Home Sweet Home at the Bond Bar

Or rather...Bond, The Bar. We went back after more than a month's interval wondering if everything might have changed. The Sports Bar was still the same...an enormous TV with its usual array of tall chairs and square tables with an enormous bar on one side and cushy sofas dotting the periphery. We sat near the TV although I had my back to it, gazing instead at the colourful lamps and streamers and lights arranged under the mall's dome in a Diwali theme. The servers recognised us and one of our regular guys showed us to our table and asked whether we'd like the day's specials or our usual stuff. We kicked back and relaxed as cocktail followed cocktails and beer flowed generously and we even received an 'on-the-house' special - fried wontons stuffed with spring roll mixture. Served with schezuan sauce. Yummmm.

They expanded their menu to include loads of other starters and dinner options apart from a pasta and noodle section. We tried fish fingers with tartar sauce (crispy on the outside, soft and melting fish within) and barbequed sausages with fries and a barbequed chicken sizzler that my husband had most of. We also shared a fluffed cheese omelette (which the regular guy remembered even as my husband tried to describe it while battling long-island-tea-induced haze) with buttered toasted bread and salad.

The DJ (new guy) played all the right tracks. The other new thing was the partitioning off of the party section. Also, almost no crowds made the service prompt and the attention very centred towards us, which we basked in. A new drink I had was named Black Russian and my husband later ordered the White Russian which was a sweeter contrast to mine. Our session finale was a Bailey's Coffee flavoured Irish Cream in crushed ice. A lovely thing to sip slowly and indulge in.

We were pleasantly surprised to be remembered by the wait staff and the bartender right down to what we like and how we like it. The new menu additions and the songs played by the new DJ served to spark a new interest in the place.