Jacques La Brasserie had been on my list for a while now, and the only reason I missed out was because its neighbours like Biere Club and The Glasshouse seduced me away. Given that we’re now in Whitefield, a trip to Lavelle Road is pretty much counted as a weekend getaway! But thanks to the hype that SodaBottleOpenerWala has been getting on my Instagram feed, a visit was warranted. Jacques La Brasserie was my fallback option in case we didn’t get a table, except that when we got there, we realised that JLB had given way to SBOW! Such is Bangalore’s restaurant scene. The place is right opposite the Harley Davidson Showroom (map) and they have valet parking. To note, of course, that your car could disappear. They don’t take reservations, ensuring that there is always a crowd outside waiting to get in. Thankfully, we got a table immediately. High stools and close to the bar, but hey.
The space is not huge, though it manages to pack in tables with enough room in between. They have also ensured that all sorts of group sizes can find a place. Irani Cafe with a modern finish, that would describe the ambiance. The decor ensures that quite a few adults (like me) behave like kids in their favourite store, pointing out interesting things to those with them. The framed photos, the signature, red-checked table cloth, the little bakery, the old fashioned switchboard, the wall signages – make sure you take the time to soak it all in. Do not forget to look up and catch the toy train. D spotted it, I was too busy with eye level sights. The music, when we got in, was complete retro Bollywood, played really loud. Somewhere during the night, it switched to contemporary pop! The television was tuned to some gags show.
The menu has many interesting things on offer, and despite its conciseness, one could get lost in the choices. We decided to begin with Bawaji Nu Thullu and Nescoffee Martini, and a Chicken Farcha and Bohri style Keema Pav to add solidity. D’s Martini, described as Indian Shaadi wala Nescoffee made into a martini, packed quite a punch. My drink on the other hand, despite the presence of stalwarts such as Vodka, Gin, Rum and Tequila was an absolute flop. Might as well have had lemonade. The fried chicken was greasy as it’s supposed to be, and boneless. The mint chutney that came with it was flawless. The other dish had reasonably fresh pav and mince that was mildly spicy and quite flavourful. Loved the consistency.
For the next round, we ordered a Parsiana, and after much debate, a Rustom Bantawala. (the Masala Vodka lost out) The former had Old Monk with Plum and Oranges and I liked it enough to take surreptitious sips when D wasn’t looking. I liked my drink – aam panna with Vodka served in the good old goli soda bottle – a little lesser, though this time they were very generous with the alcohol. For mains, we decided to stray away from the usual suspects and asked for the Bacon Keema Macaroni and the Bhendi Bazaar Sheekh Parantha. They weren’t as stingy with the bacon as we expected (from reviews) and overall, I really liked this dish. The kabab and the parantha that accompanied it, I found a bit too dry for my taste.
We were absolutely stuffed by then, but D insisted on having a Mawa cake – their version of the Irani cake. Standard tea cake, but takes on a different avatar in such a setting.
The place is not easy on the wallet – our bill came to about Rs.3550. The bill said it was a unit of Olive Bar & Kitchen. Hmm.There were a couple of service staff who seemed quite clueless, but they are otherwise friendly, especially the bartender. Overall, the experience is unique enough for you to make a trip to that part of the world. 🙂
SodaBottleOpenerWala, No:25/4, Lavelle Road, Ph: 7022255299