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