In fact, Geoffrey's does not even have a liquor licence as yet, but hopes to get one in a month's time. But it will choose to remain a `propah' family restaurant, with no trace of the lively pub it is in Mumbai. (I wonder whether we should blame the excise laws or the surly Delhiites?)Nevertheless, the restaurant has a cheery atmosphere, and the owners have striven to provide five-star ambience at not-so-ouch prices. Mr Ajay Bayaka, executive director of Sarovar Plaza Hotels Pvt. Ltd, the owners of the Geoffrey's brand, says the concept is to provide a stand-alone restaurant outside of a hotel that provides as good value for money. "If a person has a couple of drinks here, he should not wake up in the morning, look at the bill, and feel that he had been ripped off," says Mr Bakaya.

Geoffrey's offers a standard meal (Rs 350 per person), which includes a smallish salad bar, soup of the day and a choice of main course from an a la carte menu for both lunch and dinner. There are plans to go just a la carte for dinner fairly soon. "The prices will not be high, even when we get a liquor licence," promises Mr Bakaya.

The main course is a mix of Thai, continental and Indian Tandoori food. The largest selection is continental (the restaurant's main chef has been poached from Italiannini's at Radisson Hotel). The salad bar has a choice of six or seven salads, all freshly made and mostly for dieters. Only one non-vegetarian choice, leaving the carnivores wanting more. But plenty of choice in terms of dressings for the salads. Let's hope Geoffrey's will expand its salad bar soon. The soup was a lightly-flavoured chicken broth that was good. For the main course, I opted for the chicken steak, while my dining partner opted for a spicy Thai chicken in red curry sauce. This Thai dish is supposed to be the best here, and was high recommended by the chef.

The desserts and after dinner coffees have to be ordered extra and are not included in the Rs 350 cover charge.

The restaurant has been done up in wood and leather, broken by some brick walls. Plenty of British memorabilia decorate the walls to give it that Brit look. "A typical British pub would have lots of wood, leather and smoke, but we wanted to keep it more contemporary," says Mr Bakaya.

The company has recently opened another patent restaurant in Mumbai called Rewind, based on a Hollywood theme. And it plans to open Geoffrey's in Bangalore and Chennai next.