Ah, dining out. A time-honoured tradition for anyone with taste buds and a sense of adventure. But what happens when the adventure turns out to be nothing more than a nightmare? In a city known for its diverse culinary offerings, Float by Duty Free falls short of expectations with its lacklustre service and subpar cuisine. The newly launched restaurant cum bar, located in Sector 75, Noida, maybe the talk of the town, but it's not for the reasons one would hope.
As journalists, we approached our food review with a sense of excitement and anticipation, hoping to indulge in a feast that would leave our taste buds singing. Alas, we were in for a rude awakening from the moment we stepped through the door.
The staff's unwelcoming behaviour was our first indication that our evening was not going to be a pleasant one. We were handed the menu, only to have it snatched away and replaced with a "blogger menu." It was a bewildering experience, to say the least. After much confusion and discussion amongst the team, we were finally given the actual menu to order our drinks and food, but only after a lengthy game of tug-of-war.
After an extensive wait, we were finally able to order a mezze platter, which, according to a senior staff member, "Mezze platter bland hai (Mezze platter is bland)" with an air of disinterest. Perhaps they should consider removing it from the menu altogether if they can't make it right. Unfortunately, their prediction proved true - the dish lacked the flavour that one would expect from a Mediterranean appetiser. However, the cheese and onion rings were the saving grace of the evening, with a crispy outer shell and tender onion rings.
Non-veg mezze platter.
We soldiered on and for drinks, we ordered cranberry gin and tonic and beach L.I.I.T, which were the only things that kept us from walking out. Refreshing and well-made, they provided a small consolation for the series of unfortunate events that we had faced so far.
As the night wore on and our patience wore thin, we quickly ordered mutton rogan josh and garlic naan for dinner. The meat was cooked to perfection, but by then, the damage had already been done. The entire dining experience had left a sour taste in our mouths.
Float: Mutton rogan josh
Float by Duty-Free may have set sail with good intentions, but it failed to deliver on its promises. From the unwelcoming staff to the unremarkable dishes, it was an experience that left us feeling like we were sinking in a sea of mediocrity. Would we recommend it? Only to those who enjoy a bit of chaos and disappointment in their lives. As for the rest, steer clear, or risk being lost at sea.