Punkah House has its fans, and they have been recommending the place for a while now. But we really didn’t have the appetite to negotiate traffic, and kept postponing the visit until we got one of those weekends when people leave Bangalore for a long weekend and transport it to the past. That also meant that we arrived earlier than anticipated. Not complaining, since we hopped over to the church of Magnolia (judging by the lines of those of us who waited patiently in a queue for salvation) to get ourselves some banana pudding for later.
Punkah House is undeniably classy, and barring the honking, manages to keep the chaos of 12th Main out. The decor and wicker furniture on the first floor, where we sat, would remind you of an older era of clubs. There are other sections too, each with a distinct nuanced layer over the broad colonial theme.
The menu follows this with dishes from the subcontinent with a lot of representation from Ceylon and Burma and of course, India, albeit with a contemporary twist. An amuse-bouche arrived – sago with a zingy sauce – even as we were debating over drinks – which one to order, that is! D chose a Tokyo Tomo, and I asked for the Brigadier. The first has sake, lime and a mild pandan leaf flavoured gin, altogether quite refreshing. The Brigadier’s presentation is quite something, and bourbon, absinthe and bitters made for a fantastic drink that one could nurse for a long time!
The Chorizo and lentil Goa vada was intriguing enough for us to try, and it delivered an excellent texture in addition to the combination that worked well together, helped by a spicy chutney that came along! We then went into zombie mode and ordered an Old Bombay Brain Scramble hoppum. I know appam (from my homeland) and hopper (from Lanka) but it seems the combination is a word! Curiously enough, it was served with coconut and chilli-tomato chutneys that are more of dosa BFFs. It wasn’t bad though and in any case we were distracted enough by the delicious brain! Midway through this, we were served another hoppum. We thought the staff were going above and beyond, but turned out it was billed. Oh well, getting punked at Punkah House is probably par for the course.
There were a bunch of mains we wanted to try, but we were stuffed. The Rustic Chicken flat bread with fermented chilli salsa turned out to be a safe bet. Chocolate won over Kapimisu but the Eton Mess was the only dish that we would file under just ok, at least in terms of flavour if not texture.
The bill was a a hefty Rs. 3400+ affair, but given the location, ambiance and quality of food, I wouldn’t complain. The service is friendly, the vibe is unlike anything else in the vicinity and we’ll definitely make the trek again.
Punkah House, 2989/B, 1st Floor, 12th Main Road, Indiranagar Ph: 41471005