PANETTERIA - INDIRANAGAR

Several conversations in my friends circle and reels popped up about lasagna and italian food in general that set off my cravings for some piping hot lasagna in a nice place. This italian cafe, Panetteria is five minutes from my house and I decided to have lunch here. It's a small cozy place, neat and well maintained and serves authentic Italian food. Mostly vegetarian and egg. It was very quiet when I went which was on a weekday. Some items weren’t available that I had asked for and they also did not have pasta. Here's what I had: Zucchini lasagna: This was quite different from the usual “full of tomato” based ones...ultra thin layers of Zucchini in it. It was piping hot and delicious! Mini pizza...I had a slice there and got the rest as takeaway. Looks wise, it's not appealing like the usual advertised ones from popular pizza joints in the city, but the taste was awesome..the crust is so crisp and quite different from the usual doughy ones. I had pesto pizza that came with basil pesto, marinara sauce, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and buffalo mozzarella. Hot chocolate: My all time favorite beverage.. thick and chocolatey with nuts on the rim. Loved every sip of it! I also had a sandwich as takeaway for dinner with tomato and mozzarella . I discovered that it is nice to eat it on the spot than get takeaways from this place. Tastes different and more tough and chewy when it gets cold. Prices are high for the portions they give. Because I went alone it was perfect for me. This is not a place for large groups and families but perfect for a lazy catch up with a friend or two. Seating is the biggest minus here. The chairs are wrought iron and hard and uncomfortable. I can't imagine sitting on them for long. No sauces are given. Not actually part of culture...not authentic i was told. I know sauces mask the actual taste of the dish but I'm so used to smothering everything with tomato sauce or ketchup. Service is great and they know their food. Would i recommend to others? Yes if you like Italian fare and are in the area. Would i go again? Yes to try few other dishes and the awesome desserts in their list. Do visit if you get a chance. Overall rating 4/5 My 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: Ground Floor, JSA Towers, 205, Paramahansa Yogananda Rd, Stage 2, Hoysala Nagar, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038 12 pm onwards.

FOO BRIGADE ROAD

After hearing some great reviews online and off about Foo on Brigade Road and also, in desperate need for treating myself to a good meal, I headed to Foo for lunch earlier this month. The place wore a festive look with string lights in the outdoor seating area. The atmosphere inside was pristine and comfortable. Really warm ambiance. Here's what I had and my views on them STARTER: Foo Crispy wantons...Truffle and Edamame..very nice crispy, crunchy stuffed wantons. I loved this. Three pieces only. Quite pricey for the portions and once in a while indulgence. MAINS: The much talked about blue butter rice. I liked this...bland but good but give me spicy good old fashioned fried rice from the desi Chinese outlets any day. DESSERT: For once, I moved away from my regular choice of chocolate desserts and ordered mango pudding. Plating was very fancy with dry ice and ice cream on the pudding. Taste was good but I've had better. SPECIAL MENTION: The accompanying sauces. Different types which included Fiery Jalapeño, Chilli oil, Imperial sauce and Sichaun Peppercorn Sauce. Each fresh and flavorful so I dint really need a gravy dish for the rice. Service was prompt. My table was wobbly but I had already started eating so did not want anyone hovering around for it to be fixed. Prices are on the higher side. Portions suited me for I went alone, but not sure how it works for big groups and people with a large appetite. Great place for catch ups especially if you go just when they open. It did get full quite fast. Would I recommend to others? Yes, give it a try if in the vicinity. Would I go again? Yes, curious to try their other dishes. Overall rating 4/5 My 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: Foo, Ground Floor, Forum Rex Walk, Brigade Rd, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001 12 pm onwards.

ONAM SADHYA AT KALPANEY JP NAGAR

Every year I try a different place to experience Sadhya during Onam festival. It's an annual ritual I try not to miss. This year too I had shortlisted a few places and zeroed in on Kalpaney in JP Nagar. I heard such great things about this place. I went by myself. It's tough to review leaf meals/baale yele oota so I'll list what worked and what dint. The Pluses Great ambiance with flower and peppy malayalam music Calm, courteous staff MUCH NEEDED ON THAT DAY! Most items served were tasty and fresh. Reasonably priced The Minuses Extremely disorganized. It took AGES to serve one item to another and we had to ask for some multiple times. Food also turned real cold fast because of AC. It was awful to sit there with rice and wait ages for Sambar or Rasam or Papads. Sweets ...I did not know what's coming next ..no information nothing and because everything was taking time, I thought we were done with the meal after rice was served...but heard there was payasam. I got this AFTER paying up. I had to share a table which I felt uncomfortable initially but I had the good fortune of having two couples who were very friendly and chatty so that worked out well. Some items just did not belong as Sadhya like poori but it was tasty with the curries so I can’t complain. All curries were good but not great. Rice and Sambar was good. Sweet was good. Pineapple pachadi was awful. Raw- ish weird taste. Place was jam packed and I don't think they could really handle it. Someone suggested that it should have been like wedding style seating and serving like one long table with well spaced out seats in 3 rows and slots....then food served in an order ...that would cut down the waiting time and frustration. Overall experience was good but not outstanding. I've had better. Would I go again? Maybe to try their regular fare and review it but NOT for festive meals or melas, if any. Overall rating 3/5 only for Sadhya. I don't know how their regular menu is. Others having the Sadhya alongside agreed with the rating. Overall rating 3/5 My 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: Outer Ring Road, 100 Feet Ring Rd, J P Nagar Phase 5, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560078

TIRUPATHI BHIMAS YELAHANKA

There was so much talk about this all vegetarian Andhra cuisine restaurant in the food circles, a concept I love (all veg Andhra meals fine dine restaurant) and felt this should be there all over city. Despite staying really, really far away from this place, I decided to take a day off to lunch here. It felt like going on a long picnic because I stay roughly about 21 kms away! But I badly needed time out and retail therapy in the malls close by in the area so it worked for me. For a change, I'd like to start with the minuses whereas I usually start with the pluses when I write a review. There wasn't anything authentically Andhra about this menu at all!! Imagine poori and lobia beans curry and vegetable pulao and raitha in Andhra meals. ..something that's never featured in hard-core Andhra restaurants. The spicy chutneys, majjiga pulusu which are a must with every meal was also missing. Fryums were served over the rice papad too. Staff couldn't really understand or pronounce the dish names properly either. Thankfully the famous Andhra pappu was served…This is my all time favorite everywhere and it tasted great here too. BUT and here are the pluses...the service was great, prompt and attentive, the dishes were all extremely tasty even if it felt some dint belong, which made it worth the travel. I summed it up to a friend of mine – Chaala baagundhi but weird menu. The restaurant is clean and well maintained. Prices reasonable. There are other options too breakfast and other dishes but I dint explore them because my aim was to try only the Andhra meals. If one can put the authentic Andhra part side and go without expectations of eating the same Andhra meals made popular by branded restaurants in the city, this meal is definitely enjoyable. Would I go again? Not my way out, but if in the area, yes. Would I recommend to others? Give it a try only if close by. Overall rating 3/5 My 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: 280, 15th A Cross Rd, Sector A, Yelahanka Satellite Town, Yelahanka New Town, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560064

Craving for yet another round of baale yele oota or Tamilnadu style vazhai ilai sapad which I heard was available in Navathanyam located in Domlur, which is not too far from where I stay. This place serves vegetarian mostly Tamilnadu cuisine The place is clean and their walls are adorned with the most gorgeous paintings of lord Krishna. This review is for two visits in order 1st visit The famous vazhai poo 65: Did not disappoint. If nothing else, people should come just to try this. I've had Gobi 65, paneer 65, mushroom 65 but hands down this tops them all...unique, crispy and crunchy, like a healthy French fries version. The meals: usual fare of rice, rasam, sambar, kootu, poriyal, Kozhambhu and payasam...the tomato pappu and sambar stood out most for me. Hot toddy: I had this for both my visits...hot water, lemon, honey and spices. It was warm and soothing, another must try. My first visit: service was great and I was well attended to. Second Visit: Because certain snacks are available only after 4 pm, I decided to pay another visit one evening. There was a food photo shoot going on and not much crowd. This lead to the server being totally distracted and getting my order wrong and waiting for replacement. Here's what I had Mini idlis dunked in sambar...very nice, sambar was excellent!! Three different varieties of chutneys served with it were fresh and tasty. Keerai vadas two pieces per plate: Not at all good. Flat and hard to finish. Taste wise also okayish. I've had keerai vadas elsewhere and found these lacking in flavor. Hot toddy again was a good ending to the meal, especially since it was a rainy evening. Ambience is great. Quiet and peaceful. Service up and down...could do with improvements. Prices...higher than usual for regular fare but that's to be expected. Would I go again? Yes definitely to try their other dishes, especially curious about their dosas Would I recommend to others: Yes. Worth it. Overall rating 4/5 My 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: First Floor, 288, 3rd Cross Rd, Stage 2, Domlur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560071

THE FILTER COFFEE INDIRANAGAR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACKS

This place has been on my “to- visit” list for a while having heard mixed reviews online but good reviews for the outlet in my area, Indiranagar. I have eaten here multiple times to give a fair review of food and service so here goes: Breakfast: First visit: A Sunday. Only plain dosa and a vada. Maddening crowd. Avoid weekends. Seating is like wedding style with a long table and food is served on banana leaves. The do have separate tables too but I got the long table one due to the rush. Dosa was crisp. Piping hot crisp vada was the best I’ve had. Excellent coconut and red chutney and sambar. Second time ordered same items but added idli to it. Idli is ok...not as fluffy as the ones you get in South Bengaluru, but everything else was tasty. This time around I went on a weekday. Got a table for myself and could eat in peace. The lunch meals..baale yele oota: 12.30 pm onwards. Less items, but what was given was good. It was the usual fare of rice, sambar, chapathi, vegetable kootu, lemon rice, kosambari, some kinda potato fries which was really tasty and curd, salt pickle papad. Good, but not great. I wish they had given some other sweet than Payasam. Everything was fresh and tasty but for some reason because of the room cooler or whatever food turned to room temperature real fast. I like my food to be piping hot. Evening snacks: 4 pm onwards. Bajji platter and paddu. Raw banana bajji, chilli bajji, potato bondas...all were excellent. Potato bondas were awesome. Paddu was good, but I've had better in other places. Again the accompanying chutneys here are really good. Takeaway: Ven pongal. Best I've had in a while..aroma of ghee very evident. Very tasty and even without re- heating it was still fresh and tasty at night. They do have a lil shop just off the restaurant selling sweets and savories which I'm yet to visit. Service: Service is top notch. Whether there's a huge crowd or not, you get served fast and attended to well. Everyone is calm, polite and attentive. Ambience: Good seating, but not the kind you can chat with a friend for ages. It is very clean and well maintained. It is one of those come, eat and go kind of places unless you go real early on a weekday. My benchmark for any food place is based on two parameters 1. Would I go again: Definitely. Would go many times. Feels good to get fresh Anna- sambar and great vadas and dosas instead of going all the way to South Bengaluru for this all the time. 2. Would I recommend to others: Yesssss! Do give it a try especially the Indiranagar place. Aim for a weekday though. Overall rating 4/5 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: 050, 80 Feet Rd, 8th cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038. 7 am to 10.30 pm.

MANGO MENU AT KAMAT MALLESHWARAM

I find it tough to write detailed reviews for buffets and banana leaf meals because there's such a variety on offer. The whole city is on a mango craze with multiple places offering a mango menu. I decided to head to the well advertised Mango Menu at Kamat in Malleshwaram. This menu is seasonal and is time bound so available only during the mango season. It was mango, mango, mango all the way (with few other items thrown in) mango chitranna, mango kosambari, mango pickle, mango gojju, aam ras, aam Panna, mango burfi, mango dal, mango ice cream - just about every combination of sweet and raw mango dishes. The place is clean and served by an all women crew. Things I did not try were the holige (not a fan) and rice with sambar because it's regular fare. What stood out for me: I made best use of jolada roti and enne badnekayi which was fresh and tender, poori and channa masala and mango gojju. Mango ice cream was good too. What I preferred: Food to be piping hot...mirchi bajji, mango chitranna were all tasty but at room temperature. Rasam was okay. Service was warm and welcoming and when I wanted aam ras to be parceled, one of the staff went his way out in getting it done neatly. Extra points just for this because I truly relished this later. It's quite a filling meal with a variety of dishes so carry your appetite with you. Prices I felt was nominal for a weekday lunch. I decided to try a different place offering mango menus every year. I would recommend this place to try next year if they have it again! All in all it was good to experience, a different kind of baale yele oota. Overall rating 4/5 (Extra points just for the service) 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: No.30,Ground Floor,1st cross, Sampige Rd, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003 12 onwards for the regular North Karnataka meals.