Library Bar – Windmills Craftworks!

Bob was in love. There was only one thing running in his mind throughout the day, there was only one thing that he wanted from the past few months. Stalking the profile was something he did on regular basis and admiring the pictures was a daily routine. His wandering mind finally found something to hold onto and his heart was finally captivated by the unacquainted arena. Far out of his reach but not impossible, Bob just couldn’t find the right time for it.

He was in love with Windmills Craftworks.

The city of Bangalore is getting flocked with bars and pubs. Started off with pubs like Nasa, Styx, Pecos and Guzzlers and with that the city has gradually transformed itself into the Pub capital of India. From Arbor Brewing Company and Plan B to places which are revolutionizing the pub scene in Bangalore like Church street social, Windmills finds its place comfortably as a library bar in the overcrowded pub culture.

Ambience

As you step in, you know you are dinning at a place which is nothing less than a 5 star restaurant. Sophistication can be found in every nook and corner of this place which gets overwhelming. The tables are cushioned between the stage at one side and the brewery on the other which obviously conveys how spacious this restaurant is. Sticking true to its tag of being a library bar, the place is decorated with book shelves which houses books of multiple genres.

        The books, the stage and the cozy seat

There is something about this place that captivates your senses, that something is the classiness of a library bar. The alignment of tables and chairs is quite fascinating and the sofas are oh so comfortable. I say this because the kind of atmosphere Windmills offers, you are bound to not get off your seat. You know how there are times when you are seated so comfortably and you just don’t feel like getting up? That’s how exactly it is at Windmills.

There is outdoor seating too which offers quite a view, however I would recommend the indoor seating if you want to get the best of their ambience. Oh and not to forget the pleasure of sitting on a comfortable sofa! :D

Grub

American and North Indian, that’s what Windmills serves apart from the beer which they brew. They have a variety of cocktails which is mentioned in a very interesting manner in the menu. When such variety is offered, confusion on what to have is bound to happen. This variety does not stop at cocktails; there is variety when it comes to beer too. However it’s not the same with food.

The food menu which caters to veg is very limited. For the non – vegetarians it’s not a problem as there is a lot they can choose from, be it American or North Indian cuisine.

Now, here is the best part. What sets Windmills apart from other restaurants in town is how you order your food.  Ipad. Yes, you read that right. The glamour of this place seeps in as you browse through the menu on the Ipad and order your food. The waiter then receives a message and comes to your table to confirm your order. I spent 15 minutes just going through the menu because I was so fascinated by this. No kidding.

We settled for a business lunch, which offers soup, variety of starters, 1 main course and a variety of desserts.

Fancy much?

Having heard so much of the beer they brew, I just had to get my taste buds to try it. Not being a big fan of beer, it is really hard to please me and I must say Windmills managed to do so. Flavour not being very aggressive, the beer was wonderful!

Freshly Brewed Beer

Coming to the tomato soup, it was more like having the tomato curry. Thick and strongly flavoured, it’s opposite of how a tomato soup should be. In no time, the soup managed to change my facial expression from a happy to an annoyed one.

Tomato soup or should I say curry?

In the business lunch there was an assortment of starters. From salads to paneer to fish fry. My favourite out of the lot was the pasta salad. Slightly bland but it works out well unlike the other starters.

Assortment of starters

For the main course, we had to order it from the general menu, one each per head. We settled for fish and chips and a crispy vegetable cheese burger.

The classic English dish, fish and chips was massive. After stuffing myself with starters, specifically the pasta salad, I was quite worried on how I will finish this one. Fish and Chips surprised me. Surprised me by the quantity and quality! The quantity can suffice the appetite of two people! Also, they were very generous when it came to French fries. What I loved about this dish was how the fish was nicely fried. It had that crispy golden look to it and had a taste that could blow your mind.

The Classic Fish and Chips

The sandwich too blew our minds by its sheer size. Vegetables and cheese nicely tucked between two huge slices of bread. A look of it and Bob said – “Holy cow, I can’t finish this all by myself”, two seconds later he says – “But, I am a man, I can do this”.

Yes, he was high on food and no, he couldn’t finish the sandwich. :P 

But, yes when it came to the taste of it, I must say it was lovely. Slightly grilled and over dosed with cheese, it can get very messy to eat and in a place like Windmills, maintaining table manners is important which we failed to do so while munching on this sandwich.

Scrumptious plate of salad and sandwich

For the dessert, there were 5+ items. Unfortunately the main course was so heavy we couldn’t get ourselves to try all of it. Mango mousse and fresh fruits was what we settled for in the end.

It was the perfect way to end the meal. The mango mousse had a glossy texture and the taste which would take you to moon and back. (Figuratively of course :P )

Mango *yuumm* Mousse

Fruits to fill that tiny space left in the tummy

The affair at Windmills was a scrumptious one, no doubt but to be blatantly honest the quality of food could have been better or rather more consistent as the soup and starters were a disappointment but the main course and dessert were delightful.

Service

No complaints when it comes to service. The waiters were highly courteous, something which every customer looks forward for.

In all, Windmills as a library bar does a good job. A beautiful ambience accompanied by jazz music and the company of books and freshly brewed beer.

One of the cons of this place is its location. I stay in the opposite side of the city, literally and this is why I couldn’t visit Windmills earlier. Like me if you too stay far away from Windmills, be prepared for a painful travel. 

Do I recommend this place? Yes, one should experience Windmills at least once. I would say it’s worth the pain of travelling so far.

Quick Takes –

Rating – 3.5/5 (If there was consistency in food, I would have given a higher rating)

Cost for two – 2500/- for a two course meal (Starters and main course) + alcohol, exclusive of taxes. Yes, it’s an expensive place. To make it reasonable, you can settle more business lunch offer. That way you get to try out more things and it’s not too heavy on the wallet.

Why you should go here – Ambience, one of a kind library bar, jazz music, fish and chips, see live performances.

Address -  331, Road no 5B, near KTPO, Whitefield, Bangalore.

Landmark – Lane next to Larsen and Turbo company (L&T)