Giving Us the Bird?

Why would a quick-and-dirty takeout station use a regal eagle (you’ll find it lit up and perched high above the roof) as its logo? Perhaps to catch the chicken that crossed the street? A feeble attempt to end an age-old question, yes, but a good explanation for why Khar’s new miniature eatery Hybrid features so much poultry on its menu and insists on using an incongruous symbol. Don’t even get us started on the moniker and its strange “Simply Munching” tag line.

They Have Dogs Too

Situated right by gastronomy giant Olive Bar and Kitchen, a bird’s eye view of Hybrid reveals a clean, open cooking area where a limited line up of pizza, shwarma and hotdogs are freshly rolled out. The abovementioned fowl play is detected in almost every dish save for three ham / bacon pizza options, vegetarian pies and a cottage cheese shwarma. Soya versions of hot dogs (seven chicken options available) are coming soon.

A visit to the two-day old station on Sunday showed no signs of weekend rush. Our order of chicken shwarma, New York Dog, and Margherita, Piccante Fungi and bacon pizzas could either be picked up or home delivered in 15 minutes, informed the staff. We went for the former option.

Come Undone

A big sack of food offloaded on the dinner table, we unwrapped the parcels as we would gifts – starting with the prettiest package, the New York dog. Surprisingly light despite the cheddar cheese and crunchy slaw, this American staple is good as is, and can be better with a little more mustard.

Next in line, pizza: the Margherita appeared to be shabbily put together, slathered with cheese and haphazardly placed tomato slices, but tasted much better than it looked. And at Rs 95 for an 8 inch pie, it’s a cheap treat. The Piccante, garnished with spicy goodies like jalapeno, peppers and mushroom is passable, but we prefer the Spicy Senorita over at Garcia’s. The mozzarella, onion and bacon version was strictly okay, with a slightly undercooked base.

The tin foil wrapped shwarma was undone last – pita pillar stuffed with slices of chicken marinated in Lebanese spices, tahina, garlic and optional Lebanese Harissa hot sauce. Unknowingly, we had saved the best for last.

What Goes Around

Will Hybrid join the line of fleeting Bandra eateries that appear in a flash and disappear double quick? Not if they make their pizza crispier and maintain its base price; continue to sell hotdogs which no one in the vicinity is doing (for now); and add a few more imaginative options to the menu. Maybe they could even cross breed some of their existing snacks to create hot hybrids. Lebanese dog, anyone?

Getting there: Hybrid takeout station, next to Olive Bar and Kitchen, Union Park, Khar (W), call 26050001 / 07 or visit www.hybrid.net.in, home delivery in Bandra and Khar, Rs 450 for a full meal for two.

At Brown Paper Bag we review restaurants anonymously and pay for our own meals.