MATTEO COFFEA, INDIRANAGAR

I had absolutely no interest in walking in to Matteo here in Indiranagar. I was in a mood for masala dose. However, all the places I was searching on the internet showed that it was busier than usual and I wasn’t in a mood for crowds and long waiting time either. Was passing by Matteo Caffea and decided to eat here. Absolutely no regrets. What a meal of Penne Pasta in creamy white sauce sautéed with garlic and mixed vegetables and cheese. It was piping hot, creamy, smothered with cheese and I topped it with lots of oregano and chilli flakes just the way I like it. One of the better pastas I have tasted. With a few mouthfuls of pasta, occasional sips of the cold dates shekerato which is chilled espresso, ice cream, milk, premium caramel sauce, dates, ice blended with whipped cream (I skipped this), and garnished with caramel sauce and chopped dates, it made for a filling, delicious meal. I haven’t had dates milkshake in any form for ages and I do love dates. You can actually get little bits of dates to chew on. You’ll need a spoon for this drink apart from a straw though. It is one of those thick milkshakes. The place is more for those who like to work on their laptops while sipping coffee, plush seats and soft lighting. Good too, to catch up with friends for a chat. What was uncomfortable was the table-chair ratio. The chair was so low and the table …somehow the seating just dint feel right and not at stomach level. I think it was more designed to place laptops on! Now I know how kids feel in restaurants designed for adults. Service is real fast. Everyone was given equal attention though every table was full when I was there around 5 pm. I did badly want the mixed vegetables salad that was there on the menu when I scanned it but was informed that they don’t have it, so got a Caesar salad and apple pie for takeaway. Apple pie was mind-blowing – all gooey and melt in the mouth kinds. Pricewise it is more or less like most cafes but it’s better to go prepared. Overall, I felt this place is worth a visit or several if you like this kind of atmosphere and want to work in peace. Would I go back? Hmmmm…maybe when I am in a mood for a cold shake and pasta again and try out some of the other shakes on offer. 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: 508, Melmat Building, CMH Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore. You cant miss it since it is on the main road.

CHIANTI INDIRANAGAR

Located in Indiranagar 12th Main road, Is a Ristorante and wine bar, I thought id lunch here earlier this month of Feb Because from my place, it is not too far. Chianti is the name, an Italian one I was greeted and shown my place, The lights were dim, the music soft, and ambience fine I was handed a menu for food and wine. I started with a fresh lime soda This was refreshing and cool, And a complimentary bread basket, along with a vast menu A lot of the dishes listed made me drool Craving for pizza next, I ordered a verdure With toppings of olives, bell peppers, onions and other vegetables Of which I could eat only three slices It was filling and very delectable For dessert, I had the vanilla pannacota With berry compote and fresh fruit slice, Droolworthy, artsy and delicious Well presented and altogether very nice! Service was good and the prices were...well...pricey But what was rather dampening , And which only after my third slice, I came to realise, That the pizza was not hot And that, by my standards, is simply not happening! That aside, I’d rate this place A four out of five in this review Check the rating scale below for what it means A great place to visit for you! (and while you are there take a look at the ceiling It makes for an observation that is quite amusing 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: 960, 12th Main Rd, near Gold Gym, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, 38 Ph : 080 4126 4000 Open from 12 to 3.30 pm and again at 6,30 PM

ECLAIRS FROM GLEN'S BAKEHOUSE

Going by the title one would wonder why am I writing a review of just one item instead of whole review of the place in general like I always do? Well…I am a part of an Enid Blyton group on social media. We were discussing the Five Find outers, the gang of kids known for solving mysteries and how they go out to a local shop to eat eclairs often. As a kid, I was only familiar with the Cadbury éclair – the tiny toffee kind and wondered how filling would it be for the find outers gang. It was only after many years, when a friend of mine bought éclairs from a popular bakery that I realized that they were actually cream filled pastries! As the discussion on the group and comments flowed, I longed to have some again but wasn’t sure where I would find some. I haven’t seen many bakeries here stocking them. I did call a high end bakery and asked them if they stored éclairs and the guy on the phone said yes. Thrilled, I set out to go buy them only to find out that the guy I spoke to heard it as “eggless”..meaning eggless cakes instead of Eclairs. Eye rolls followed and deeply disappointed, I almost gave up but decided to try once more. I called Glen’s Bakehouse and this time I made sure to spell it out on the phone and whaddaya know? they did have éclairs and what’s more, in two different fillings – chocolate and vanilla!! I rushed out again.. to think I went hunting all over my area when it was available just five minutes from my place! (lesson here perhaps?) . I got half a dozen with both chocolate and vanilla fillings – cool, creamy, delicious with almond flakes on top of the chocolate layer, it tasted divine. I polished off about four and had a great time stuffing my face with them. Sizes have considerably reduced compared to the ones I had years ago, but delicious all the same. I now understand what made the five find outers head out to the shop that sold eclairs so often and I’m sure they would have loved hanging out eating them here at Glen’s bakehouse while discussing mysteries:) Glad to know too, that they are so close by and I can indulge in them when I want. Do try them if you are in the area and go ahead and try out some of their other delicious desserts too. I did have the Apple crumble and the vegetable puffs and they were really comforting…one day, I’ll definitely write a more detailed review as I liked the place and they seem to have quite a variety on the menu, but for now, it’s the eclairs that hit home and made my day! Overall rating 5/5 just for the éclairs. 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: Glen’s Bake house, 100 feet road, Next to Leon Grill, Indiranagar, Bangalore.

GANGOTREE RACE COURSE ROAD

I haven’t done a chaat review for what feels like ages. What with the pandemic and lockdowns etc, things like eating chaat outside took a backseat. I must have passed Gangotree located at Highpoint, in Race course road a million times and yet I never felt like eating chaat there. I did try their outlet in Mantri mall and it dint meet my expectations. Had recently been in the area and though I’d give this a go. The place, though has been around for ages, is tucked away amongst the offices and rather formal surroundings – bare, old, dimly lit, musty look and feel about it but don’t let that put you off. Before I get into what I ordered, I must mention this is not the kind of place where a group of friends can sit around and chat and laugh for hours. More like a “eat and be quick about it” kind of place. There is literally no seating except for a few plastic stools and hardly any space to sit. Don’t let THAT put you off either. I started off with a dahi samosa, I hadn’t had a samosa in ages and let alone one with dahi. It was delicious. Just the right amount of spices, crisply crushed samosa and perfect blend with the curd and masalas. I could easily eat this daily. This was followed by the pani puri which was also good but usual. Topped this with a melt in the mouth sweet gulab jamun which balanced out the spicy fare. I did get ragda pattice as takeway and that was surprisingly filling and very tasty too. I can’t wait to try the rest of the menu!! Especially the bhel. And maybe one day their parathas which they serve with curd and pickle. They do have a collection of sweets but not a huge range and some savories to munch on – mostly a wide range of khakras. Service is fast. Prices are okay. What this place is badly in need of is good seating arrangements and a better view. I can’t say better location being high point IS a great location for eateries but there is something so cold about this chaat place over warm and welcoming food joints. A big minus for using plastic spoons, though the chaat plates, are biodegradable. They could do with switching to wooden spoons. They also do need to make themselves more visible, you know, put themselves out there I feel, to attract more crowd because the food here is worth visiting for at least once . I am definitely going back to try their other items. 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: Gangotree, Highpoint near Chalukya Hotel, Race course road. Open from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm.

THE CAFE AT FOODHALL 1 MG MALL

Aren’t the pics here drool worthy! Bombay toastie from the Café at Foodhall in 1 mg mall. I used to go here often for groceries and usually get a takeaway of the salad which were good. I wasn’t a huge fan of the sandwiches here. Recently when I had been here, I was in a mood for something more filling and craving for a good sandwich. Saw a lot of changes in the menu and decided to order the Bombay toastie – Masala mashed potatoes, Tomatoes, Onions, Cucumber, capsicum, Shredded cheese, mint chutney and jumbo bread! Dream filling actually It was Yumlicious! My Dream filling actually. The bread was toasted just right. Try having it hot you got yourself a winner. It is served with thick potato wedges and ketchup. Each time I go there I think of trying their other food items on the vast menu, but invariably I keep ordering this! They do

have quite a variety – All day breakfast items, sandwiches and burgers, bowls, dim sum, sides, cold pressed juices to name a few. Service is clean and quick. There are small seating arrangement right in front of the open kitchen. These days they are mostly filled. Great to catch up with a friend here or have some quiet time by yourself for quick eats/ takeaway after a bout of shopping at the mall and the Foodhall. It is a bit on the pricey side but oh so worth it! Now I can’t wait to try their other items on the menu. Overall rating 5/5 Only for the Bombay Toastie. A bigger space/Expansion/more chairs maybe?? 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: The café at Foodhall, 1 Mg mall, Swami Vivekananda Road, Next to lido mall, Bengaluru. Opens 11 a.m.

NATRAJ CHOLE BHATURE INDIRANAGAR

This is going to be a rather short review compared to the others because of a busy schedule but I felt the need to squeeze in one before the month ends. I thought I’ll keep it to the point. The place: Natraj Chole Bhature Where: 33, 1st Stage, Opposite Punjab National Bank, Indiranagar, Bangalore. Known for: Chole Bhature of course and their soft melt in the mouth gulab jamun. The samosas and Lassi I haven’t tasted yet. What comes with it: The paneer stuffed puri, the black channa masala, onions, green chutney, and pickle and green chillies to munch on for the brave! Ambience: Stand and eat darshini style! Clean though. Crowded during meal times. Service: Polite and Real quick! Price: Reasonable. Taste: Medium spicy, hot and very, very filling. A full meal in itself. I usually get a parcel from here rather than stand and eat. Overall rating: 3/5 – Personally I have had better and I do like big chickpeas masala in this dish. However, if you are in a mood for Chole Bhature, do give it a try if you are in the area. 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.

BANGALORE THINDIES - INDIRANAGAR

Finally! Finally !! Finally!! After months of eating home food, back to eating out though it wasn’t exactly dine in this time around. I have heard so much about this place and since I live in the area, I decided to give it a goo. Located in the middle of 12th Main road Indiranagar, this place..i wouldn’t really call it a darshini because darshinis are bigger but it is one of those little outlets that you can grab a quick eat at and move on. The menu is short and simple. Pure veg. South Indian breakfast fare. No frills. I did eat something around the time I explored this place so I couldn’t really explore all their items in the menu but I went in for the classic idli/vada/sambar/chutney which to me is the ultimate comfort food. The first thing that hit me was how fresh it was..it dint feel like one of those heat and eat items. Piping hot steamy idlis with fresh chutney and sambar over it, crispy crunchy vadas in disposable cutlery given the current situation. I really enjoyed myself over something I had taken so much for granted before Covid. I did feel stuff and regretfully passed trying out the dosa. I did get pakodas as takeaway and I quite liked them later in the evening as a snack. Prices are reasonable. Service is super fast. My biggest crib was there was no seating arrangement at all. Why do all these nice places end up like this instead of expanding their outlets and having some sort of a seating arrangement?:) I am definitely going back here to try some of their other items mostly as takeaway though. I do hope they maintain the hygiene and cleanliness standards as I saw it last. Overall rating: 4/5 – because of the standing and eating. 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: 5th Cross, 12 Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar, Bangalore Timings: 8 am to 10.30 pm Call: 919886230100