HYDERABAD: Hoppipola celebrates all things that bring people together. “It is happiness; the place is for the young, above 21,” smiles business manager Subrata Chakraborty and adds, “The eatery will inspire the not-so-young to discover their youthful days.” The new watering hole Hoppipola, a chain of Speciality Restaurants Limited, opposite Shilparamam in Madhapur joins the list of bar cum dining eateries. Originally Hoppipolla (meaning ‘jumping into puddles’) is a song from Takk, an 2005 album by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros.
The ambience inside the eatery is warm and cosy and the interiors have a fun appeal. Apart from the yellow and blue cushion chairs to sink into and bar stools to perch on, the ceiling is colourful with small aeroplanes created out of wood in yellow, blue, green and pink and cages with wooden birds. “The eight aeroplanes signify the number of places Hoppipola is in India, including Mumbai and Bengalore,” points out Subrata. The interiors are the same in all their branches and a significant feature is their books and games corner. While the guests wait for their spirits to arrive, one can read a Percy Jackson book or play a game of monopoly or Losers and Ladders or Zynga. One can also indulge in some fun by playing a ‘game of happiness’. “This game is only for the women. One special surprise is hidden inside these small houses and who ever finds it wins an offer,” explains Subrata pointing to a wall. While DJ Anupam Raj entertains the crowd with his English, hip hop and Bollywood tracks, the drinks menu has a host of spirits, a large selection of beers, wines and cocktails.
The menu touches shores from Italian, American and Mexican and the special feature is the fancy names of the dishes. One can spot a Paneer sanskari tacos and Wrap city bi*ch jostling space with Fishful thinking and Hot chick .
One can start off with a hearty salad - Caesar’s palace. Starters are enticing with their wide range of dishes. There is Beet the Hummus served with assorted breads or Muncher’s Favourite which is a crumb fried chicken with a Mediterranean rub. OMG with mushrooms is quite mouthful and New age wing man – chicken wings in barbeque sauce or Chiseled prawns (where basil and chilly are added to prawns) is ideal for the non-vegetarians during the monsoon. The menu also includes sandwiches, wraps and sliders.
All the dishes score high on their presentation. For the main course, there is a large variety of pizzas and pastas. They have added a few dishes for rice lovers, so you can savour a cup of Oriental-aromatic Thai green curry flavoured with Galangal and Kafir lime served with rice or Peri Peri Biryani which is essentially basmati rice spiked with peri peri spices, caramelised onions and cheese.
The dessert section features Rum Pum Pum , a rum soaked banoffee pie with a rich toffee sauce and Fudge Block , a classic chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. There is an equal emphasis on the liquor list, featuring quite the collection of cocktails apart from the usual libations.
