First published in Bangalore Mirror
Under normal circumstances, 7.30PM is a safe time to walk into a restaurant without a reservation – experience suggests that it’s too early for the twenty-somethings to have started their Saturday nocturnal agenda. But then one comes across places like Onesta that completely defy this logic. Onesta is on the Ooty Chocolates road off 100 feet Road Koramangala. (map) Best of luck on the parking. We barely managed to get a table, and in the two hours we spent there, there was hardly a moment when a whippersnapper wasn’t waltzing in and asking for a table, seemingly oblivious of folks who were already waiting. Having landed a table right at the entrance, we were at the receiving end of a ton of evil eyes, all of which were questioning the legitimate amount of time one should be allowed to spend with pizzas. This is amazing for an outlet which has been around for only a month, and it immediately raised hopes of some fantastic food. But, according to the menu, you need to wait for 25 minutes before the food reaches you. So let me attempt to distract you with the ambiance. Imagine walking off a Koramangala road straight into a cobbled street in Europe, complete with a tiny fountain, white walls and shutter doors. In the first ten minutes, we even had a two-girl band crooning to lyrics sourced real time on a mobile phone! Music reminds me, there’s a heavy metal fan right next to the fountain, and while the idea (coolness in summer) is indeed sound, it does result in water sprays every five minutes if you’re seated anywhere near it. That notwithstanding, the yellow flower pots, red and black chairs, the quaint lampshades and glass bottles, and paneled wood tables all contribute to a bright yet chic elegance that’s warm and charming.
No entrees. Deal with it. But this is a good time to mention that they have freshly baked bread and some of it makes its way to your table in the form of an amuse-bouche. The bun itself was warm and fresh and got the texture absolutely right. The buttery dip with a faint garlic flavour that came with it did a great job as well. The coolers we tried – Orange Mint, Green Apple, Virgin Mojito and Peach Iced Tea were all very refreshing too.
For the main course – pizzas, pizzas everywhere, and it’s difficult to decide where to begin. It was only made easy thanks to the commanding presence of ‘Crispy Bacon’. The generous portions of superbly crispy bacon, and cheese, with cherry tomatoes that knew their humble role, was indeed a great way to start. No fauna can really match up to bacon, let alone flora, but the Veggie Alfredo with crisp vegetables and a mild tomato sauce did ensure that its species got off to a good start as well. That good effort was continued by the 3 Cheese with Mushrooms that had cheddar, mozzarella and smoked cheese though the mushrooms didn’t really get a lot of airtime! Initially, we thought the Wasabi in the Wasabi Mayo Chicken was headed the same way, but it appeared at just the right moment to add the flavour pops. You must ask for thin crust versions always, they do a fantastic job of it. The two relative disappointments came in the form of the Prawn Pesto and the Crispy Chicken Calzone. The first had an overdose of pesto and cheese, and was a bit salty. The second, I thought, had its own little infinite fountain of cheese inside, pretty much submerging the mince, the BBQ sauce and the basil, but it is possible that by then, our collective familiarity with cheese in the last two hours had imparted a mild feeling of distaste for it.
By this time, we were hoping to be bodily lifted back to our homes, and several of the people waiting seemed to be inclined to do just that. But we had seen the dessert options on display and since they looked like child versions which would soon grow up, we decided to test out a few. Unfortunately this episode was a disaster! The Hazelnut Mousse, the Tiramisu and the Chocolate Cheesecake seemed like mutant versions. The last one, in particular, left us ending the meal with a cheesed off expression!
The non veg pizzas are Rs.140 and desserts are Rs.40. Five of us stuffed our faces for Rs.1900! Tremendous value for money. Despite the dessert fiasco, Onesta lives up to its name – the word means honest. The service does have its teething issues, but the food and the ambiance somehow creates a sense of bonhomie that is hard to miss. A visit is warranted, for the pizzas, and the pizzazz with which they deliver a delightful experience.
Onesta, No: 562, 8th Main, Koramangala 4th Block, Ph: 080 69000302