Shake it off with a bite at The BAH

The Hindu

13-05-2025

Has your favourite watering hole been slowly taken over by the yuppie crowd jigging to mind-numbing music that seems to have no beginning or end? If so, head to The BAH, where you will find a not-so-aged set of like-minded people nursing their drinks while old time country music gently wafts overhead.
The BAH, named after that sound of relief that escapes you when we finally sit down for the day, has a conspiratorial sloth as its mascot. Arpita Ganesh, co-founder of The BAH, says, 'I wanted a place where one could come as they were and not think twice about having to dress up, a place where the music was retro and not jarring. I wanted The BAH to be a place I would love to go at the end of the day.'
True enough, The BAH's simple, minimalist decor bids you welcome, inviting you to kick off your shoes off and relax. The lighting too, sets a mellow mood.
Bar bites and small plates abound at The BAH, ranging from the ubiquitous Congress peanuts (served with the lovely addition of crumbled feta) to bruschetta platters and everything in between. We tried and enjoyed both the peanuts as well as the platter, limbering up our appetites for the rest of the afternoon. With an impressive 14 beers on tap, being parched is definitely off the cards at The BAH.
Next up, were the shotgun pork strips and mushroom karagu. Ironically, the pork strips though tasty were outdone by the modestly named mushroom patties served on a mini roti of sorts. They were quite delicious.
I would recommend the southern fried chicken whether one is a teetotaller or the tipple of your choice is as varied as they come. Crisp, bite-sized and served with chipotle sauce, the blend of spices is just right, making it a great accompaniment or standalone snack. The cosy pigs — pork sausages in puff pastry — were also quite nice. Once again, the spices and herbs used in the making of these handmade sausages were spot on.
The menu is an eclectic one with pastas, steaks and burgers sharing space with rasam, sambhar and curd rice bowls as well as the option of chicken and fish curry with rice.
However, all the yummy food aside, it was the drinks menu that won hands down. It is always heartening when your bartender-mixologist can gauge your palate, suggest and then serve to satisfaction. Mervyn Thomas behind the bar at The BAH, does just that.
For instance, he elevates the classic screwdriver to a Not Just a Screwdriver with an addition of basil or thyme to add an interesting touch to Coco Bongo, a tender coconut and rum-based concoction.
Desserts are simple, tried and tested affairs — tarts, panna cotta, tiramisu, pastries and cake — but their ice cream selections are interesting. We chose the ginger pineapple from the options of coffee hazelnut, chocolate peanut butter and berry sorbet. It's fresh, subtle flavour did not disappoint.