Category: Bangalore Mirror reviews

  • El Tablao

    The original Spanish work was first published in Bangalore Mirror, this is a version translated for the blog. 😉 In a fortnight, the more popular namesake does battle with the Spanish in the Champions League final, but this a slightly more peaceful affair.

    So, if ever, depending on your interests and inclinations, a Salvador Dali or Penelope Cruz or Enrique Iglesias or Fernando Alonso has set your heart racing, and you would like to go beyond that and reintroduce Spain to your heart via your stomach, El Tablao, specialising in Spanish cuisine, is a place to be considered.

    El Tablao is on the road from Sony World junction  to 1st Block Koramangala, above Reliance Jewels (on your right) . Here’s a map. There are enough side roads for parking to be a non issue. I was also told that valet parking was coming soon.

    Though food is our focus, the ambiance is worth a note. The only way you’ll realise that you’re still in the concrete clutches of Koramangala is if you’re sitting on the glass-ed side of the restaurant that overlooks the 80-feet road. Tastefully done, the restaurant’s interior is stylish and has a colonial tone that complements the theme. Under the shadows of chandeliers and torches, you can catch glimpses of matadors, bull fighting and the paintings of Spanish masters as you listen to the Gypsy Kings, lounging on benches whose hardness is mercifully minimised by the usage of cushions.

    Despite the starters, with many vegetarian options and a smaller ‘Charcuterie’ section, the menu clearly focuses on tapas. There are more than 30 dishes on that front, spread over seafood, chicken, meat and vegetarian options. There are a few salads to choose from, and then there’s Paella. In addition, there is also a ‘South of Border’ section consisting of Mexican dishes. The clear numbering ensures that you don’t have to wrestle with the Spanish pronunciations. You can take a look at the menu on Zomato. El Tablao also boasts of a wine bar with red and white wines, champagne and, of course, there’s Sangria.

    We began well with the slightly spicy Piri Piri potato wedges, served with garlic mayonnaise and tomato salsa dips. Rafael, my Spanish guest, was completely in love with the Seleccion de Embutidos Curados — slices of Serrano ham, salami and chorizo., though I felt the typical Indian palate might find it a tad too uni-flavoured. The Brocheta de Pollo con Pimientos y Cebolla — marinated chicken breast served on skewers was delicious too.

    In the main course, the fluffy Tortilla Espanola — Spanish omelette with potato and onion was a favourite. But the hit of the day was the Paella de Mariscos, the seafood paella with squid, king prawn, mussels, fish, green beans, asparagus, peas, red peppers, made extra special with the rice that seemed to have been cooked in fish stock. You’re informed beforehand that the Paella takes a minimum of two to tango and requires about 40 minutes of waiting, but it’s worth it. Rafael said the only thing it lacked was a squeeze of lime, but that was quickly remedied. The Paella de Carne, however, could not match up to its illustrious seafood counterpart, and proved to be a bit bland. The dessert section was also quite a disappointment, especially since most of the options were among the commonly available set.

    The service was a tad careless to begin with, but they soon redeemed themselves with their promptness. We dined on a lean weekday evening, and Sachin, the owner, could be found visiting every table and graciously enquiring about the service.Though not exactly wallet friendly, the uniqueness of the cuisine and the ambiance do justify it.

    In summation, a distinct cuisine set in a wonderful ambiance ensures that you’ll have a great dining experience. Buen provecho!

    El Tablao, Lotus, 612/1, 80 Feet road, Koramangala, Bangalore – 560034 Phone: 41410124

  • NH8

    This review was first published in Bangalore Mirror, and you are permitted to read further only if you promise not to LOL, because this happens to be a veg restaurant! Gasp! Those of my meat eating friends whose ribs aren’t being tickled and who can empathise, don’t worry, I compensated by refusing to meet vegetarians and following a meat-only diet during the rest of the weekend. 😉

    NH8 is on 80ft Road Indiranagar and this map should tell you how to get there. The Bata showroom above which it is located is a good landmark. While on maps, for the geographically challenged, the map on the restaurant’s signboard outside informs you that the National Highway 8 connects the country’s capital New Delhi with its financial capital Mumbai, and on its way passes the State capitals Gandhinagar and Jaipur. Ok, geography lesson over, now you can take your eyes off the road and focus on the gastronomic journey.

    The idea is to present the cuisine of the different cities traversed by the NH8 highway. The menu is still in the introductory stage, and they plan to add more options soon. For now, what is available is a thali with unlimited refills. From the tiny waiting area outside to the entire decor inside, a good attempt has been made to do justice to the geographical theme of the restaurant. Perhaps the only thing that sticks out is the gigantic TV screen, but then, that seems to be a hygiene item in restaurants now. The seating is of two kinds – low floor and regular, and the cushions are bright and comfortable. The staff also follow the theme with their colourful pagdis.

    The welcoming ‘Padharo Sa’ section with Chaanch and Jaljeera is followed by the savouries (Farsaan) that included the dhokla, Batata vada and Masala Bati among others. The main course (Aarogo Saa, Jeemo Saa, Rice) consists of gravies – dal, gatta, kadi and to go with it Naan, Roti and rice. There’s also a Moong Dal Khichdi and a variety of chutneys. The road ends with desserts in the form of burfi and Lapsi. There are more items on the thali on weekends as compared to weekdays. You can see the menu at Zomato.

    We started with the Paneer Kalimirch Tikka, and the Haryaali Aloo, both of which turned out to be excellent. Despite its companions being fancier, the Batata Vada was also appreciated. But the Khaman Dhokla was spongy enough but very dry. The line bewteen starter and main course is blurred since the items land on your plate at rapid speeds.

    The Dal-Bati was mildly spicy and good enough for multiple helpings. The Gujarati Kadi was sour, sweet and spicy and was much in demand. But clearly, the winner was the Jaipuri Gatta with its rich, thick and spicy gravy. The Gobi Masala turned out to be too spicy and lacking any other flavour. The Marwari Kadi was also too bland, and lacked the sour, tangy flavours associated with it. The Aloo Tamatar Rasawaala didn’t leave any good impressions either. Meanwhile, the Marwari Chaanch keeps you good company throughout the meal. Among the desserts, the Coconut Burfi was the pick of the lot. The Marwadi Lapsi, made of broken wheat, was found to be lapsing, quite a disappointment.

    The high speed delivery mechanism of one dish after another could overwhelm you, but if you let that pass, the service would rate as one of the best you’d have encountered. With smiling faces, they insist on serving you more and more and when you’re finished, pleasantly ask if everything was to your satisfaction. The finishing touch is in the form of the handwash, which moves away from the regular fingerbowl to a person pouring the water for you to wash your hands.

    The thali is priced at Rs.199 on weekdays and Rs.249 on weekends. (Fri-Sun) If you happen to be a vegetarian, this place is obviously worth a visit. Even if you’re not, drop in for a unique experience delivered in a most hospitable manner. The way to a man’s heart is a highway, and that’s not the ghee talking.

    NH8, 710, 3rd Floor, Above Bata Showroom, 80ft Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore – 560008. Ph: 42076575

  • Tandoori Hippie

    This review was first published in Bangalore Mirror, where some wise desk person also called it soul food. Sigh. This is a less maligned version. Peace, love and Tandoori Chicken. Tandoori Hippie is on the 4th floor of the Mother Earth building on Intermediate Ring Road. (map) They also run a lounge bar called Loveshack on the floor above. There’s valet parking, so you won’t have to wander about like hippies for that.

    The chairs in the reception area immediately grab your attention because each of them is unique – including a barber’s chair! The restaurant is divided into several sections – an alfresco area that offers an excellent view of the Ring Road, a second area which offers an excellent view of the day’s cricket match thanks to a giant LCD screen, and a third, more private area which offers an excellent view of various spices. A saxophone, a trumpet, an old radio, a gramophone, a grandfather clock and many such trinkets vie for your attention as you make your way inside into a bright ambiance that’s at once rustic and hip. All part of what they call  ‘Fun dining’.

    Despite the decor, the hearth is Tandoor, and only the soul is hippie. A couple of shorbas, and some salads make an appearance before we get into the meat of the menu. There are quite a few kebabs to choose from, including seafood. The main course offers some options for the vegetarians as well, in addition to the standard non veg Tandoori dishes. Tandoori Hippie has a lunch buffet and in the evenings, a Chai Bar that serves chaats, samosas, golas etc. They have a decently stocked bar, with a few cocktails too. We tried a Passion Martini and found it to be quite good.

    The special Zafrani Lassi, though priced a tad high, is excellent and quite filling. The flavourful and succulent Kastoori Kebab served on the seekh, as well as the Lahori Seekh Kebab, with just the right texture, are both good starters to try. The Achari Paneer Tikka was quite bland, and completely lacked the flavour it’s supposed to have. Among the main course dishes, the Macchi Hara Masala was quite a disappointment thanks to the spinach invasion and overly salty fish. The Aloo Chutneywala, with its unique gravy makes a good dish for vegetarians. They also did a good job with the Gosht Rogan Josh and the Hyderabadi Murgh Biriyani, the latter as pleasing to the olfactory system as it was to the palate. Desserts are available on paper, but do check their availability before reserving stomach space. The poor guy in charge of the table enthusiastically asked us to ignore the menu and reeled out a few options he insisted we try. But it turned out to be quite a sad affair as we were told that the Rajbhog and Cham-Cham we’d ordered were over, after confirming availability. The Phirni we got was actually sour and the Rasgullas way too rubbery. The Gajar ka Halwa was the saving grace among the desserts.

    But despite some delay in getting the main course dishes, specially the biriyani, and the dessert mix-up, the earnestness of the service has a way of winning you over. On the cost front, for Rs.1000, you could share a lassi, a starter, a couple of non-veg main course dishes, a few rotis and a dessert.

    Though the menu sticks to the tried and tested Tandoor fare, the ambiance and enthusiastic service staff give this place a uniqueness that warrants a visit. It would be great if the mash-up in the name could be translated onto the menu too.

    Tandoori Hippie, #541-543, Mother Earth Building, 4th Floor, Amarjyoti Layout, Intermediate Ring Road, Domlur – 70 Ph: 41500787

  • Nando’s

    The review was first published in Bangalore Mirror, this one isn’t peri peri different, just a few changes.

    30 countries spread over 5 continents, but now, we’re just one Big 10 away from our chance to sample what they call the Nando’s “experi-perience”. An international chain of casual dining restaurants that originated in South Africa, Nando’s has a Portuguese – Mozambique theme, and is famous for the Peri Peri sauces.

    Since it’s Church Street, I am not competent enough to offer any suggestions on parking. We reached there early – around 7.30, my strategically selected Nandosts and I, and found ourselves among the first lot of customers for the evening. The snag therefore was a constantly hovering service staff, whom we finally had to politely but firmly fend off.

    The decor and furniture are quite a few notches above casual dining. Bright colors and music that goes with the restaurant’s theme ensure that there’s a buzz to the place. The unique tablemats and the famous bottles of sauce only add to the setting. My friends noted that this setting was quite different from their Nando’s experience abroad.

    The menu screams chicken. Loads of it – liver, wings, chicken meals, Espetada and so on. But vegetarians need not be completely put off since they have quite a few options including salads, hummus, burgers and several side dishes. Zomato has the menu and a few photos. Like all the other chains that pay homage to the uniqueness that’s India, Nando’s does too, in the form of a Peri Peri Paneer. There are also a few interesting beverages and dessert options. Note the conversational tone of the menu and the occasional witticisms and wordplay.

    We decided to start with the Indianised offering – Peri Peri Paneer, with the Extra hot sauce. It wasn’t as spicy as we expected, but still managed to deliver. The Petisco platter would’ve worked if not for the chicken wings, which were not only undercooked – a problem that was repeated later with the Quarter Chicken Meal, but suffered from an uneven distribution of spiciness. Its other flaw was the pita bread, though the hummus was quite good.

    The Chicken Espetada Rustica, in the main course, was quite a visual treat, in addition to being a reasonably tasty dish, despite the deceptively bland butter. The Chicken Strips & Rice also proved a good choice though the rice could have done with more flavour. The potato wedges were surprisingly good. The Chicken Wrap was a complete disaster, with the wrap taking its role too seriously. The sauces, famed for their spice were more tangy than hot.

    Except for the Natas, the desserts failed to make any impact. Ditto the beverages, though we expected much from the Crimson Cola and the Poncha Zurra Tinto. So that should give you an idea of Nando’s and dont’s. Meanwhile, the portion sizes are not that great for the Quarter Meal and Chicken Strips, so a full stomach is not guaranteed.

    The service is a bit patchy, especially when the crowd grows. Though there were no delays in taking orders or serving the dishes, refilling water promptly is a skill that needs to be learned when dealing with spicy stuff.

    Go there you must, to know what makes the African Bird’s Eye chilli so famous, but though it’s definitely different from the regular chicken stereotype, you’ll wonder whether it’s really worth the hype. Nando’s does need to polish its act for sustained prosperi-perity.

    Nando’s, 1A Church Street, Bangalore – 1. Tel: 65681480

  • Phobidden Fruit

    This review was originally published in Bangalore Mirror. Have made  Vietnaam ke vaaste changes to this edition of the Phobidden Fruit review. 🙂

    Phobidden Fruit is on 12th Main Indiranagar and is less than 50m from the Sony junction (with 100 ft Road), going towards Daddy’s Deli. Parking shouldn’t be too much of a problem, there is 12th Main itself and enough smaller side lanes.

    Since the cuisine was specialist, I had the Pho sight to go prepared, and was accompanied by a few Nam ‘veterans’ – Madman, and Prateek and Nithya Dayal. 🙂

    The place is a sort of glorified garage space. But though the ground floor is relatively uninspiring, negotiate the spiral staircase and you’re transported to a cheerful casual dining ambiance with wooden seating and pretty cushions. We got to hear some 80s pop and with the occasional creaking of the dumb waiter, this seemed just the right setting for a relaxed meal.

    The menu offers a bunch of appetisers, and has quite a few options for vegetarians and non vegetarians. In fact, the latter would be spoilt for choice – chicken, beef, clams, pork, prawn, fish, squid, lamb…see? You can take a look at the menu below

    We started quite well. The Banh Xeo, crispy rice crepes with a filling of button mushrooms, onion and sprouts accompanied by a spicy sauce ended up  the favourite, as did the Fresh Spring Roll (Chicken), though Madhu did mention that it might have worked better with rice noodles inside instead of rice, and could have done with some more herb flavour. The Viet Spare Ribs were fairly good too, despite the ribs being stingy on meat.

    After the starters, it was time for the Pho play. The Pho (we tried Beef and Chicken) shared a common broth and the meat was added later, but it’s still a Saigon pick, as is the Viet Red Prawn Curry.

    The Saigon kick was delivered in the form of the Kho that I ordered, salmon cooked in a rich, sweet and spicy caramel sauce. There was notthing to counter the overly sugary sauce. The desserts were also bit of a disappointment. The Coconut Sorbet, while not lacking in flavour, missed out on the texture of a sorbet. The Lemongrass Ice Cream again got the flavour right, but was more like a custard. The Che too seemed to stray from its original version. We tried a Vietnamese Iced Coffee, but instead of the condensed milk and strong coffee that was expected, this turned out to be a much diluted version.

    The service is quite prompt and despite all the tables being full, managed to do a good job without any major trouble.

    All things considered – a catchy name, a relaxed setting, and the possibilities of a unique cuisine, this place deserves a visit. So, if you’re feeling blue, and would like to ginger up your appetite with a new cuisine, but without an astronomic bill, you could try out this Vietnamese gastronomic experience.

    Phobidden Fruit, #965, 12th Main, HAL II Stage, Indiranagar.  Ph: 41255175

    PS: If you’d also like an advanced user review, do read this. (HT: Madman) 🙂