HUBER AND HOLLY INDIRANAGAR

HUBER AND HOLLY INDIRANAGAR When a pamphlet from this place was dropped into my house, I was mighty excited to see the pictures of the most awesome ice cream and ice cream cakes – ones that you’d want to pick off from the picture and eat!!. I loved the fact that there were snacks too. I wanted a place like this close home. Huber and Holly is a stone’s throw away from my place. I had been there multiple times and here’s my take First visit Kit Kat Jujubes – a total 5/5 and very colorful and unique chocochip, vanilla ice cream kit Kat jujubes and mini macaroons! Italian Garden Pizza – 10” 5/5 by the way, their snacks are all veg. Potato wedges – 3/5could have gone easy on the salt. Second Visit Corn cheese jalapeno sandwich – no jalapenos were added. Corn and cheese are bland as a combination but it was crispy. 2/5. Truffle oh! – 5/5 – Belgian chocolate ice cream filled with cocoa sorbet and covered with chocolate glaze and nutty praline. Mind blown and if you are a chocoholic like me, you’ d really enjoy this. I got the 7 inch Italian garden as takeaway because I loved it so much the first time around. Wasn’t as good at all. 3rd Visit – Blondie – a combination of Ferraro and golden chocolate ice cream with gooey brownie, roasted almonds and nutella. Delish! Italian Garden 7 inch pizza takeaway – really bad. Stale crust and tasteless despite telling them that this happened earlier. Their thin crust pizza tastes better but available only for the 10 inch pizzas. It is pretty obvious that between snacks and ice cream, ice cream gets a top rating so far. Service has always been top notch. Very pleasant and friendly. Let’s start with the minuses: Whoever designed the place made a huge mistake of placing the rest room within touching distance of the eating table – I mean like who wants to watch people going in and out to do their job hardly a few feet away from you? Also, given this feedback – use clean cloths to wipe tables else it leaves behind an unmistakable stink. The pluses: Great service. Awesome ice creams and ice cream cakes. Cozy place overall. Would I go regularly: Yes if the 1st visit standards are maintained, esp for pizza as takeaway. Would I recommend to others? Yes. Their ice creams are worth trying. 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: Huber and Holly – Indiranagar double road/paramahamsa yogananda road.

BHEEMA'S CHURCH STREET

Having binged on Andhra meals from popular Andhra restaurants dotting the city, the Iconic Bheema’s been on the radar but simply couldn’t visit for some reason or the other. I had been here ages ago. I love meals on a banana leaf. When the cravings hit for “yele oota” or meals on the leaf, I decided to go here after years! This review is a two time visit one – I went once with my friend and once by myself within a span of two weeks. What can I say! True Andhra meals with its tantalizing pappu (dal cooked in greens), gun powder, majjiga pulusu, and the usual accompaniments of sambar, rasam, curd, buttermilk, papad, pickle, chutney, dry curry and piping hot rice with ghee poured liberally over it. I don’t eat sweet (payasam) so I gave it a miss but it was there along with the rest. There is something so filling, so wholesome about this kind of lunch that one can experience true satisfaction. I could eat this daily! I do wish the dry curry would change though. Chutney and the pappu were awesome. Slightly less spicy compared to the other ones but tasty all the same. Times have change. Costs have risen so the same quantity is missing – smaller cups. Number of items are the same though elsewhere it is two sabzis and usually a gravy one. Thankfully, the taste is great so it was all worth it. Service was top notch. The place is clean and cozy. Go as soon as it opens though because it does get filled up fast. I would like one more dish to be added to the menu – a fried or gravy vegetable. That aside, I plan to make this my regular “go to” place for Andhra veg meals. Overall rating: 5/5 – Very healthy, very tasty, very satisfying. 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: Bheema’s – Church Street 11.30 am onwards. No more details required

THREE PLACES AND REVIEWS

SANMAN HOTEL - JAYANAGAR Sanman Hotel in Jayanagar – Having heard that this place has the best Khali dosa in the top three in Bangalore, I went in search of it in Jayanagar only to end up in the wrong Sanman. The dosa here was terrible. Then realization dawned and I asked around and found the right place – near south end circle and ate dosa all over again! Really enjoyed the Khali dosa, spicy chutney and jiggery coffee. FOOD: 4/5 - Good but some of the other places had better dosa. ATMOSPHERE: 3/5 – Quickly eat and go kind of place. SERVICE: 3/5 (Smile a bit!!) Would I go again? Not out of my way, but yes if I’m around the area and craving dosas. DOWNTOWN DINER – RESIDENCY ROAD I haven’t visited a pub in ages since I’m not a drinker but this sounded different when suggested so lunched here with my bestie one noon. Best choice of food joints in a long time. My friend had the traditional fish and chips while I went for the vegetable platter and what a platter – Paneer Tikka, Tandoori Kumbh, Tandoori broccoli and cauliflower, chilli babycorn, jalapeno corn cheese balls – very, very tasty all the items and the presentation was awesome followed by dessert Knickerbockers glory – ice cream, whipped cream, fruit and Meringue – yes I choose it for the intriguing name and it was delicious! I had boiled and stir fried vegetable bowl as takeaway for dinner. FOOD: 5/5 very good fresh lime water too – perfect mix of sweet and salt. AMBIENCE– 4/5 Cozy. Pub is a separate area and more…pub like! SERVICE: 5/5 – Quick and efficient. Would I go again? Most definitely yes! ANAND SWEETS – COMMERCIAL STREET Craving for the perfect chole batura, I was delighted to know that this small place has expanded into a restaurant with a wide menu of vegetarian options. I frequently go to Commercial Street so this is quite a blessing. AMBIENCE: 4/5 – good seating but the guy cleaning tables need to use a new wash cloth and clean the tray he carries to take the plates. It’s really smelly. Else it is a great meet up or eat alone kind of place. FOOD: 5/5 – Very, very good chole batura with lime, onions, pickle, a fried and spiced green chilly topped with a single masala potato on the channa. Puris are soft and fluffy and yet remain crispy. A meal in itself. SERVICE: 5/5 – real fast with a well organized token system. Would I go again? Been going for ages and will continue to do so as it stands every time I go to Commercial Street. 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.

SMOOR INDIRANAGAR

It was one of those days when cravings for Chinese food hit me. I was headed to a Chinese place in my area but took a detour when I saw SMOOR from the traffic junction and decided to lunch here instead...mainly because I have had desserts as takeaway and they are mind blowing. I hadn’t actually dined in here. In continuing with the Chinese cravings I ordered these Chilli garlic noodles....nothing chilli or garlic in it....it tasted like any regular noodles not spicy but ok taste wise. Stir fried veggies in gravy....I don't know if this is a trend, but the broccoli wasn't cooked at all. It was all raw and chewy like one other joint I visited recently. Sauce was good. Fresh lime water....nobody gets this right it's either too sweet or too salty or too much lime or too generally too!!!. I wasn't disappointed here either (insert eye roll). In the first place, the order was forgotten and came after the mains were served and after confirming again about sweet and salt preference. The person who took my order disappeared somewhere. Secondly, it was assumed I wanted ice and I don't like ice but my opinion wasn't taken and it came loaded with ice. I had already eaten and nearly winding up and wasn’t in a mood for a replacement. Desserts: coffee mascarpone and chocolate slice as take away were awesome as usual. Caesar salad...again the lettuce wasn't ice berg and it tasted bitter. I thought one couldn't go wrong with this but it looks like you can. Not the best I’ve had. The bread was all soft and soggy. They should pack it separately in little pieces like some restaurants do so that moisture doesn’t get in. Service was polite and prompt but I can’t say it was top notch. Prices are well...pricey. Portions sizes were right for me but I’m not too sure for the big eaters. The ambience was good and I got some time to sit in peace and think through things. This was huge plus point because I dint have anyone breathing down my neck or watching me chew everything like in some places. Would I go again? Purely for desserts as takeaway or maybe have a hot chocolate and small bites not for a proper lunch. They do have the most amazing desserts. I learnt an important lesson....when cravings for Chinese food hit best to head to a Chinese joint. Overall rating 3/5 Overall 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: 1131, 100 Feet Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038 from 8 am to 1 am.

VENEZIA JAYANAGAR

VENEZIA - JAYANAGAR Venezia - an all Vegetarian Italian restaurant for a variety of Italian dishes. This one is right up my alley. This was exactly what I was looking for and they have it all...appetizers, soups, salads, pizza, pasta and desserts along with beverages. This was quite a journey from where I stay but it felt good to try something different. Being a big fan of appetizers I first started with Bruschetta...my all time favourite and this one dint disappoint. 5/5 Cheese burst garlic bread...nothing unusual like your regular garlic bread with cheese and chilli flakes 3/5 Fresh lime water mix of sweet and salt for the first time someone got it right else it’s either too sweet or too salty...this one was perfect 5/5 Greek salad too much salt in the cheese 3/5 Choco lava eruption for dessert which was ice cream surrounded by gooey chocolate sauce....very messy and boring 3/5 I was quite full with just this. Pizzas are huge and I thought it would be too much and getting it as takeaway wasn’t feasible so I opted out of trying them. However, I did get Caesar salad as takeaway and this was really good… fresh lettuce and croutons and olives good packing with extra croutons so they stay crisp. I had it for dinner and it was fresh as ever! 5/5. Ambience was simple and spacey. Service is prompt. Peaceful on a Monday noon. Place is pricey so go with your wallet full. Would I go again? Maybe to try the pizza Would I recommend to others? Yes, Worth a visit once especially if you craving Italian food and going with a large group. Overall 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: Venezia, #12, 32nd Cross Rd, 7th Block, Jayanagar Bengaluru, Karnataka 560070 from 11.30 am to 11 pm.

THE RICE BOWL LAVELLE ROAD

I am currently on the lookout for a Chinese place that is not too far off from where I stay, great clean food, and to be able to visit whenever the cravings hit (which is verrry often) sort of like a Chinese adda. Decades ago, I used to visit Rice Bowl on Lavelle road with friends and had some awesome food and good memories associated with this place. Nostalgic to relive those days, I headed over to this place. While the menu still offers a lot of variety, just the kind I like, the experience was nothing to write home about. Ambience was 5/5 with its plush red chairs and soft lighting. There’s ample seating space and it was a Monday so I could eat quietly in peace. Started with the Kimchi – fried cabbage in sauce usually a favorite of mine but this, this was so dry and stale! The sauce was spicy. I had asked for bottled water which took ages and involved a lot of scrambling about to get. Then I ordered my usual favorite for the main course – Chilli garlic noodles and vegetables in Manchurian gravy with addition of Broccoli. The noodles were the best, the gravy was tasty but the broccoli was not cooked and really chewy! After I tucked in the main course, I ordered dessert and this is where things went downhill even more. The menu mentioned Banoffee Pie and I get this colorful ice creams while announcing that it is Banoffee pie. I asked them where the crust part of the pie was. Turns out they dint have the dessert so they gave me a Banana split instead. They dint even inform me about it. I still wouldn’t have felt that bad if the split was good but no, it was three scoops of bland, boring flavors – I’ve never tasted ice cream that was so…well..tasteless! I look forward to desserts after every meal when I eat out so this totally ruined it for me. I did get an apology from the manager, which was nice but all in all, not a good experience from someone who once loved the place! Service is truly pathetic. Everyone’s polite but it is like they have the attitude of they’d rather be working elsewhere or doing something else. Nothing smart and spruced up about them. The girl who served me dint come anywhere near me post the dessert goof up. Would I go again? Quite unlikely, unless I crave the chilli garlic noodles again. And so the hunt for the perfect Chinese adda goes on…. Overall rating: 3/5…generous with the rating only because the noodles and spring rolls (takeaway) was good. 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: 40/2, Lavelle Road, Bangalore. 12–3:30 pm, 7–11 pm

BY 2 COFFEE BASAVANAGUDI

BY 2 COFFEE - BASAVANAGUDI I am always on the lookout for soft, fluffy, piping hot, melt in the mouth idlis with runny (neer) chutney. I have explored quite a few places and some have really good idlis but there’s always a vague sense that something is missing, though I have shortlisted one or two favorites. After eating here in By 2 coffee, this place is easily made it to my favorites list. The very picture of soft idlis drenched in chutney and crisp vada is mouthwatering. I could have this for breakfast everyday. The vada is perfectly browned, crisp and hot….it’s amazing how just this is satisfying enough without sambar and still sells ..not complaining though. I also got kharabath as takeaway and that was good too. The smell of coffee was heavenly. Though I am not a coffee/tea drinker, I was enticed to have it. I visit this area often and decided to make this my go to place for idlis. Prices are reasonable. There is not much on offer on the menu apart from idli, vada, dosa, kharabath, kesaribath and chow chow bath along with coffee and tea. They do sell savories and their own idly/dosa batter which I definitely plan to buy next time around. There is no seating and one has to stand and eat which makes it really uncomfortable but this is a darshini style, no frills place. I really wish they had an outlet here in my area. Try By 2 coffee if you are around the area especially around breakfast time for a quick and filling breakfast. Verdict: Highly recommend and would definitely visit more than once. 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: 7 am–12:30 pm, 4–9:30 pm, 22/1,Police Station Rd, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004