Virat Kohli's One8 Commune opens its doors in Bengaluru. (Supplied)
Cricketer Virat Kohli’s fandom in Bengaluru is quite big and known to all. Given his association with the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it’s but understandable why there is so much buzz around his restaurant chain One8 Commune. The resto-bar recently opened its doors in the heart of Bengaluru.
Befittingly located only a stone’s throw away from M Chinnaswamy Stadium, One8 Commune is barely a month old. The buzz it has generated by now is evident by the number of packed tables and long waiting lists.
“Most of the guests who have visited the place are all Virat fans,” the team tells South First.
Revealed as the eighth (after Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata) and most expansive establishment of the brand, the Bengaluru restaurant sprawls across over 18,000 sq ft.
Spanning three floors, the 350-seater features stunning Bohemian decor and caters to diverse patrons. You find couples on dates, groups of friends, and families on a night out.
Spanning three floors, One8 Commune caters to patrons of all kinds. (Supplied)
As we land on the sixth floor of the building (which also houses Tonique) we are greeted by Kohli’s signature, blown up large and lit in neon. There are two chairs right in front of it, inviting guests to click that perfect picture for Instagram.
We are guided upstairs to the rooftop for the preview dinner. The rooftop is scenic with views of the stadium as well as Cubbon Park.
“As the name suggests, One8 Commune is all about the community and the idea of togetherness,” the team tells us as they show us the seating arrangement. All the invitees are seated together across two big tables.
“The idea is to create a community atmosphere by making people from different places sit together and talk,” they add.
The drinks menu offers a mix of classics and innovative community cocktails.
Collective Quaff (Supplied)
While there is an extensive selection of beers, wines and liqueurs, our suggestion is to go for the signature cocktails.
The Whiskey Sour was light, mildly sour and loved by all. The colurful Ripple and Revel, is the perfect tropical drink. Following multiple recommendations, we tried the Collective Quaff. The signature cocktail is a combination of peach gin, blueberries, and a hint of naruneendi (an herbal plant with multiple medicinal properties).
There are also some standout cocktails such as the Galactic Gala, Starfire as well as the Spirit of the Wild.
The food menu is extensive. From chaats, baos, pizzas, steaks to sushi and more, there’s something for everyone. For starters, we tried what we are told is Virat Kohli’s favourite — the Mushroom Googly Dim Sum. Purple-hued, filled with wild mushrooms, truffle oil and bound with vegan cheese, this vegan dim-sum will surely blow your mind.
The diverse food spread at One8 Commune. (Supplied)
We also sampled the Tartare Topped Avocado. Slices of buttery avocado topped with crispy corn, Japanese mayo, sriracha, scallion, this one is wholesome. For the health conscious, there is a Super Food Salad which comes with assorted mesclun greens, roasted pumpkin seeds, watermelon, and amaranth seeds.
Out of curiosity we tried the Jalebi chaat, which to our surprise wasn’t a sweet dish but a a twist on our Indian snack with nylon sev, mint chutney, sweet curd, pomegranate. Not a bad fusion.
The Beirut Hummus became the table’s favourite in no time. The buttery smooth Middle Eastern delight came with crunchy lavash and soft pitas.
Fish lovers must try the Baked Fish Monray, which comes with succulent small pieces of fish with delicious yellow pepper sauce. The Lamb Galouti Kulcha, with its spicy and soft lamb filling makes for a hearty meal.
After all the starters, if you feel like ending the meal with a pizza, we suggest you go for the Burrata Basil–simple, soft crusted and flavourful.
If there is room, which I didn’t have, for dessert, the table’s vote is for Textures of Coconut which comes with coconut jelly, chocolate soil, green coconut caviar. Another option is the Pull-me Cake — a delightful and rich mix of gulab jamun, goat cheese, pickled nuts, cold lava.
With its scenic views, appealing decor and diverse veg and non veg offerings, One8 Commune is worth a visit, whether you are a Kohli fan or not.
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