The Piano Man, Safdarjung Enclave is a dedicated jazz club which threw its doors open earlier this year is city’s first of its kind. This brain child of Arjun Sagar Gupta who is an engineer by profession, was earlier located in Vasant Vihar is actually a combination of a bar, a restaurant, and a club. The place therefore has a lot of loyal clientèle and usually packed with music lovers in the evenings as it hosts musical gigs every night.
The décor is very tastefully done and is inspired by the Prohibition Era. The space is divided into ground and mezzanine floors and has been given a theatre setting overlooking the performance area which is right next to the entrance. The dominant source of the dim light is a beautiful chandelier made from inverted trumpets. While the ground floor is focused primarily on the performance area, the well equipped bar is located on the mezzanine floor and the kitchen is on the first floor. The names of the famous jazz musicians embedded in the bricked walls will catch your attention when you are seated in a slightly cramped space.
The food menu is very restricted as the concept focuses more on music rather than food, but taste wise it certainly does not fail to impress. The beverages are again influenced more from the cocktails made in the prohibition era. We had the classical OLD FASHIONED which were made to perfection and the OPIUM which was a tad bitter than I would have liked.
The portions of the food listings are small but we ordered enough to fill our appetites. MEATBALLS IN BARBEQUE SAUCE was mildly spiced yet very balanced in flavours. THE MARGHARITA POCKET PIZZA was deliciously flaky and nicely baked. CHEESE CORN ON THE COB too was excellent; the amercing corn was dusted nicely with garlic powder and butter. Though I am not much of a potato lover but, also enjoyed THE JACKET POTATOES, stuffed with cheesy mixture of mushrooms and onions. The absence of deserts in the menu is something where disappointment hits you.
In a nutshell, The Piano Man Jazz Club is a vibrant place with a cozy atmosphere for the music lovers. Certainly would be a favourite for the upcoming winters as it will regularly hold jazz concerts. It is highly recommended that you make a reservation and be on time as it fills up very quickly when ‘ALL THAT JAZZZZZ” begins.
