BASAVESHWAR KHANAVALI RESIDENCY ROAD

I always lean to any place that offers vegetarian leaf meals or baale yele oota as it's called here. Having tasted quite a bit of North Karnataka cuisine around the city, this place appealed to me in terms of serving a variety of items aka Uttara Karnataka style. Rather than describe each and every dish I'll keep it short in this review. ..besides one can write an essay when describing items served meals on leaf because there's usually so many of them! WHAT STOOD OUT: jolada roti with ghee and sprouts playa.. Piping hot and soft. Really good. The chutney pudis and red chutney which was dynamite Salad /Pachadi Rasam Buttermilk Items are all fresh. The person serving me was swift and efficient. I dint eat the holige because for me it’s a meal in itself! WHAT COULD DO WITH IMPROVEMENT: The ennegai..the brinjal specialty...it's got to be spicy and reddish brown. Sambar was also too thin for my liking. However, what could really do with improvement is the path leading up to the restaurant...the lift (elevator) looked old and rickety so I took the staircase. The area was dirty, grimy with paan stained walls. By the time I reached the restaurant it put one off relishing my lunch.. seriously..truly awful. The restaurant itself was clean with spacious seating arrangements. Service was prompt. Not very expensive for the location and items. Would I go again? Not to this outlet but may try the same one in another area. They are more of these across the city. Would I recommend to others....one time try. Nothing to rave about. 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: 56 3rd Floor Center Point Residency Road, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, opp. Mayo Hall Court, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560025 12 to 4.30 and again at 7 pm.

ROASTEA KORAMANGALA

Recommended by a friend and highly impressed with 28 page menu, mostly vegetarian with a few dishes with egg in the mix...I headed to this place with the intention to pig out on some Italian food. Somewhere along the way I changed my mind and decided to give in to my cravings for noodles. This place is done up very well, warm and inviting indoors and they have outdoor seating as well. Menu is vast, quirky combinations and very impressive with varieties of tea and beverages...one of those “ I've never heard of these” kinds of dishes. Tea and coffee lovers would really enjoy this place. What I ate: I started with water chestnut and cream cheese dumplings...it had a pink coating on it. I hate pink food but, oh the taste was awesome! Total melt in the mouth dumplings steamed just right. I was craving chilly garlic noodles.. my go to dish every time but was recommended UDON NOODLE BOWL (Udon style noodles, kung pao cottage cheese, tempura fried veggies, sautéed bell peppers) ....I like the bowl combo dishes that are gaining popularity. The presentation was awesome but the whole dish...from the noodles to bell peppers to fritters was dunked in some sweet sauce while I craved spicy food…only the tempura fried veggies which were like bajjis were tasty…rest was a letdown. Total thumbs down for me. Dessert was strawberry ensemble and this won me over. Top marks for the presentation too. Kind of expensive so go there with a full wallet. Nice to catch up with friends here. The service is okayish. They need to step it up in terms of understanding and communicating with the customer. Seemed lost in terms of asking customer needs and recommendations. I got pizza and blueberry panacotta as takeaway. Pizza was dry and unappealing and yeah I’ve had cold pizza from other places as takeaway at nights without reheating and it was mind blowing so it wasn’t because I ate it late! Dessert was better. There was one sauce that stood out – a greenish one..I really couldn’t make out what that was.. which went so well with the dumplings and the main course that I would go there just to have the sauce!!! Overall 3.5 (because the main course didn’t do it for me.) Would I go again...not a definite yes but I'm curious to try their other items on the menu and the dessert menu has a lot of variety for the ones with a sweet tooth. And hopefully give it a higher rating. Would I recommend to others? Yes give it a try!. 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: 612/3, 80 Feet Rd, next to Akshaya Motors Mercedes Benz Showroom, 4th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560034 Z2xl/AVvXsEjbWIyTIpnhXDD9A61NAH1zm6tCyqOc5goyFFoA3PMgdz4mTC-Zx3Dy-nzNj0LNROO8-eWAr7VgdV2hVyfF9xj4Mk5_sJdcg89NkHgkcGijDsboPZBv5IPpnVRHge8aLOqOoMlWD1vK-RX5JobXf5buvAVZBmnuV0oRJddcsVab8kbiZVbPmAa2Cl5aOVll/s200/STRAWBERRY%20ENSEMBLE.jpg"/>

CHINA PEARL KORAMANGALA

I have lost count as to how many times I have gone close to eating at this place CHINA PEARL IN KORAMANGALA, only to have plans changed or something or the other comes up, including the pandemic. I FINALLY got to visit this month with a friend. It is a lovely cozy joint decorated in red with soft lights as with all Chinese restaurants. I usually stick to the tried and tested and love chilly garlic noodles and decided to experiment with new dishes instead like the following: STARTERS Shaolin Sticks: This was yummy! Fried crispy mashed vegetable sticks tossed in chilly garlic sauce. Cauliflower Fung pao – a variation of veg balls with only cauliflower instead of veggies. This was almost black and looked weird but tasted simply great – spicy and different. MAIN COURSE: Veg Lat Lo Chowmein: This is noodles already mixed in spicy veg gravy – I dint like this one (subjective). I found the noodles dunked in gravy, usually I prefer gravy dish and noodles separately. This is what happens when you try to experiment.. While it was easy to eat a large portion it wasn’t mind blowing enough for me to think of ordering again or recommend to others. My friend loved it. I think I’ll stick to my chilly garlic noodles. Dessert: My friend had butterscotch ice cream and I had the coconut pannacotta with honey mango on top which was delicious! Service is quick. I like that nobody is breathing down your neck and they give you your space. Portions were generous. Prices were surprisingly reasonable compared to other Chinese places I’ve eaten. This gets crowded real fast so it is better to go early. Great for team meets who are into Chinese cuisine. Would I go again – my benchmark for whether a place appealed to me or not: definitely yes – they have a huge variety for vegetarians and I’m dying to try their other starters and dishes. Would I recommend to others: Yes again! Worth a visit. Overall rating 4/5 purely subjective rating because the main course didn’t do it for me. But don’t let this put you off. 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: 53/1, 5th Cross, 60 Feet Rd, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560095

ZEST SOUTHERN STAR LAVELLE ROAD

I can’t explain why, but I find breakfast buffets more appealing over lunch buffets. I really wish I could eat one every day. This place, Zest, is on the third floor of Southern Star Hotel on Lavelle road, next to rice bowl. It was recommended by a friend and has soon become a favorite with me. It serves both vegetarian and non vegetarian, Indian and continental breakfast items between 7 am to 10 a.m. I eat vegetarian food and opted to have a little of everything and been here thrice already within a short span of time. There are dosas (awesome taste, crisp and thin I could easily eat three or four of just this), idlis, vadas and sambar with three different types of chutneys, fresh cut fruits (which I usually end with) and juices, sautéed vegetables, veg pulao (yep, for breakfast), detox water, desserts.. usually a little cake or sweet, flavored yogurt, coffee tea croissants, bread as you like it, and some finger food like mini sandwiches, thinly cut veggies etc and make your own sprouts salad from options in bowls. I have named just what I have eaten but there are more items to choose from and quite a variety too! Price wise it is complimentary for those staying there, outsiders will have to pay 550/- all inclusive. Menu doesn’t drastically vary – I did go on different days of the week and it is like if there is aloo paratha one day, next day it would be paneer paratha just slight twists here and here. Staples remain the same – dosa, idli, vada, coffee/tea, juice etc. Self service since it is a buffet. Some items aren’t too great taste wise like one time the juice was smelly and besan chila was bland so this place gets a four star rating for these things. Overall however, it is soooo worth the price. I definitely plan to visit often and make it sort of a brunch especially if there is pulao that day. I wish there were more like this in the city! 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: Zest at 3rd Floor, Southern Star Hotel, Lavelle Road, Next to Rice bowl. Bangalore.

CUBBON PAVILION RESIDENCY ROAD

This was one impulse lunch outing by myself – a need for good food, good ambience, fabulous service and AC atmosphere, you know, the need for a break and peace and silence usually found in five star hotels. Cubbon Pavilion came up as a topic of discussion with a friend of mine so headed here one noon. The place was very cool and welcoming and very quiet – just what I needed. After being greeted and seated, I ordered a vegetable clear soup to start with. This came quite umm…unclear but tasty all the same. Could have done with more broccoli pieces. Next was the pasta with veggies in olive oil. This was a very satisfying penne treat. Followed by chocolate ice cream to beat the heat. Very tasty considering I live on chocolate ice cream most times, this had a homemade taste to it. I really liked how they go their way out in making a customer welcome – like while waiting for soup I was served a lot of cut fruits pineapple and watermelons and this made a meal in itself!! Always attentive, always caring, asking for feedback. Was in a mood to be pampered and I got it. Prices are just any other five star hotel. Ambience was plush. They did have an interesting buffet too but that day I preferred a la carte. What I didn’t care for were the chairs were placed too close to each other and wasn’t all keen to see the next table digging into their chicken with gusto within smelling distance. I hope they will be better spaced out. Apart from that, loved everything about this place. Would I go again? Maybe if I am in one of those moods where I just want good food and silence. Not as a regular indulgence. 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: Cubbon Pavilion – Residency Road, Bangalore.

THE BAALE YELE OOTA FROM UDUPI SRI KRISHNA BHAVAN

There is something so wholesome and satisfying about eating meals from a leaf- these are usually served in weddings and functions. I have had my fair share of Andhra vegetarian meals too and been looking out for restaurants where meals are served on leaves or Baale Yele Oota as we call it down south. In Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan right on Gandhi Bazaar main road, the Baale Yele Oota is very similar to ones in weddings – starting with pulpy grape juice, sweet, salt, pickle, kosambari, two different types of dry playa/curries, holige, bajji, poori, saagu, two types of flavoured rice (tomato rice was awesome), dahi vada, papad, kadubu, chutney, steaming hot white rice and sambar (I feel like going and paying just to eat these two items and nothing else), rasam, curd rice, and they even end it with paan and banana. The sheer variety of items is mind boggling!! I had to refuse a few and i dont think i listed them all!! I feel like I’m describing an Indian version of an Enid Blyton picnic. Taste is very good. I liked being served as little or as much as I want. Service was very hospitable and very thoughtful. Prices are reasonable for variety of food items. Good clean seating space. The person cleaning up the tables and taking finished meals on leaves and dirty dishes into his cart doesn’t have much space to maneuver his cart and this can get a bit annoying for the dirty cart is too close when eating. That said, this place is a delight to visit if you are in the Gandhi Bazaar area. I’m definitely going to eat more often here and I got the cravings to explore more such meals on the leave across the city. 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: Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan, Gandhi Bazaar main road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. 12.30 pm onwards.

TWO PLACES TAKEAWAY REVIEW - THIPPASANDRA MAIN ROAD

TWO PLACES TAKEAWAY REVIEW Durgamba uphara If there is one snack I truly love and indulge in besides chaat, it is bajjis and bondas. Right at the entrance of Thippasandra main road is Durgamba Uphara…with a huge menu of tiffin and rice items during the day and evenings after 4, hot bajjis and bondas available. In pics are my favorite chilli bajjis, masala vada, mangalore bajji, udin vada, aloo bonda. Out of these the chilli bajjis and aloo bondas were the tastiest and freshest. Rest were average. There’s a guy closer to my place who makes them well. Their morning idli vadas are tastier methinks. This would be a once in a while indulgence if I am in the area. Need to explore and review more Bajji/Bonda joints. Overall rating 3/5. Beginning of Thippasandra main road, opp Hema book stores. AMMA’s PASTRIES This is one place I have been wanting to buy cakes from, considering they have outlets everywhere and in my area too. As I bought bajiis, I wanted something sweet to go with it and headed to one such Amma’s pastries outlet in Thippasandra a few feet away from the bajji vendor mentioned above. The cakes looked great and prices were lowkey reasonable. The Opera, the chocolate bar, chocolate tart and mini pizza made for some awesome dessert indulgence. Looks like i’ll be visiting their outlets often. They also have rusks that is quite tasty. Overall rating: 4/5 ..some attention to details such as packing etc could be better. On Thippasandra Main road. That said, this place, thippasandra main road is a delight to explore especially evenings with loads of eating places and snack joints. On my to do list for sure!! 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.

MISMATCHED HALASURU

This review is for a two time visit to this lovely little place just opposite 1 mg lido mall. – MISMATCHED. With a title like that and cozy vibes, once I walked through the through I decided to indulge in my favorite hot chocolate – post shopping at 1 mg and to beat the chill in the air. First visit: Hot chocolate: This! Warm and comforting and chocolatey. With the place all bright and lit up and cold weather – it was perfect. 5/5 Classic Mac n cheese: was the usual with gooey cheese. I like lettuce on mine and they were able to give it to me. I love it when food is customized to my needs. Wacky though they seem. 4/5. In the first visit I got the most awesome snacks basket which was delightful filled with hot papads and boti (golden fingers) a snack I really enjoyed in my childhood. Very fresh and hot. 5/5 Second visit: Chole Batura: Very tasty and hardly any oil. Channa accompaniment was good. Not the best I’ve had though. 4/5 Honey Ginger tea : something to ease the guilt! This was soothing, fresh and well presented. 5/5 Papaya salad (takeaway): I had this at right and it still remained fresh with peanuts and chilli flakes in it. Quite a meal in itself. Very good. Next time I go I’ll have it fresh there. 5/5 This time the snacks basket was a bit of a let down and less crispy. Menu: Wide range from chaats to north Indian to continental cuisine. Both Veg and Non Veg. Service: Prompt. Servers need to mask up and spruce up a bit. Food: Really good. Worth giving it a try. Ambience: Cozy. Not a very big place and tends to get busy noon but so usually I’ve enjoyed having the place to myself. Price: Reasonable depends on what you order and the number of people you go with Location: Centrally located. Much needed in a place like that. Overall rating: 4/5. Can do with some minor improvements. 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: Mismatched, No.154, Pothraj Group, Trinity Church Compound, Old Madras Road, Landmark:, next to Domino's Pizza, Halasuru, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008. 10 to 1 am.