Pillar-129, Coimbatore’s new drive-in restaurant lets diners enjoy meals with physical distancing
The Hindu
Pillar-129, the new multi-cuisine restaurant in town with a drive-in option, seems promising
We sit muttering under our breath as we wait for food to be served in our car at Pillar-129, the new drive-in restaurant in town. It is a sultry evening, and a portable table has just been placed for those of us in the front seat. The unfortunate two at the back will have to make do eating with their plates in hand. It is not exactly the most comfortable position to eat in. But determined to try the drive-in experience, we give the dine-in space a miss. The restaurant serves Mediterranean, Continental, Pan Asian, and North Indian, and has been named after the 129th pillar of the under-construction fly-over that it faces.
The concept of a drive-in is not entirely new to the city, according to P Mohan Chandar, the managing director of Nikvin Hospitality Services that runs the restaurant. “We had them some 20 years ago in Coimbatore; I was a regular at one opposite my property,” he recalls. “A drive-in will help people enjoy their meal in their personal space, with less contact during the pandemic,” he adds.
The menu is elaborate: with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options under each cuisine, it is not easy to make up one’s mind. We start with stuffed baked mushrooms and stir fried prawns from the Mediterranean section. The mushrooms have gooey parmesan and mozzarella centres, and are enveloped in a crunchy coating of herbed crumbs. The prawns — cooked with a drizzle of lemon zest, garlic and parsley — are perfectly done. They boast a mellow tanginess and the flavour of garlic holds the spices together.