[Chetan]

Hot culinary spots in Bangalore



We continue with our reader-driven series on the must-sample restaurants/ eating place in India.


This article is dedicated to people like me -- who 'live to eat' rather than 'eat to live'. I'd like to share my thought on eating out in 'namma Bangaloru' ('Our Bangalore' in Kannada).

I can't recollect when I acquired this relentless passion for chasing tasty food. I guess I was born that way; my parents say I was born overweight and I guess I remained that way except for a very brief period during my early career days when I was abnormally 'normal'.

What follows is what I have relished over the years in no particular order, grammar or structure, and is probably heavily biased, based on my personal preferences.

I also apologise for not bringing out the north Indian specials in this edition. I am still a novice when it come to north Indian food and I will reserve it for a later article, if I am allowed to write one! My profound apologies to non-vegetarians as well. I remain a vegetarian by choice.

Enjoy madi ('Do enjoy' in Kannada)!

Idlis

Is there a better way to start or end the day than with steaming hot idlis served with steaming hot sambar and chutney? I have trouble figuring out whether I eat idlis for the sambar or gulp sambar for the idlis.

They are available anywhere in Bangalore in any fast food restaurant, but the idlis served in two places really stand out -- Veena Stores on Margosa Road, Malleswaram (though you could forgo the sambar here); and in a narrow lane in VV Puram, located in between Lalbargh West Gate and Minerva circle and adjacent to Sajan Rao Circle, where it is served in carts.

If you are a food connoisseur, you could try the Kanchipuram Idli in Kadambam (Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road), the Rice Kadabu at Woody's (on Commercial Street), or the Mini Sambar Idly, Rasam Idly and Green Idly in Sri Krishna Bhavan (Malleswaram I Cross).

Believe it or not, we tried to register a domain called www.idly.com to compile a list of best haunts for idlis but, to our utter disappointment, found it taken.

Vadas

I guess size does matter and nothing can beat Bangalore when it comes to sheer size of the vadas.

I presume vadas will remain a monopoly of Bangalore for quite some time to come.

I especially recommend the Maddur and Masala vada in Woody's.

Dosas

When it comes to dosas, I have to give it to the lesser known mortals or the 'unsung warriors'.

I have not seen anything like the Benne (ghee) Dosa and the Benne Masala Dosa served in a restaurant in Malleswaram, 7th Cross, off Margosa road (I have to blame my aging memory for not remembering the restaurant's name).

If you are looking at variety, you got to give it to the Dosa Corner in Jayanagar, Fourth Block. Remain forewarned, however; you are in danger of losing yourself in the mad rush there.

If you are looking for the typical Madras style dosa and, particularly, the onion dosa; you have to try Brindavan at MG Road and Krishna Cafe in Koramangla.

I think the Jowar Dosa served in Sri Krishna Bhavan and the Andhra Pesarattu served in Woody's (I think it's the Friday special) deserves a mention under the non-conventional dosa category.

Specials

~ Kerala Sevai, Vegetable Kharabath, Rava Pongal, Mangalore Pathrade (Sri Krishna Bhavan)

~ Malabar Adai (Woody's Thursday evening special) and Mango Rice (Woody's Sunday morning special)

~ Curd rice (Woody's)

~ Menshinkhai (chilli) Bajjis (Malleswaram, 8th Cross)

~ Mangalore Baji (Janata Cafe, Malleswaram)

~ Puliyathorai/ Tamarind Rice (Kadambham)

~ Drumstick Soup, Kuzha Puttu Kadalai Curry, Masala Vada Pulusu, Appam, Vegetable Stew (Malgudi, off Marthahalli Ring Road)

~ Phulkas (Queen's, Church Street); you have to eat a minimum of 15 and tire the waiter. It is a matter of sheer perseverance or a case of 'mind over matter'

Lunch/ dinner

I have always cherished the Andhra meal over the traditional Madras meals served by the lesser known but popular Iyer Mess in Malleswaram I Cross behind the Citibank office.

I guess it is more to do with the 'Number Game' played up by the Andhra restaurants. I would have to say it is spice and food unlimited.

The Nagarjuna Group of Hotels, especially the Nagurjana Savoy off MG Road, tops my list closely followed by the rejuvenated Amaravathis and Bheemas.

But, of late, I find my scale tilting towards the meal served during weekend afternoons at Krishna Cafe.

For Rs 60 rupees, I am yet to find something that matches it in quality, quantity and variety.

[Shilpaks]

chetan looks like u hang around in the same places I do  
I too love the veena stores food, its our fav haunt for tht early morning breakfast after an alll nite party.


I have more to add::::

I love everything at Adigas. I have been to the one in Jayanagar and the new one at Malleshwaram(Sampige Road)

Dosa
I think the dosa place ur talking about in malleshwaram is CTR, this is bang opposite the
malleshwaram grounds. also do check out Uphara Darshini(UD as it is known among the localites) in DVG Road. there is a davengere dosa center very close to UD, u must try their benne masale, yum yum.
vidyarthi bhawan nearby in the same area also is known for the dosas, but I think the quality has gone down over the years.

mirchi bajjis are good at achar's mirchi center(at Basavangudi) , aloo bondas and mirchi bajjis at the shop opposite to sai baba temple(sampige road , malleshwaram) , a corner shop in the junction where the natraja theatre road and the SheshadriPuram College road meet.
Also there is one more shop near Bunny Bakery , close to Shantiniketan(not sure wht the area is, but close to Jayanagar)...u can c how much of a fan I am of mirchi bajjis....during the blore rains-mirchi bajjis and then coffee was a definite or it would be hot samosas and hot jalebis at the BDA complex in Banashankari

one more must go is the north kanara style restaurant near navrang in rajajinagar...forgot the name sorry(will let u know soon)...u must try the mandaki and bajji they serve up there , the typical north kanara style...awesome.

for jolada roti it has to be yatri nivas. there is one in majestic , the other one I have tried is near BMS college(on the same road)-its called Buggle Rock

this is wht I cant think of rite now but I definitely will be adding more to this thread

ARGH! wht I give for mirchi bajjis and a strooooong filter kappi rite now

Edited by Shilpaks, 13 December 2006 - 12:56 PM.

[gautam]

Check this out:

http://pleasuremountain.wordpress.com/

[batistuta]

I would add a few more restaurants to that excellent list compiled by Chetan and Shilpaks.

Vidyarthi Bhavan, near Gandhi bazaar, for excellent dosas.
MTR  for good south-indian tiffin . One has to wait for a good amount of time here.
Udupi Sri krishna Bhavan, Balepet for good idlis.

[vandy]

Hey you guys,

Stop Torturing Me, with those Food Reccomendations.  

vandy (Pani Puri Addict)   

[Shilpaks]

hahah vandy dont worry i would give my right hand to be in blore and be eating these stuff rite now  
welcome to the club of "hunger forever" people  


some more links i found interesting

http://wiredal.wordp.../category/food/
http://foodanddrinkb...e.blogspot.com/
http://bangalorebelly.wordpress.com/
http://www.discoverb...estreview19.htm

Edited by Shilpaks, 19 November 2007 - 11:07 AM.

[malkers]

And if you're into beef, the best steak in the world happens to be in Bangalore at The Only Place in Museum Road!