La Belle Vie, Coonoor - Ordinary Food in an Extraordinary Ambiance!

Wellington chapter continues...

This probably will be the first place your friends may recommend for a great restaurant experience in and around Wellington. Well I wouldn’t disagree, because La Belle Vie, 180 Mc Liver, not only has that quaint old world charm to it but also guarantees a stunning 180 degree view of Coonoor engulfed in terraced tea gardens and surrounding hills. No doubt the view is breathtaking and a Sunday lunch in their lawn will sure lure you into colonial era.

The property is over 115 years old, but surprisingly very well maintained –La Belle Vie is the restaurant and  180 Mc Liver  is the resort, which offers 3 well furnished rooms for stay. Located just within 5-10 minutes drive from Wellington, the restaurant is often flocked by DSSC crowd. We too have had our share of visits and to be frank, food they serve is just ordinary but what makes it special is they serve it in extraordinary ambiance!

An always well manicured lawn and a heaven-like garden with flowers of various colours welcome you as you enter the gate. Walk further in and there you will find a life size horse cart and a few metallic swings leaving enough space for kids play area. For those who wish to enjoy the serene nature, opt to enjoy the food in the lawn. This is the best bet, but, I recommend doing so only on a sunny afternoon. For those who can dare the chill yet do not want to sit in the open space, choose the tables in the veranda or inside the restaurant, especially the one in the corner which looks more like a glass house. In the interior, care has been taken to keep the décor to minimum yet classic; everything from the choice of furniture to lights, wall hangings and more compliments the aura.

The multi-cuisine restaurant serves everything from the pages of Italian, Indian, Thai and Middle East, and the ingredients used are mostly organically produced in their own garden. Soups are comparatively better choice than other appetizers, and their pizza may get you hooked in the first try. However, beware of frequent visits because the menu does not have much variety. A three course meal for two, on sharing basis, will cost you somewhere in the neighbourhood of rupees 1200-1500.

In my 10 months stay at Wellington, I have seen them arrange bonfire only once, that too upon request for a formal gathering, which means, you need to be really lucky to barge in on a cold winter night to get the campfire experience. The fireplace inside too isn’t used much or whenever we visited or asked, it was never too cold to light it in the first place.

Whatever said and done, not many places in and around Ooty offers the sight that La Belle Vie does and for that reason, the place is worth a visit or two during your stay here. And every time, dress up in enough layers and remember to carry a camera.