At this new restaurant in Delhi, you can have a cocktail with your pet

“You couldn’t really go out and have a cocktail with your dog. Coffee, yes! But now even a cocktail is possible,” chef-restaurateur Radhika Khandelwal says smilingly as I walk into Trouble Trouble and glance around. The walls are plastered with quirky photos of animals - a cat wearing a leather jacket and dark glasses holding a slice of pepperoni pizza, a flamingo dressed in a shimmering outfit and pearls with a glass of rose champagne and adorable, neighbourhood dogs. The walls at Trouble Trouble are plastered with quirky photos of animals | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The wood, rust and amber tones with interspersed mirrors lend warmth to the 1,300-square-foot space that seems slightly familiar yet different. That is because this spot was Radhika’s first baby, Fig & Maple, that served Delhi the best brunches for nearly a decade until she decided to revamp it. “I wanted to have fun with food and do something different,” she tells me. Trouble Trouble, which can accommodate 82 people, is now a pet-friendly place that serves global food, but everything here is inventive and comes with a slight twist. Bar code It starts with the cocktail menu, which promises to cover “every mischievous impulse” in eight sections that have off-beat names like In The Mood To Impress, I Am A Cocktail Nerd and I am not drinking this entire month. Moves like Jagger | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Kunal Chandra, the chief experience officer at Trouble Trouble tells me they have crafted a drink for every mood. “If you want something simple and basic, a complex cocktail, or even if you’ve recovered from a cold and don’t want anything chilled - we’ve got you covered.” In the mood for something spicy, I start with one of their bestsellers Lao Gan Margarita that is served in a chilli crisp oil bottle with tequila (that’s soaked overnight in the chilli crisp oil) lime and triple sec. On the inverted bottle cap lie chilli wafers and a chikki made of chilli crisps. One sip and I am hooked - the spice hits instantly while the smokiness gives it depth - just the way I enjoy my cocktails. Lao Gan Margarita | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Halfway through the meal, I want yet another fiery drink, so they suggest the Something Spicy with tequila, jalapeno, coriander and lime. It sounds like a picante but is different due to the addition of coriander. With an option of going for mild or wild, I opt for the latter - but it’s gentler than I anticipated. I could have handled more heat. Something Spicy | Photo Credit: Special arrangement On the platter With more than 50 dishes, the food menu is expansive and neatly divided into small plates (named Double Trouble), sharing plates, Churrascia (hot Brazilian grill) salads, pizzas and mains. I start with prawn toast, a dish I have often had earlier. But sitting pretty on a bed of red Thai curry, this looks nothing like its classic version....

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