Tag: Frontier cuisine

  • The Legend of Sikandar

    Sikandar is the Hindustani name of Alexander the Great, and that’s the theme of this restaurant in Garuda Mall. Theme, only in terms of the food, not the decor, though they do have a few glass paintings that depict this. The place is usually crowded on Saturdays, so we reserved, got there by about 7.45, and got one of the window seats I have a liking for. Surprisingly, it didn’t have full occupancy at any point during our dinner. Blame it on you-know-what. I wonder if that’s the same thing I should blame for them using a fan instead of the air conditioning!!

    We decided to try a non chicken starter this time, and settled on the Adana Seek, described as “Turkey’s single greatest contribution to the world of street food. Lamb mince skewered on a sword, typically spiced and enlivened with paprika flakes and made the way it has been for eons in the Turkish town of Adana”. Judging by the taste, and the awesome flavoring, it definitely is a great contribution. Highly recommended, the only disappointment being that I expected to see the sword..and didn’t. The mint chutney provided with it wasn’t great though, so skip it.

    For the main course, we ordered a Murgh Siyali Kalimirch. The description in the menu reads ” Housewives in Siyalkot, Pakistan, take fierce pride in preparing their own versions of this dish of tender chicken cooked in sealed clay pots with lashings of freshly ground peppercorn”. We also ordered a Kadaiwala Machchi, “the best example of robust food made from simple earthy ingredients that’s the essence of Punjab’s cuisine. Fish tossed with fresh tomatoes, peppers and pounded spices”.  To go along with it, we ordered an Ulta Tawa ka Paratha – “the copper mahi tawa lends its special flavour ro these griddle roasted saffron flavoured parathas” , a Paneer aur Pudina Bharwan Kulcha, and when that proved insufficient, a roti too. What hasn’t been mentioned in the menu is that the chicken dish is a white gravy one, but that really didn’t matter. Its one of the best chicken dishes I’ve tasted in a long time. Whatever version this one is, I think they should stick to it!! The fish was good, but not in the same league as the other. The paratha was good too, and the only thing that was disappointing was the bharwan kulcha ( I think that has something to do with it not having a descriptor line..hmm)

    D felt that the choice of dishes has been reduced. I am not sure, but yes, there are about 4 chicken gravy dishes only now, so she could be right. The portions are quite large and more than sufficient for two people. They also serve liquor. The service this time was quite tardy though, in spite of the cold looks we gave the staff when they delayed in serving/refilling the water/bringing the bill. All of the above cost us just less than Rs.900. If you haven’t tried the place, you should, at least once. We chose this place specifically for this weekend because its one of our favourite places in Bangalore, and deserved to be the 50th Bangalore restaurant to be reviewed on this blog. 🙂

    The Legend of Sikandar, 4th Floor, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road. Ph: 41252333

    Menu and Photos at Zomato

  • Copper Chimney

    Judging by our liking for the place, Copper Chimney should’ve been written about quite a while back. Copper Chimney is a restaurant on the 5th floor of Bangalore Central, serves Frontier/North Indian fare. Keeping in mind the lunar surface that is MG Road, and the abundance of one ways in the area, we usually park at Garuda Mall and walk up.

    We usually reserve in advance, especially since we like to sit outside. That’s only possible if you’re 2-3, but the seating inside is quite comfy. The fifth floor setting ensures that its nippy outside especially in the winter months. Once it was so windy that they closed the section outside. That’s the only time we sat inside.

    So, we started with a Chicken Kali Mirch – “boneless chicken marinated in yoghurt, spiked with freshly pound black pepper, and gently grilled. Awesome stuff, especially if you are the kind who likes the pepper flavour. The mint chutney they gave was superb, went great with the chicken, and we ended up finishing the entire bowl. Lots of pieces so you wouldn’t complain about the quantity either.

    For the main course, we asked for a Murg Patiala – “chicken breast simmered in a rich cream sauce topped with sieved eggs”, and deviating from tradition (fish), a Kadhai Paneer – “batons of cottage cheese stir fried with onions and peppers and spiced with freshly pounded coriander seeds and red chillies”, and to go with it a naan, and a tandoori roti. The chicken dish was a tad blander than it usually is, or the starter’s flavours were messing with my taste buds. But the paneer dish was spicy enough.Its only once that we’ve had dessert at Copper Chimney, the rest of the time we were stuffed, and this time was no exception. And so the meal ended there. The service was a bit tardy this time, but nothing to raise a furore over. Yes, I realise I’m quite biased. 🙂

    They’ve quite a few choices in mutton and serve alcohol as well. There are a few ‘hatke’ options of breads too – like Taftan and Kabuli Naan. In essence, a place you must try. Meanwhile, all of the above cost us just below Rs.900. No mineral water this time 😉

    The thing that brings us back to Copper Chimney (other than the great food) is the wonderful view (when you take the two seaters outside) of Bangalore’s skyline. It makes you reflect. Food for thought. 🙂

    Copper Chimney, 5th Floor, Bangalore Central, Residency Road. Ph: 080 66111800

    Menu and photos at Zomato

  • Kabul

    Continuing the Asian theme for this weekend (we saw CC2C on friday, a movie i strongly recommend you not 2 c, until it arrives free on TV), we decided to move on to Kabul yesterday. Kabul’s Bangalore version is on Residency Cross Road, the one way that goes up from Residency road and lands you next to Symphony on MG Road. You could park on Brigade road/ Bangalore Central and walk. Just adjacent to it is Malgudi (belongs to the same group), and that mortal enemy of anyone who even contemplates a diet – Corner House 🙂

    So, we reserved in advance, but actually, on hindsight, not at all necessary. We were alone when we started, and by the time we were through, there were about 3 other groups. The ambience is quite nice with comfortable seating, though from the music played, Afghans are huge fans of Pankaj Udhas and Jagjit Singh.

    As the name suggests, the place serves Frontier cuisine. Though we’d planned on starters, we ended up trying a shorba – Murg Kabuli Shorba, which was fine, except for a strange oily flavour it seemed to have. You could try out the Murg Jehangiri starter, sounded nice – chicken legs with minced mutton stuffing.

    For the main course, we ordered a Doodiya Murg, which is “boneless chicken cooked along with milk, cream, khova and topped with malai”, a Mirch machli Masala, “boneless seer fish dum cooked with tomato and topped with herbs”, and to go with that an aloo paratha and a makhini kulcha. The rotis werent sufficient, so we ended up ordering a Masala Kulcha too. There was so much potential in that damn description of the chicken dish, but… don’t fall for it!! It actually tasted like a dal curry (parippu curry, for those who know Kerala cusine). The fish curry wasn’t so great either, and for once I was complaining at the extravagant size of the portions. With Corner House nearby, the dessert menu is wasted, especially since it doesnt offer anything spectacular.

    The service, for what its worth, was quite good, attentive and there were no delays at all. All of the above (including a bottle of mineral water for Rs.45) cost us just under Rs.750.

    You’re advised to try out Sikandar (Garuda Mall) or Copper Chimney (Bangalore Central), both of which are in the vicinity and offer similar cuisine. The food is guaranteed to be better. (I realised I havent written about either place, shall do soon!!!)

    On our way back, we noticed Chung Wah (on the same road) Once upon a time (when we came to bangalore), we had to wait to get a seat there, and now, on a Saturday night, there were all of 3 tables occupied. The times, they are a changin. 😐

    Kabul, # 45/3, Residency Cross Road, Ph: 08025580440