A piano jazz bar opens in Coimbatore

As The Crimson by Broadway piano jazz bar opens its doors on April 4, MetroPlus gets a first look at its Parisian vibes with mirror decor over gourmet food and signature cocktails

As the door opens to The Crimson by Broadway, a lavish, red-hued piano jazz bar, all signs point to revelry. The stylish bar located inside The Broadway Mall on Avanashi Road, inspired by The Great Gatsby speaks of the nostalgia of the Roaring Twenties in Paris with its marble decor, opulent chandeliers, velvet booths and theatre stage for live performances. “We have stuck to the bold colour schemes of red, gold, and black for the classic piano jazz bar, a concept that is new to Coimbatore,” says Neha Satish, a third generation entrepreneur from the Broadway Cinemas chain.

While the high ceiling and stadium-style seating booths offer extra privacy, the jazz performance stage with an acoustic piano and mic serves as the centrepiece. “It’s a conversational bar, there is no dance floor or standing crowd, instead the air will hum with smooth jazz,” explains Neha over plates of paprika spiced corn ribs and avakaya arancini. While the golden corn, dripping with garlic jalapeno butter, makes for crisp bites, the panko-crusted morsels of short grain rice mixed withavakkai(mango pickle) stands out for an innovative fusion. The signature cocktails, drawn from classics of the era take on a new spin retaining the original ingredients.

My first drink is ‘Shaken not Stirred’, a bold tribute to James Bond’s Vesper Martini featuring truffle-washed vodka, lillet and popcorn cordial finished with white chocolate. It is bitter-sweet and has the refreshing fragrance of truffle. ‘Red Eye’ balances flavours of vodka, tomato, watermelon and the fiery bhut jolokia and is served with cinematic flair of beer foam and gherkin brine on top. It’s an interesting experiment with bhut jolokia chillies that has paid off. But the star drink is the charming ‘A Wes Anderson Drink’, made with green pea liquor, green chilli tincture, coconut and tamarind jaggery crowned with cranberry air for a dash of Grand Budapest pink. While ‘The Silent Note’ , a tequila-based drink celebrating the tropical flavours of guava, coconut, mango and lemon grass warms me up instantly, the brandy-based ‘Paradox’ inspired from Inception makes me dreamy. There is good selection among mocktails too. You can try the classic hibiscus iced tea, blue pea cooler or berry blast or the refreshing ‘Shirley Temple Float’.

Neha says the space is designed by Paradigm Shift, a Bangkok-based design firm that pays on ode to the glamour of speakeasy bars of Paris of the 1920s. “Every material was carefully selected to evoke the vintage luxury of the Gatsby era — gold accents, dark red velvet curtains, black marble, and glossy dark wood surfaces.” The antique mirrored ceiling, paired with stunning lighting design, enhances the rich ambience of fashion and social vibrancy that defined the Jazz Age. “It’s a metal heavy space where every corner speaks of some metal work,” explains Neha as I bite into crisp chicken kuk-doo-koo, the makhni chicken croquettes in curry sauce filled with juicy chicken chunks.

The sautéed shrimp, named Spanish Gambas, are especially good, thanks to the warm, bold-flavoured spices —garlic, paprika, and olive oil. “The food is crafted paying attention to every ingredient. We are trying to keep an innovative menu. For example, we have included strawberry champagne, an indulgent dessert,” she says. We also try iced kold kaapi, the signature filter coffee cheesecake in whiskey caramel sauce that is decadent, soft, and fluffy. Among starters, there is also the wholesome big kahuna sandwich that has crispy chicken thighs coated in hot sauce and grilled pineapple bringing in a dash of sweetness. I also try molagapodi wings, crispy fried chicken wings tossed in home-made gun powder, and mushroom ravioli stuffed with mozzarella, parmesan and cheddar.

Talking about offering luxury services at an affordable cost, VRR Satish Kumar, managing director of the group says that Broadway Cinemas offers a premium experience for visitors with an opulent space designed by Giovanni Castor with crystal chandeliers and etched glass interiors. “The Crimson is on the same lines. The city lacks a space where you can enjoy good food, drinks, and still have business meetings and conversations. When the music is loud, there is no space for an intimate discussion. We want families to unwind over good food where drinks can be supplementary. We are driven by the theme of entertainment and happiness.” Adds Neha, “We want it to be a musical space where conversations, good food, a luxury ambience and good service, all put together leaves you with a smile as the night draws to a close.”

The Crimson is located at The Broadway mall (near KMCH), Avanashi Road. A meal for two with drinks costs ₹2500 approximately. For reservations, call 8925926049.