I’ve been trying out many restaurants in Bangalore. Some good, some not so good, and some incredibly good. Few joints have held some form of traditional significance and are mighty popular among the locals here and come highly recommended. Obviously not all of them are worthy of a mention, I list few of them I’ve been to and try and attach snaps if I have any. In no specific order –
1) Sahib Sindh Sultan – Among the best food I’ve tasted in Bangalore. Great ambiance of the place too. Located on the 2nd floor of the Forum Mall on the Hosur Road in Koramangala, it offers a wonderful fine dining experience. Four of us went there on a Sunday lunch and it cost us ~Rs.3600/- total. The quantity of food served is very generous too. A plate of Biryani would be good for 2-1/2 people! Being a teetotaler, I ordered a mock-tail called “level crossing.” It was just wonderful. I should’ve taken a snap or two, in retrospect, but the lighting in our cabin area would have required me to turn on the flashlight – didn’t seem very courteous towards other guests in the restaurant.
Everything about this place was highly commendable. The dignified dressing of the staff, the delightful and big-smile greeting at the entrance, the very helpful and knowledgeable waiters and their good etiquette. To me all of these was such a welcome change from all the drivel I was seeing every other place that were tarnishing the names of the terms like “hospitality and service.”
Chilly (part of salad) served with toothpick insert. Nice novelty. That’s how thoughtful they are.
Pineapple Halwa. Not the best of their desserts, still pretty good.
2) Some Traditional Places: The older generation of Bangalore ans have been swearing by some these. There’s a bigger list here, but I’ve been only to a few so far. Will append and edit when I get a chance to visit other –
a) Veena Stores (Malleshwaram): Many have spoken highly of their idli, vada, etc. If they had a poetic vein in their body, they would have dedicated multiple epic poems to this place and its famed idli-vada. Personally, I found it to be good. But, drool worthy? I’ll have to get you for a blind-test to open that objective box hidden deep within the recesses of your mind.
It’s located on 15th and Margosa in Malleshwaram, Bangalore. Fairly easy to spot. Parking is a bit of hassle (as it always is in Bangalore!). You may have to park in next street and walk to the place. I prefer to go two-wheeling when exploring such places. Leave the four-wheelers for use when you feel like an old(-er) man!
b) Shree Sagar (CTR – Central Tiffin Room): Down the road from Veena stores at Margosa and the 7th cross. Good dosa and puri.
c) MTR: Quite a few locations and I’ve only tried the one at lalbagh. The long-time-bangaloreans swear by it to be among the most authentic south indian places for good food. And good food it certainly is. It looked kinda small from the outside, but once you go in and upwards, it’s certainly got plenty of room. Very simple decor. Almost Gandhian! If you are expecting to feel heavenly or have some sort of outer-world-experience with the food here, drop down and remain planted on earth. Food is good, not divine. Let the hype not get to you.
My memory says I was charged Rs.95 for Masala dosa and a coffee (sometime 2014). That’s $1.58….folks visiting from US make note – you’ll not get such dosas anywhere in the US and for that price too…eat to your hearts content while you are here, memorize the taste, relive the experience while you are served some junk in the name of dosa in any of the Indian restraunts in the US! [I recall once ordering for onion pakoda. The guy served me some crappy onion rings!]
d) Vidyarthi Bhawan:
3) Chutney Chang: The sheer variety they offer will keep you dazed. I am usually very suspicious of the food quality if the varieties are immense. I mean, how do just a few (over-worked) chefs pull off so many food varieties in so little a time without messing something up by taking shortcuts and under-cooking or over-cooking things. Just not humanly possible. But these guys will make you laugh in the face of such an argument. They pull off great quality and good tasting food of immense varieties.
4) Little Italy, Koramangala: The Tiramisu dessert was nothing like I’ve ever had any of the Tiramisu’s in all my travels (across US and India). That’s not a complement to them. They disappointed me. They certainly seem to use good cheese in their cuisine. Their Lasagne was more like pasta and spaghetti thrown together to form a mix. However, the lasagne tasted really good. I was surprised. I am not revisiting the place though. It’s certainly not value for my money. The waiters here (ones we interacted with) had absolutely no knowledge about what their menus hold. Another good thing about this place – they have valet parking. I didn’t feel like tipping the valet though!
5) Barbeque Nation: An immense delight to the non-veggies and not really all that good for the veggies. Their best part is the starters. Not much variety is the fairly boring main course.
6) Natural Ice Cream: I can’t believe I didn’t try them earlier. While we have been to the ever boring Baskin-Robins, Natural seemed to have missed my radar until someone in the social group brought it up. I have since tried many of their flavors (Jackfruit, Tender Coconut, Kala Jamun, and Anjeer). Loved them all. Note though that these ice creams are harder than the typical ones you might be used to. Got a half-kg bucket of Tender Coconut. Had to thaw it for 5-8 minutes at room temperature before being able to consume it. I’ve never had any ice cream behave this way. No complains though, since the taste’ so good.
7) Haagen Dazs (1 MG Rd.): Good ice creams. Nice views around. Place could use a little sprucing up. Flies flying about is not a very appetizing sight to behold when you are trying to lose yourself in the throes of self-indulgence.
8) The 13th Floor, MG Road: Fairly average food. Nothing noteworthy. Place felt cramped and loud (actually very loud). Good thing though is nice views from their terrace out. You can come here for their food, but will stay only for the views! You can walk around and capture good panoramas. On my cellphone, this is all I got –
Nice views from the 13th Floor, MG Road