Category: Restaurant 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

  • 898

    A neon with that number has been blinking at us for a while now, whenever we use the 80 ft Road in Koramangala, and since it also contained words like ‘steak’, ‘grill’, it didn’t require a lot of convincing for us to drop in. This is right next to Chandni Chowk (can someone explain to me the mad rush there every weekend?!) and on the top floor of the same building as 13 Spices. (map) Parking is not much of a problem if you’re there before 8.

    Rooftop restaurants most usually works for me, and 898 was no different. Some nice tiled roofing and screens to close the sides means it’ll be okay even if it rains. For now, the screen that hogged all the attention was an LCD one. They have an interesting decor, confirming that kitsch is back. Different kinds of chairs, even those indoor standalone swings, and our table was a chest at some pint of time. A fish shaped wooden board, large mirrors, interesting lighting, you get the idea…

    There was a good breeze too, as we sat looking at the menu. Mostly steaks, with some mocktails, and a couple of Thai soups thrown in. (click for a larger images)

    We started with a Cream of Coconut Milk – Chicken. No by-twos were told, isn’t that against Bangalore culture? A watered down version of the Tom Kha, and a bit too diluted for my liking, but quite flavourful, and they were genrous with the chicken. We then got ourselves a Beef Satay. Quite well done, and the peanut sauce that accompanied it was better than usual.

    For the main course, we ordered a Chicken Lasagna (ugly photo) and a Chicken Garlic Pepper Steak. I haven’t seen a lasagna served like that, but in terms of taste it was quite decent. D said the steak had a strong chicken smell, but again, it delivered in terms of taste. Neither were phenomenal, just about decent. We also ordered a Chocolate Martini (I’m still wondering why it was called that). It reminded me a lot of the old Joy/Dasprakash ice creams.

    The bill came to over Rs.950. The ambiance was quite decent, though there was something missing about the food. Nothing bad enough not to drop in at all, but… The service is a bit slow, but it’s quite a relaxing place, so you probably won’t mind.They missed an item in the billing, probably teething troubles, though it has been over 2 months.

    898, No.898/4, Opp IBP Petrol Bunk, 80ft Road, Koramangala 6th Block, Ph: 9844005050

  • On the Edge

    No, it’s not a state of the mind post. On the Edge is a lounge restaurant that neighbours Ebony and 13th Floor in Barton Centre on MG Road. Last weekend, thanks to the cup that mattered, we converted our regular Saturday dine out into a Sunday lunch.

    On the Edge has a view that parallels 13th Floor – facing MG Road. Not as spectacular, but close enough. It would be better at night, obviously. Most of the tables offer the view, but there are some others too, and they’re actually more lounging-friendly. You can find the map, menu and a few photos at Zomato. The prices have increased by about 10%, and they add a service charge and tax.

    After the mandatory skyline photo session, we ordered the “Bangkok in a bowl”. Before that arrived, we got a complimentary bread basket. That dip was quite good. The Tom Yum was not the coconut milk version we had hoped for (on hindsight, the menu hadn’t mentioned coconut milk either), but was still spicy and all the flavours manifested well.

    For the main course, we ordered a Khao Soi (w/ egg noodles) and a Chicken – Prosciutto Roulade. The Khao Soi, though a Burmese dish, seemed closer to its Thai version. It was quite good, though I prefer a heavier dose of coconut milk. 🙂 The Chicken – Prosciutto Roulade was extremely good, and if you’re ok with ham, you should definitely give this a try. Despite not being a big fan of Popeye and Spinach, I quite liked it. Loved the presentation too, especially the mashed potato.

    All of the above cost us just less than Rs.950. Not exactly cheap, but for the ambiance, the quality of food and the decent service, it seemed quite reasonable.

    On The Edge, 84, 13th Floor, Barton Centre, MG Road. Ph: 41783333

  • 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