Man United Cafe Bar brings out the (red) devils in Mumbai

Manchester United fans in Mumbai (let's face it, they're everywhere) must have thought heaven had come to Lower Parel when on February 6 this year the Man United Café Bar opened for business. The date was a poignant one. On February 6 1958, eight players and three club officials were killed in a plane crash in Munich on their way home from a European Cup tie. That team, known as the Busby Babes after their inspirational manager Sir Matt Busby, are given homage in this full service, casual all-day dining café at Palladium. 

An installation honors the team and photographic galleries highlight the team's moments of glory through the years. Shots of current players such as Owen, Rooney, Giggs and co are also displayed. 

So how is the place faring after just over a month of business? 

Well, the atmosphere seems to be working. The giant projection screen as a centerpiece is exactly what die-hard fans need to watch their heroes play and 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 including t-shirts, scarves, bags, armbands and other memorabilia from Rs 800 upwards. 

With a capacity of 150 people, you can also choose between various seating areas such as the Skybox, the Dugout area and the popular Manager’s Bench, inspired by the spot where the coach screams expletives at his players. 

While the bar scores on football memorabilia, the menu, with unimaginative but appropriate sections such as Kick off, Off-side and Mid-fielders, is an uninspiring selection of the obvious Asian, Italian and American choices like satay, paneer tikka wrap, pizzas, pasta and grilled chicken burger. If they'd done great bistro food, this place might have plugged the gap between dive bar sports bar and five-star hotel that Mumbai currently has. 

But the new Man United Café Bar got one thing right: complete freedom from the no-stags rule and dress codes that make Mumbai, for the guy who just wants to watch the footie with his friends wearing shorts and slippers over a beer, an increasingly difficult city to follow your heroes in.

Go here on a Man U match night (next up: Manchester United V/s Liverpool, Sunday March 21) when it's packed with people thumping the table tops. And they do come out the woodworks. Since launching last month the bar's Facebook group page has over 7,000 fans. On non-match days it can feel more like you're the last one sitting in an empty stadium after a dismal performance by your team. Not fun.

Rs 300 cover charge on match days, includes soft drinks. Manchester United Cafe Bar, Level 3, Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel; tel. + 91 (0) 22 4360 1111