Beer bar: Man United comes to Mumbai

At the Man United Café Bar a full service, casual all-day dining café at Palladium, Mumbai, supporters also have to tolerate non-Man United fans who might have just dropped by for a meal and drinks. Poignantly, the Café Bar opened its first outlet in India on February 6, the anniversary of the day in 1958 when 23 members of the Manchester United football team were killed in a plane crash in Munich. The team was known as the Busby Babes after their captain Matt Busby. An installation pays homage to the team. In fact the photographic galleries are among the highlights of a visit to this restaurant as moments of glory through the years are displayed on various walls including pictures of the current team of Owen, Rooney, Giggs, etc.

The centerpiece is the giant projection screen which is the closest you will get to the feeling of live action at Old Trafford. Not surprisingly, red and black are the dominant colors but don’t try to slip a football, with the club’s logo, into your laptop bag on the way out. Instead take a look at the selection of souvenirs on sale (T-shirts, scarves, bags, armbands, etc from Rs 800 – Rs 1500).

With a capacity of 150 people, look out for the Skybox, the Dugout area and the popular Manager’s Bench where coach and players meet at the playing field. While the bar scores on football memorabilia and theme, the menu which cheesily titles sections ‘Kick off’, ‘Off-side’ and ‘Mid-fielders’, is an uninspiring selection of obvious Asian, Italian and American picks like satay, paneer tikka wrap, pizzas, pasta and grilled chicken burger. The main attraction – there is no stag rule, after all it’s a place for sports lovers.

Cover charge on match days: Rs 300 including soft drinks