CKP KAMAT CANTEEN - KUMARA KRUPA ROAD

My first option for lunch was to eat at a Chinese restaurant and write a review of it until I read about the urban bazaar exhibition at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, a renowed art center in Bangalore. I’ve had lunch at the canteen located in the center there before managed by Kamat hotels and let me tell you, this place is a heady mix of art, shopping and great food amid greenery.

Many a times, it has just been a place to escape to and I strongly wish we had more places like these that have a combination of so many things.

After a bout of shopping where the stalls had artisans from all over the country, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I decided to lunch at the canteen. The kamat canteen at CKP serves the best pocket friendly, clean, healthy food. This time around it was packed..what with the students of the art center, visitors to the bazaar it was quite a crowd.
Nevertheless, I managed to eat a plate of my favorite idli /vada combo with hot sambar and coconut chutney and ended it with a curd vada. Both were delicious. I got vegetable pulao and raitha as takeaway for later and it was equally good. Other items on the menu were tomato bath and bajji’s and south Indian meals (on the list for me to try). The menu is limited but good every time. The vada is probably the crispiest, freshest I’ve ever tasted. I’ve noticed something though…every time I eat here, I feel full fast on the least items. I usually don’t pig out like I do in restaurants.

There’s something to be said about sitting outdoors, under trees and eating…food always tastes so much nicer in such an atmosphere.

They sell some cakes and cool drinks and sandwiches too.

Would I go again? Often for sure. Would I recommend to friends? Yes! Its an ideal place to take people to especially if there are exhibitions going on.

All in all, it’s a place worth visiting and I pray sincerely that they keep up the good quality.

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 (sometimes can’t get a place to sit and then eating becomes a pain)

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details: #1, Art complex, Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore.
Time: 10. am onwards.

MAINLAND CHINA - INDIRANAGAR

With a deep craving for Chinese food after a movie, I decided to lunch at Mainland China in Indiranagar. I’ve been to their units years ago…the one on church street and once or twice here in Indiranagar mostly choosing to go A la carte. Today I opted for the buffet.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the quality and taste of the vegetable dumplings and the sauces that came with it is exactly how it was years ago. I couldn’t get enough of it and ate ten momos and could have made a full meal out of it. Starters and soup are served at the table. The dumplings were followed by pepper vegetables and chilly potatoes and fried wantons. All were tasty but the momos take the cake!

They had some thick soup and being a fan of clear soups I refused and mentioned the reason why. They made clear soup just for me and it was delicious!

Now comes the not so nice part. The buffet had fried rice, noodles and a variety of sides – greens in sauce, hot and sour vegetables and dumplings in hot garlic sauce all the side dishes were tasty but man! the rice was awful. At the first spoonful I was glad that I had served myself less and also stuffed myself with dumplings earlier. In the first place, any rice has to be PIPING HOT and this was cold and had a weird smell to it. Noodles were better but these were cold too.

The management really ought to do something about the quality of rice, and serve hot rice and noodles after all it’s the main course of the meal. The chocolate ice cream in the dessert section tasted like its way past the expiry date.
Desserts weren’t much to go wow about.. just some cakes, ice-cream (avoid) and fresh fruits. Overall, their starters and soup were the best. Prices are reasonable. Service was good.

Would I go again? Only to stuff myself with the starters if I’m in a splurging mood.

OVERALL RATING: 3/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details: 4032, 100 ft Road, near Domlur flyover, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Time: 12:30pm – 3:30pm, 7pm – 11:30pm
Contact: 080 25216677 / 080 39491234

CAFE TOSCANO - JAYANAGAR

With some work scheduled in Jayanagar, I wanted to grab a light lunch in the area. Café Toscano was on the way and I decided to stop here because I’ve had my eye on this place every time I go to Jayanagar and also because of the high ratings on reviews.

The place was all done up for the upcoming Halloween day with cotton cobwebs and cut outs of bats all over the walls. I wanted more of a snack than a full meal. I ordered a Bruschetta – my favorite Italian snack. Fresh chopped tomato, basil, virgin olive oil and Feta. This was served with a salad on the side. Both were tasty but not the best I’ve had.

Before that I was given a bread basket with salsa and pesto dips. While the dips were great, what is it with bread baskets that usually have stale, hard bread? I’ve experienced this in most restaurants. Very rarely is the bread fresh…just because we aren’t paying for it I suppose. This place was no different.

The Bruschetta and salad by itself was quite filling for me though it was only three pieces of bread. I got a Greek salad for takeaway which I later discovered at home tasted quite bland. I never leave any place without having dessert. Ordered a Freshly whipped mascarpone Tiramisu which was rich and creamy served with coffee ice cream. I must say their presentation is very picturesque however I’d prefer not eat out a flat square plate. I had to push my food around to get a grip on it.

Service was quick and courteous. Prices are quite high. Would I go again? Maybe to try their pizza but for me this place lacked the wow factor for frequent visits.

Overall rating: 3/5

In Pics: Bruschetta and Tiramisu.

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
359/38, 7th Cross, 1st Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore
Contact: 41558423 /917619320074
Timings: 12noon – 11pm

LITTLE ITALY INDIRANAGAR

My friend and I decided to lunch here after all the rave reviews from various sources. It was calm when we met. The interiors aren't anything to rave about. This is an all vegetarian Italian restaurant and given the competition in the area it takes something for a vegetarian italian place to hold its own.

We opted for the buffet. The welcome drinks (limited) and the starters (unlimited) were served at the table.

The plusses +++++
The baby corn fritters (okay bajjis) were perfect. I ate about 7 of these. We asked for second, third and fourth helpings. Salsa was yumlicious. Nachos with some cheesy stuff was good. I liked the lime water I asked for. They have a live pasta counter and we split a dry spaghetti with loads of veggies. The dips to go with everything was fresh and different - spinach was one and jalapeno was another. Bruschetta was good. Soup was just like how one makes at home.

The minuses -----

The breads- ever tasted bread that was left out in the air for too long? Yep, dry, hard and totally lacking in freshness as compared to warm fresh crisp bread I've had in several other places. For me, to go wrong with garlic bread, my favourite kind is a crime in itself. They have a variety of them assorted, pita, garlic bread and all tasted wooden. The management ought to look into this for the breads are a big part of the buffet. My friend found the kiwi welcome drink too sweet. Desserts were boring. Mango ice cream had ice crystals on it and was made from artificial flavouring.

The biggest thumbs down is for the mosquitoes. Huge buggers that bit and buzzed around us and spoilt our appetites. This was because we opted for outdoor seating.

Would I go again? Yes, when I'm in a mood for spaghetti. I plan to call ahead and ask if they are having baby corn for starters and only then head there and next time, I'll just stick to the starters, pasta and most importantly INDOORS!!!!!

Overall rating 3.5/5

Ratings for reviews
1- No!No!No!
2- just about average
3- Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!
5- Yes!Yes!Yes!

Details :
2017,100 feet road
HAL 2nd stage, Bangalore
Contact: 080 49652856
Open from 12 pm

FARSI CAFE - UB CITY MALL LAVELLE ROAD

For nearly a year, my friend and I have been planning to visit this place and we finally got around to it this month. Also, I thought a break from reviewing places only in Indiranagar would make a pleasant change.

This review would be description and ratings for different categories

Ambience: This is such a lovely place and so quiet on weekdays. It is very airy and if you are by yourself you can drift into a dreamy state. This is one place on a weekday to catch up over a long chat with a friend. 5/5

Seating: Quite comfortable, cosy chairs. – 4/5 rain droplets from the side windows did get on to the chairs.

Service: Efficient and attentive in all the right doses. 5/5.

Presentation: Top notch. Creative, visually appealing, (we sure eat with our eyes first), and colorful. Even the bill come in a quaint typewriter. 5/5

Food: Cooking is love made edible and my friend and I sure were in love today. 5/5.

We were given mango shots in little bowls as a welcome with dry ice. I so love the dry ice fumes.

Vada pav farsified – This was a lot like the aloo bondas I make at home with spicy powder and green and sweet chutney and lots of sev. Very tasty though and on rainy days.. best choice.

Varathathu fried fish and chakka chips that my friend had was crumb fried and tasty. This was served with jackfruit chips.

Just before the main course, we were given a palette cleanser a sort of tamarind kulfi kind of lollipop which was different.

We went with the hop hoppers next, farsi version of the appam. Now I love Appams and love the visual of fluffy white boat shaped dosa but this was black! Yes, it was made with charcoal and while I was skeptical initially, it tasted very good with asparagus and water chestnut kurma (these looked more like sambar onions but when eaten was so crispy and crunchy that I ate the chestnuts and my friend ate the gravy my friend had the appam with mutton kurma.

Rounding off the lunch with the inevitable dessert, I went in for the flourless chocolate cake while my friend had the peanut butter mouse. We had to stop short of licking the plate clean. Both desserts get a thumbs up and are recommended.

My only wish is that they continue to maintain the high standard of quality and creativity.

My friend had told me about the paan they serve at the end of the meal which we dint get and later, much later at bedtime was when I remembered it. Wish I had gotten to taste that too. Heard a lot about it.

Good food = Good mood and that’s what we walked out with at the end of it all.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details
Level 2, UB City, Vittal Mallya Road, Lavelle Road, Bangalore
Contact: 91 7259400900 /+91 7259600900
Open from 12 noon to 1a.m.

UTHRA - INDIRANAGAR

Located on CMH road, above and part of Asha sweets, Uthra offers a variety of vegetarian cuisine from chaats to Chinese to pizza to kulfi. I decided to lunch here for this month’s review. I opted mostly for snacks and desserts.

First off was the pani puri shots– this was served on a little cart with three types of water. The regular mint water, some kind of sherbet and mango water.

I have to say, some things are best not to be tampered with. It’s like eating idli with vanilla ice-cream. The mint water was awesome and I ordered more to just drink that. The other combos were awful. Best to give that a miss and stick to what goes best with panipuri..good ol’ mint water.

Then I ordered the chef special dahi puri. This too was presented on a cart with fancy carrot flowers and herb decorations. This was very tasty and the puri is unlike anything I’ve tasted…all crisp and crumbly. This gets thumbs up.

Next was the Gobi Manchurian. Was okayish. Not very different from what you get elsewhere.

I had the kulfi platter for dessert. Badam kulfi was good. Mango was not. Wish they served the kulfi as blocks than on sticks because it was a messy affair.

I had the chilli cheese sandwich for takeaway!. Please avoid this. What was the chef thinking??? It was filled some weird Manchurian kind of sauce with onions etc…very unlike any chilli cheese sandwich I’ve had and I’ve had quite a few in my time and have always loved it! This, I couldn’t eat beyond a few bites.

Place is clean, calm and there weren’t many people when I went. Great to sit and ponder over things. The tables are lined with paper which has mazes and crosswords for kids or the kid in you.

Service was good but could be better in terms of suggestions. I must give them a big thumbs up for presentation. It is really quirky. Even the bill and mouth fresheners were presented in cute lil buckets.

Prices are..well pricey! Chaats are like multiplex prices but good quality though seriously not a place for regular visits.

Overall it’s worth a visit once or twice. Would I go again? Yes to try some of their other snacks. Will I go regularly? Nope.

Overall rating 3/5


Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:

Address: 6, 2nd Floor, Above Asha sweets, C.M.H Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Timings: 12.00 to 3:30PM, 6:30 pm to 10 pm.
Contact: 080 49652707

DHYAANA - INDIRANAGAR

Healthy food is boring…lacks variety…bland….blah….Dhyaana bursts all these myths. Located on Krishna temple road in Indiranagar, this is a tiny health café that serves vegetarian food and offers quite a range to choose from its menu.

I was greeted by a lovely painting of Buddha on the wall. I also loved the rope thingies hanging over the light bulbs.

The first feeling that I got when I walked in is a sense of calm. I was the only person there quite early.

I did like their note on the menu to eat mindfully and put away all gadgets – something I haven’t done for a long, long, long time!

I started off with the momos platter since I’m the kind who could eat them all day. I am soooo not used to the healthy version of it with the momo’s dough made out of wheat and no msg;). Very used to the thinner maida version. The fillings were all very different…corn, paneer, mushrooms, basil, onions. After a while, I took apart all the momos and ate only the fillings and left the dough:)

Next was the mixed millet dosa – two per plate. I found this oil free and tasty though slightly on the sour side. Not sure if the batter was supposed to be that way. Chutney’s were awesome whether for momos or dosas – coconut, tomato and green chutneys.

I finished it my meal with pomegranate juice. Somehow despite hardly ordering much, I was quite full. I did order a kichidi bowl for my mom and a thali for me as takeaway to eat later– rice, curry, roti, raitha, curd, papad…This wasn’t too impressive because everything had excess salt in it especially the kichidi and its accompaniment cucumber and peanut salad. I don’t know what went wrong there, but from this experience I feel it is better to eat at the place.

Service is quick and the manager couldn’t have been more helpful in choosing items offered on the menu and giving a lot of information about the workshops and classes they conduct. I did miss ice creams for dessert though and wish they had the natural versions of it.

Would I go again? – yes, to try out their Buddha bowls and other dosas. I quite enjoyed eating peacefully, guilt free.

Would I take friends– Yes, if in a mood for health food.

Overall rating : 4/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:

Address: 756, Shri Krishna Temple Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Timings: 8 am to 10 pm.
Contact: 080 49653419

CRISP CAFE - INDIRNAGAR

Looks like I’ve found a new adda in Indiranagar. After a rather hectic morning around the area, I decided to grab some lunch at this place since I was on Krishna temple road on some work.

I’d start right away by giving the atmosphere here a 5/5…I love the open area seating with greenery around and the quiet…oh! The peace and quiet and alone time was blissful.

I ordered a Garden fresh Salad and Mac and cheese. There’s a reason why I order these two together whenever I get a chance. I take all the lettuce from the salad and smother the Mac n cheese with them and eat..weird combo but I love it!

The salad came with cherry tomatoes, lettuce, olives and carrots tossed in crushed peppers. The Mac and cheese was what it should be – creamy, gooey, and cheesy. Both were tasty. However, unlike the salad I’ve had at other places, where the salad bowl is a meal in itself, both these dishes aren’t all that filling so if you have a big appetite you may want to try their burgers and pastas and mains.

Dessert was S’mores tub that was a cookie cup with melted chocolate inside. Very filling and a sweet end to the time well spent at the café.

Service is quick. I found it the dishes a little on the pricey side. Quality of food is worth it. Music was annoying and requested them to turn it down. I was the only person there, early on a weekday and was grateful for the stillness. I can just imagine how this place will be when the weather is less humid and the monsoon arrives, sipping on a hot chocolate.

Would I go again? Yes, with friends and by myself. Also, to try out their other salads, pastas and the well recommended red velvet pancakes.

Overall rating : 4/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:

Address: 754, 1st Floor, Krishna Temple Road, Above cakewalk, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Timings: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Contact: 080 45128741

TRUFFLES - INDIRANAGAR

It was a choice between Truffles and a bar / resto in Indiranagar and I chose this because it is like two minutes away from where I stay. This place is sparkling clean though there was a strong smell of disinfectant that took some getting used to. I was there real early and they had just thrown their doors open. Within an hour it got filled up pretty fast mostly with young crowd.

They have an exhaustive menu of soups, salads, sides, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, combos, desserts and lots more, which I leisurely went through whilst hits from the 80’s on the likes of la isla bonita were playing in the background. The cakes on display were a visual treat!

I started off with fiery baby corn which was a lot like baby corn Manchurian dry, but very tasty. I was asked to try the all American veg burger. It’s been ages since I sank my teeth into a juicy burger so after reading reviews on Zomato, I decided to have one for lunch. The burger with veg/cheese patty was good, but not drool worthy or the kind I’d go back again and again for. It was served with crisps on the side. This is like a meal in itself and I had to parcel a portion of it so save your appetite if you plan to order burgers here.

The dessert, gooey mud cake was gooey, chocolatey with lemon curd and full though I was from the burger, I finished this one in record time!

Prices are reasonable and the bill comes in a glass cup. Cute idea that:) . Service is so – so.

The major minus in this place is the seating. The seats are close to each other and the partitions from one side of the tables to another is just at elbow level so if a group of people sit next to you, you can count the hair on their heads and hear every word they say! It’s that close and so lacks the much needed privacy. They really ought to do something about this and raise the partition between tables.

Would I go again? Yep, to try out their pastas and more desserts! I’d consider a takeaway though.

Overall rating: 3/5.

In pics: cake varieties on display, all American veg burger, gooey mud cake and fiery baby corn.

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:

Address: Indiranagar 1st Stage, 100 feet Road, Bangalore
Contact: 080 49652148
Timings: 11am to 11pm

SALT - FORUM MALL KORAMANGALA

Interrupting the Indiranagar reviews for one about SALT in the Forum mall, Koramangala. I just couldn’t resist it.

Finally, a place I can give a 5/5 rating…what can I say…it was flawless. My friend and I decided on an impulse to go here for lunch after watching a movie at Forum. Despite it being a weekday, it was packed.

This place serves mainly Italian and Indian fusion food and has a rather exhaustive menu. Since I had already pigged out on a burger during the movie, I decided to stick to something light. Besides I’ve always been a starter and desserts person.

We ordered:

Olive Masala paniyaram…this is a meal in itself. Best paniyarams, crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside and delicious stuffing served with chutney, salad and sundal. Mouth watering!

SALT’s Dhaba salad – As the description goes, a super salad with watermelon, tomato, cucumber, cheese, peppers, olives, chickpeas, raw mango, masala papad (MASALA PAPAD IN A SALAD!!), and fresh exotic garden leaves in mustard vinaigrette dressing. Who’d think watermelon and chickpeas in the same bowl would taste so good?

Mango cheese cake – Served with a berry sorbet, my friend had this and relished every spoonful.

Filter coffee creme brulee – Heavenly! I’ve rarely come across a dessert that I dream about long after I’ve left the place:)

This place is on the pricey side so make sure the wallet is loaded. Service is efficient. I would have liked more salad options since I can live on it all day. There are just two versions for vegetarians but honestly, I can’t fault anything in this place.

Would I go there again? Most definitely! I’m hoping the experience will be repeated and I can’t wait to try all their other items on the menu.

What I wish: Oh for them to have an outlet in my area – Indiranagar:)

Overall rating: 5/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

The pictures say it all.

Details:

Address: 2nd Floor, Forum Mall, Koramangala 7th Block, Bangalore
Timings: 12 to 10:45 pm
Contact: 080 49653245

TOIT INDIRANAGAR

I stay a stone’s throw away from TOIT and many a times when I pass this place, especially in the evenings or weekends, I see large groups of people spilling over almost on to the road, waiting to get inside. Also, everyone I know brings up this place sometime or the other and I thought I must give this a try.

What a hyped up place this is! I went to this place with my friend for lunch going by the high ratings on Zomato and if I had to describe this experience in the form of a whatsapp emoji, I would use the face palm one. The ambience is airy and nice. Service was good but the food.. lord help me! I had saved up my appetite so I can pig out here and was very disappointed.

I ordered a mocktail - safe sex on the beach (Orange juice, cranberry juice, peach syrup and lime) and found it too syrupy. The Mac and cheese balls were recommended and nothing to write home about. TOIT special salad was a huge let down with an overdose of leaves. Apple pie was good but could have been better if it was warm. The mushroom bites were returned. My friend has had it here thrice and she found it quite good but this time around, the mushrooms were not fresh and seemed half cooked with some Indian masala. My friend ordered the grilled fish chunks which she said was nice. Personally this place deserves nothing more than a 3 and I feel I’m being generous here…the pluses being the apple pie and the fish. Heard a lot about their pizza but couldn’t try them out this visit.

Would I go again - just for the food and drinks, I don’t think so, but if it’s to just sit and chat for a while with a friend and a light snack, then this is the place as nobody is breathing down your neck and that way it is quite chilled out.

Overall rating : 3/5

In pics: Apple pie, mushroom bites, TOIT special salad, Mac and cheese balls and the drinks. Everything looks good in pics (eye roll)

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details

Address :298, Metro Pillar 62, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Contact: +91 9019713388
Timings: 12 noon to 12:30a.m.

DELHI HIGHWAY - INDIRANAGAR

It is so nice to review different cuisines on a monthly basis and it is even better that one area offers them all. Review for the month of February 2018 is north Indian cuisine. Heard a lot about this place from Zomato so headed here with my friend. The a la carte menu sure is elaborate. We opted for the thali.

Ambience is pleasant without being OTT, soft lighting.

We were welcome with a litchi drink which was cool and delicious. And tasty masala papad. Here’s what we had and my comments against each item

Soup – Cream of tomato soup - Okayish

Chaat:

Bhalla Papdi Chaat – Good. Can do with less sweet.

Gol Gappe – If this one got an emoticon it would be a smiley and a thumbs up. Serves in shot glasses the pani was superb. We ordered round two.

Starters

Classic Paneer Tikka – Can't complain

Charcoal Mushroom – I like it and I don’t.

Veg Shammi Kabab and Naram Dil Kabab – Awesome! Can have more of this.

Mains:

Paneer tikka masala – Here we go again! Cant veg restaurants come up with anything other than paneer as everything? Paneer as starters, paneer as stuffing, paneer as main…enough already! That said, it was tasty.

Veg Kadai – Very, very good! The best among the main course.

Pindi Channa – Average.

Corn Palak – I returned mine but my friend told me it was blah!

Dal Delhi Highway – Nope.

Breads
Naan/Tandoori Roti – Nice and soft and buttery.

Rice :

Dum Biriyani – Runnnnn! I’ve never tasted anything so insipid. It needs to be taken off the menu.

Desserts

Gulab Jamun - Good
Jalebi with Rabdi - Good
Delhi Special Lassi – Good.

To sum it up – Great starters. Disappointing main course. Nice desserts.

Would I go again? : For the buffet no. To try other items from the menu (snacks).. maybe. Service is good here.

Overall rating : 2.5/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details
951, 12th Main Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar.
Timings : 12 to 3:30PM, 7 to 11PM
Contact: 080 45128622

SMOKE HOUSE DELI - INDIRANAGAR

Last year 2017’s monthly restaurant reviews saw a range of cuisines and restaurants on my blog and I enjoyed it so much that this year too I decided to do the same, except that I decided to target one area per year.

This year 2018 monthly restaurant reviews will be narrowed down to places only in my area – Indiranagar and trust me, there’s no dearth of food joints here nor a lack of variety.

For January 2018, I decided to go to Smoke House Deli (SHD) for lunch. Now, I rarely review the same place twice and I had already been to their Lavelle road outlet. (reviewed last year February 2017). I had given it a 4 out of 5 rating. I wanted to know what it is like to visit the same restaurant and make comparisons between different outlets.

It was a holiday so quite packed as expected but I was nevertheless directed to a table and let me tell you, they sure need to change their tables. It’s a tiny round thing and all you need is to place a menu card and a bottle of water and there’s hardly any space for anything else! They need to have bigger square tables. My bread basket had to be taken away to make away for other dishes – in other words one cannot keep too many stuff at the same time without crowding.

I ordered more or less the same stuff that I did in Lavelle road which I recall was very pleasant - SHD tomato Bocconcini Salad with queen olives and pesto Vinaigrette. As I chewed through loads of lettuce leaves, roasted tomatoes and olives, the taste was great but I kept feeling something was missing and it wasn’t as good as the one I had at Lavelle road.

After I had finished the salad, washed it down with lime soda and started on my flour less chocolate fudge – (which by the way is simply divine!) THEN it dawned on to me that the cheese was missing…the soft, melt in the mouth cheese that makes the very dish:)

Now comes the best part, a part of me was cheesed off (excuse the PJ), but when it was pointed out, the Manager, Suraj couldn’t have been more apologetic and said that the day’s order was on the house. I refused to let them do that though and while the salad was on the house, I paid up for the rest. Service is the best here.

Back to the cake – chocolovers will surely love this! It is served with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream and there’s something about the combination of hot cake with cold ice cream that makes me swoon. So all in all at least it ended on a sweet note!:)
Ambience wise I somehow liked the Lavelle road outlet better, calm and quiet.

I’ve always maintained that the bench mark of a good restaurant is would it make me want to go back again and would I tell other’s about it?

For this place

Lavelle road: Yes Definitely!
Indiranagar: Not sure…maybe to take away their desserts.

Overall rating: 3/5.

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
Address: Smoke House Deli – 100 feet road, Opposite Starbucks.
Time: 9 AM to 1 AM
Contact: 25200898/ 25200899