First published in Bangalore Mirror
We hadn’t visited Koramangala since we shifted to Whitefield, so I took the restaurant review as an excuse to plan a 2D/1N weekend getaway at B and N’s place. đ After a beef and pork extravaganza the previous night, we visited 1522 on a Saturday afternoon.
The usual story is a restaurant doing well in Koramangala or Indiranagar and then branching out to relatively uncharted areas. But this time, we have a plot twist. Imagine two storylines moving in parallel from the beginning of this decade. Amidst the deluge of fancy cuisines and posh experiences in Koramangala, an old warhorse holds its ground. Itâs an icon after all, with a signal named after it, and the number of times a cab/rickshaw driver has been told âFrom Maharaja signal..â must be approaching infinity. Meanwhile, in the relatively conservative environs that make up Malleswaram, a new generation, riding on the legacy of a White Horse, slowly begins to make a name for itself. Itâs called 1522. Cut to 2015, and quite against the conventional tide, a little bit of Malleswaram appears in Koramangala! (map)
The retro chic 1522 signage has replaced the red-on-white, italic font that spelt Maharaja. And thatâs where we landed on a balmy Saturday afternoon. To get to it, you will need to resist the temptation of two floors (of Swathi Maharaja) serving Andhra meals. Youâll notice the dĂ©cor soon as you get in. Itâs an eclectic mix. Brick walls, plush sofas and wing chairs exist in comfortable companionship with more functional, contemporary seating arrangements. The wall art moves from hipster to shades of classic rock but somehow it all works well together! We sat out on the terrace, and with everyone from Daughtry to Bryan Adams to Whitesnake to P.Diddy making up the background score, the stage was set for the food.
The menu is a hotchpotch of everything from Continental to Mangalorean and North Indian to Thai! Given the nature of the place, it focuses more on starters and we decided to check out quite a few of the house specials. We began with the rather strangely named Shutter Fried Chicken. It was crispy fried chicken with mushrooms in a soy based sauce, and it set the tone of what was to be my spiciest lunch in a very long time. The Mongolian Chicken, which arrived next, was our favourite starter. On a very relative scale, it was less spicy and the combination of superbly cooked chicken with a peanut and garlic garnish worked really well. The Anjal Masala Fry has to be tried out of itâs on the menu and it didnât disappoint at all. Fiery masala and fresh fish, it brought tears to our eyes for reasons of taste and spice! The Devil Paneer is one of the few dishes that doesnât set your tongue on fire, and the fried paneer with a touch of tang is something you should try. The curious name drew us to it, and when we asked what French Chicken was, the answer was a very enigmatic âlong chicken stripsâ. It turned out to be the international cousin of the Anjalâs masala and just as spicy. I think we might have diplomatic issues if the French ever discover this dish named after them! The Lamb Chilly, despite the name, had to be the mildest of all the dishes we tried. In the presence of greats, it fizzled.
Most of the house cocktails we asked for werenât available. My adventurous state of mind led me to ask for a Pepper Mind â Vodka, Green Chillies, Pepper & Orange juice. OMG! The easiest way to describe this is as an explosion of spice. If you arenât confident of taking the heat, donât attempt. The Sangria completely transforms once you give it a good stirring. Its sweetness is buried deep! Not really a recommended drink.
In essence, the dishes are meant to go with beer â unapologetically spicy, but very tasty as well. We scanned the main course for potential fire extinguishers! The Palak rice was a good bet. Risotto-like in consistency and with just the right amount of flavour to douse our screaming taste buds. The Keema Pav was too enticing to pass, so we asked for it to be tempered. A bit of an oil farm, but that doesnât take away from the fantastic taste at all.
Desserts would have helped calm things down, but itâs a pub and itâs only natural that this species of food does not exist here.
The food is priced quite reasonably. A couple of starters and main course dishes would only cost you Rs.1000. Add alcohol to capacity! Hereâs what you should go for â awesome spicy food that serves as the best beer companions you might ever find. Add to that, friendly staff, an ambiance that combines good old fashioned pub with casual comfort, and you have a very friendly place to hang out. Malleswaramâs export, it seems, will do just fine in Koramangala!
1522, #3, 80 feet Road, ST Bed, 4th Block, Koramangala Ph: 9980985527