it. Stir gently.

Add 20 ml Vodka. Stir gently.

Top up with any carbonated Cola drink.

Don't be in a hurry to gulp this down or you may throw up. This one serving will be enough to get you high and wild.

3. Beach Mix

Add crushed ice (ask the bartender to give you some) to a tall glass.

Pour 20 ml Gin drop by drop and keep shaking the glass.

Add 10 ml Vodka and stir mildly.

Add some more crushed ice.

Added fresh lime juice or lemonade - half lemon equivalent.

Top it up with Fanta Orange or any other orange flavoured carbonated drink. Stir gently.

You can have as much as 5 servings of this. It does not hit that hard and is suited for first timers and ladies who want to remain sober yet want to have fun.

HAve fun. I will try to put more of my exclusive cocktail preparations in some other review.

Till then, experience something fishy if you are a bachelor for good.