Fool's gold

If you think a Rs 750 PVR Gold Class movie ticket is a chance to pamper yourself, forget it and call your mother instead. When we were handed a menu along with the tickets at the PVR counter at Select Citywalk mall in Saket, it was made quite clear that any beverage other than a default "welcome" drink would be an added expense.

And don't let the dim red glow (even in the washroom) and matching velvet seats with coffee-table books on the side at the Gold Class lounge fool you into believing that there's lots more in store.

So if you're not a fan of Appy Fizz in a champagne glass as the welcome drink, that's too bad. There is not much scope for an alternative of coffee/tea, unless you're willing to dish out Rs 75 for it or if the manager makes an exception "for the first and the last time".

With the Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer in process, we did not see the replacement coffee for the next half hour, but when the steaming hot white cup finally arrived, it came with a variety of sugar sachets and a cookie.

The tub of popcorn (Rs 100), however, with "Gold Class" written large on it, was stone cold. Sent back twice, and the third time around there was, perhaps, a hint of warmth there.

A bit confused at first on how to call out to the ushers to order, we finally discovered the red call button between the seats. Apart from the usual French fries, nachos and popcorn, a variety of mocktails are on the menu.

For starters there are salads and for the main course there are pasta, wraps and a few barbeque dishes on the menu. The plate of fusilli (Rs 175) we got was a well-tossed average portion in fresh arrabbiata sauce.

The bill for the food, however, came when the movie had just about settled into the second half. We asked for it to be given to us once the movie was over.

It was brought to us again a good minute before the credits rolled, which was highly annoying, given that we couldn't possibly have made a quick getaway had we planned on not paying the bill. The service, however, was, despite the delays and unsatisfactory customer benefits, fairly courteous.

Sinking into the La-Z-Boy was the only redeeming factor of the afternoon, but is that all one should expect when you pay to "experience the lap of luxury"? Even a Volvo bus ticket to Manali comes with a bottle of mineral water, a snack, a comfortable blanket, and a DVD in place.

Score: 3/10 "" and that's just for the La-Z-Boy.

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