24th Main

24th Main is a veg restaurant located on 24th main, JP Nagar.

After the Asha 8K run, around half a dozen of us crash landed here. Guess during weekdays they have a buffet priced around 129 buks (+taxes). But as it was a Saturday we tried their ala carte and is a pretty decent place to have food, especially if you want to have a leisure lunch or dinner.



The interiors are pretty neat, appealing and soothing to the eyes.



Pretty much like the European cafes.


Nice place to try out !

Udupi Krishna Bhavan - The Unlimited Masala Dosa Meal

Udupi Kirshna Bhavan is located near JNC (Jyothi Nivas College) in Koramangla (Bangalore). It is on the road where Cafe Arogya, Purple Haze are located.


This restaurant is famous for its tiffin items and also for its meals. Generally people have south indian thali priced at 50 bucks which is a limited version with two rotis and a small bowl of rice with accompaniments (you can as well get addtional chapatis if you opt out of rice). The north Indian thali priced at 75 comes with soup, roti or kulcha, some veg pulav and an ice cream to wrap it up (see the pic above).

The Unlimited Masala Dosa Meal: South Indian Special

But the thing that you must try for sure is "South Indian Special" priced at 90 bucks. It starts generally with a juice (most often than not it would be Papaya) and the giant thali which you see below.



The baby masala dosas that are served are unlimited. If you are conscious of oil then you can ask him to make the Dosa "without oil". (Aside: Never say "oil-less" as it is interpreted as "less oil"). The Thali has upma (khara bath), a mixed rice (Bise-bele bath as in pic), a kesari bath and other accompaniments.

Added to this you can have chapatis and rice unlimited. After you feel you've been fed a tad more then arrives the ice cream and a sweet.

Do try this place for the south special. There is north Indian cousin which has unlimited north Indian items called the "North Deluxe" just in case if you want to fancy. Akki Roti and Neeru Dosa are some of their other specialties.

Bon Apetite !

Lemon Grass

This is a simple place right near Agara lake (outer ring road) if you are coming from Madiwala or Jakasandra. Other restaurants like Malgudi are located beside.


Its a pretty neat place and spacious. There are small huts within which you get your seating especially if you are coming in groups.



Nothing new to recommend but a decent place for a lunch !

Umerkot - Koramangla

We were a small group searching for a buffet place in and Koramangla. It was the sendoff party for Nidhi who will be heading back to the EC office. After some quick deliberations we zeroed in on "Umerkot" on the 80Ft road. If you are coming from Sony world towards 4th Block (Maharaja Hotel), you will find it on your left.


This was a different buffet, called the "Seating Buffet". What it actually means is that you are actually served food right at your table and there is no common table where all the delicacies are arranged. This is a smart idea as people might just not binge on the dishes.


The Veg buffet costs you 289+taxes (=325) and the Non-Veg some 380 odd bucks. There is quite a lot of variety as it starts with a complimentary drink (pint of beer option is also available). A tomato or chicken shorbha (variant of a soup). Then comes some nicely cooked starters disguised as Kebabs. Then the main course with bread (rotis, Naan) and three different curries.


Then finally some Biryani and a small sweet dish and finally with Masal chai. Its a pretty decent place and the ambiance within is very good. So its a nice place to dash in if you are looking for a veg buffet in the range of 300 (slightly overpriced though).

Bon Appetite !

Pic Courtesy: Vandana

Cafe Arogya

Finally some decent place in Koramangla for the health conscious folks.

Cafe Arogya is located right next to Jyothi Nivas College (JNC) above "BrewHaha", on the Udupi Krishna Road. A lot of care is taken in preparing the food and for people with pretty decent appetite must try their wholesome meal priced at 100.


They have this juice started in tiny wine glasses equivalent to just a sip. They have this beetroot juice, wheat grass (argambillai in Tamil. Which we keep at Lord Ganesha) juice (added with honey), watermelon and almond juice. No added sugar. Some dry fruits and fruits. The menu keeps changing everyday.


The main course is pretty neat and tastes very good and is clean. You get this broken rice (red rice) with the barn. Highly recommended but old people may find it difficult to digest. The dry curry might have some traces of coconut but I guess they can avoid that as well. They use Olive oil for cooking some of the dishes.

They will give you these pamphlets and health notes on the food that you eat. See the one on wheat grass below.



My mom would love this place for sure. For regulars the price may be on a little higher side but definitely worth a try if you are looking for a simple and yet wholesome meal.

Official web link for Cafe Arogya

(Mobile Phone Pic Courtesy: Madan Tarun)

Bon Appetite !

Sahib Sindh Sultan - Forum Mall (Koramangla, Bangalore)

The name sounds very majestical and Moghalay. This one is in the second floor of Forum Shopping Mall in Koramangla, Bangalore. You'll be surprised to see the ambiance inside is like a wooden train like the ones in the Hollywood western classics. Contrary to my understanding about its high prices, a decent meal for two would cost around 500 bucks. The interiors are classy and its very calm in there. Mostly a no-smoking zone within and the lighting is also very apt.


Lot of Paranthas and Biryani varities to try out. Among the very good restaurant from the stable of BJN group. The spice level is very well maintained and couple of varities of chutneys come with shredded onions as accompaniments.


If you are in Forum Mall or around or back from PVR and are looking at a 1000 odd for three people then you can conveniently drop in here. Also it is generally full, so better reserve a table or just come in early. Weekends will be a real fight to get in.


We ordered mostly a mix of paranthas followed by a paneer gravy and palak kofta. Didn't really go for any starters but took the almond mix milk shake which was the only non-shorba (non soup) liquid in there. Damien and Tarun went in for a midday wine.

(there you go brother princely!)

Firangi pani is an exclusive bar within the same premises but well separated.

Thanks to Damien for his farewell treat !

(Pic Courtesy, Damien)

Silver Metro - Total Mall (Koramangla)

Silver Metro comes from the Ohris chain. Ohris are a very popular and old chain in Hyderabad. Silver Metro is in Bangalore near to Koramangla/Madiwala right inside Total Shopping Mall in third floor. Guess there is "Serengity" within the same area which is much more upscale than this.

Its among the very few places in Bangalore where the buffet is priced below 200. It is 199 + taxes on weekdays and the ambiance is fantastic. Weekends I guess it is some 30 odd bucks more. We were here last Monday to send off Damien who interned here at Labs for over two months. It is a delight for both veg and non-veg folks. The Veg and non-veg items are well separated. All the Non-veg dishes are written down in RED sketch pen and veg items in BLUE (not green? why?). There are too many varieties, I mean way too many !

(Pic:Assorted starters above)

(Pic: Some of the main course in veg)
As usual it starts with a soup, starters like Manchurian balls, dahi papdi chaat, some pasta salads, smoked eggplant salad ("baingan bartha") and many. Main course has noodles, pulav, panner, mixed veg, koftas, breads, rotis, pastas.... the list too big and I haven't added the non-veg items yet. Way too many and it will be hard for others to complain. A similar one is there in Ohris Basheerbagh in Hyderabad.

The set is made up of a typical metro rail and the seating is very comfortable. On a given weekend it might get very crowded, so suggest to make a booking (080 40003333) or reach there by 12.30ish for lunch. If you haven't been here, your kids would love it. If you haven't been on a Metro train either in Delhi or Kolkatta then this is a pretty decent alternative (pun?). You hearing to sounds of a moving train just to add up to the real feel (thankfully they don't move the train). Quite a few plasma TVs around to keep you hooked onto TV.

Deserts have couple of ice creams, kheer (Payasam), cakes, baby rasogullas. Guess these might change depending on the day of the week, but after what I heard from others, they are pretty much the same menu everyday. But if you are in a binge mode or getting to be treated by your friends then this is the place. People living in and around Koramangla, BTM or Madiwala will find this place very accessible. Parking is never an issue here.

You can order other beverages and supposedly they have a pitcher for fresh lime soda (not sure). I'm not sure if they have regular food other than buffet but you can ask for regular menu in case you are interested. Total mall which houses Silver Metro is also a pretty decent place to visit in case you wanted to walk leisurely after you meal. Overall a nice place to be and probably worth its money !

Bon Appetite !

Trident Haveli - Kormangla

If you are looking for a Rajasthani and Gujarati delicacy combined in one single buffet then Trident Haveli in Koramangla is the place to be. It is a very very small place that can host 12-15 people. It is located within the Nandana Grand hotel in Koramangla 5th block (right opposite "Filling Station"). It is on the first sloor and the ambiance looks little cramped though well decorated. They are part of the "Ghar Ka Khana" group, Trident Hospitality.

To know more about them, check out their homepage and you can also check their daily menu. It is now priced at 100 plus taxes (surprisingly the tax here is @ 4%). The taste is very simple and nothing special as such. Quite a good number of variety and the rotis/pooris come in a tad slow. Guess the food is made elsewhere and is brought in here and the chapatis/rotis are heated before they are served.

There is unlimited "chaas" (buttermilk), kachori, some daily snack as well. Two types of dal and the Gujarati dal is mostly sweet in taste. Initially the prices were 80 + taxes but now it is 100 and may not be worth its price now. Last time when we checked in it was wonderful and they had ran out of "Chole". But this time the service was pathetic and the taste was just about okay. Things like soups were served almost cold, the finger bowl was not hot either. The "Thepla" (roti) was just heated and served to us for obvious reasons (as they don't cook anything it here).

Probably that is one of the other reasons I may not be giving a favourable review as the day when we went in here it was bad. So if you don't plan get biased then, yes you try this out for sure. The food taste is authentic as many of my friends who visited this place have said. So in Koramangla if you are looking for a Gujarati food with mix of Rajasthani then this a decent try.

Like the BJN group of hotels who run plush restaurants here in Bangalore, "Ghar Ka Kahana" chain is very healthy and home oriented food is available without much masala and oil. To know more about this group and their hotels, click here.


Until then, bon appetite !

(Pic courtesy: Bharath's new Nokia mobile phone camera)

Sri Krishna Kafe - Koramangla

Sree Krishna Kafe, popularly known as SKK among it's loyalists is in Koramangla 5th block. It is on the one way where other pouplar restaurants such as "Filling Station", "Nandana Grand", "Kairali (Kerala specialty)" and others are located. It is right next to Anand Sweets adjacent to GK Vale (above Kairali). Very narrow steps lead you to the top and the service is available in the first and second floors.


The meals are available only during lunch time alongside some tiffin items like dosas (all varieties), chapati kurma, parotha kurma, curd rice and some mixed rice depending on the day of the week. Meals are priced at Rs 68 on weekdays and 75 on weekends. If you are looking for traditional Tamil types south Indian with Brahminsh flavour with a tinge of Palaghat then this is the place. Authentic I must say and people who are sick of the Sagar kind of sambhar, then this is the place. Yes, you'll find coconut mixed in everywhere but probably that's what makes it so tasty. You need to go the second floor where they serve both tiffin and meal items during lunch as the first floor serves only meals during this time. Otherwise during breakfast and dinner both the floors are teeming with people.



Service is quick and prompt and you needn't tip them (at least during the lunch time). They have a tip box hidden somewhere near the bill counter. Don't expect finger bowls, just head to the wash basin and wash. The tiffin items during the evening keep changing depending on the day of the week. See the above menu card to know what it has to offer. "Adai" is one of my favourites here, though "onion rava masala" is the best. Chutneys and Sambar keep pouring as you keep summoning the chap who is very busy.


For lunch, it is mostly carbo-loading to me. Fridays are our favourite as "brinjal" curry and "Avial" is served here with the meal. If you are late (say post 2.30PM) the brinjal curry might just be over and they compensate with a quickly made "Aloo" curry. Three types of "Koimbu" or gravy items you get here apart from the Sambar: "Rasam", "Moru Koimbu" (made of buttermilk), "Karra Koimbu" (with "parpu urandai" - balls made out of dal). Then you get curd, one sweet dish and little "more" (buttermilk). Apalam (fried plain papad) and "more molega" (fried chilli) and pickle as additional accompaniments. Weekend lunch is more grand and you might end up eating more in temptation.


As I keep reviewing this place I catch up with Mr. Pandian who now heads this current place. There is (was) one more SKK on Bannerghatta road but looks like both the managements are different now. I cannot vouch for it, but the one at Koramangla road is the one you must go for if you haven't already been. They've been here for a long time now and have made each and every guest who comes to SKK feel home. Even sometimes the owners lend a helping hand in serving. Usually you'll find the place fully occupied but sometimes you might have to wait for 10-15 minutes, which just passes in a jiffy.


Coffee here is equally tasty, Madras degree coffee types. A trivia on how the word "degree" coffee came about. Looks like during those days they used to measure the hotness of milk with some degree-scale and from there the word degree crept in, and hence the term degree coffee. Got to know about it recently when I was in Chennai and talking to a fellow friend. Try their different varieties of Idlies that they have to offer. "Kheema Idly" is my favourite and also "Kheema Parotha" is my kind of snack and answer to the Chaat. There are many other standard delicacies available apart from the special ones.

So if you wanted to try a meal or looking forward for a heavy or light snack or tiffin then just crash in here. A tiffin for two will be around 80 bucks. Give it a shot and you'll feel sumptuous for sure. It is Sri Krisna "K"afe. "Adi wandi Yanai Balam" (the last gulp gives you strength equal to that of an elephant).

Majja Maadi !

Bobby Dhaba

(From Right to Left: Damien, Vandy and I outside Boby Dhaba)

Boby Dhaba, sounds very Punjabi. This is the most authentic Punjabi food (only parathas and subzi) that you will find in Bangalore. It is located right adjacent to the Gurudwara in Usloor (very close Ulsoor lake or Trinity circle on MG Road). Once you reach the Gurudwara you'll find a small road leading to a little downhill stretch. Right there you'll find lot of people standing and make no mistake there is no board outside.

You may find the place chock-a-block with people and filled with lot of smoke and dim lighting, but then it is the best. Average waiting will be 20 minutes. So once you go in reserve a seat on your name and oreder immediately, so when you are ready to sit your food is ready as well. I've been here a dozen times now and every time it tasted perfect. The rates are very normal and a heavy lunch/dinner for two would cost around 140 bucks. The first thing that you must order is "Muttha" or the (salt) lassi (buttermilk) or chach. The glass is really very giant and goes well with the meal. See Vandy in trans already in the pic on your right.


Parathas, subzis, dals are there in good number of variety. See the menu pic above for their delicacies. If you are looking for ambiance and plush then you may not savour this but, but this is best paranthas place (I'm told Lalitha's parathas on Commercial street is good as well). It is entirely veg but "Egg Bhurji" is available here. One cup is more than sufficient for two people. Achar, hari mirch (green chili) and "onion and cucumber" salad are natural accompaniments.

Parathans come piled up with yellow butter on top allowed to melt. These paranthas are served very hot and the butter melting is a spectacle to watch. Forget calories, they taste perfect. You must be seeing it on your left. We tried Aloo, methi, mooli and paneer parathas while the side accompaniments were "Baingan bartha", "Dal Makhani" and Curd. Look at the Menu to cater to your tastes. The service is fast and prompt and you can also order if you feel like having more.


Finally, you must try out their "Kheer" here for sure and Vandy got psyched out after she ate the Kheer. May be she felt like "kaikai" of Ramayana who gulped lot more "kheer". After that we (she) decided to walk from MG road to office, yes and we almost did it (7KM).

So next time if you are around MG Road and ready to wait for half an hour and just do not care about diet for a day, then this is the place. Bon Appetite !

Kamat Yatri Nivas - North Karnataka Meals

So finally we went to Kamat Yatri Nivas in Majestic (Gandhinagar). It is right next to Swapna Book stall or behind National Market or Sukh Sagar. The new and old from the Lunch gang joined to see off (purportedly) Amit. It is on the 4th floor and I've been here around 4-5 times now. Also known as "Jolada" (Jawar) roti meals comes from the part of Northern Karnataka. Jawar is also known as "Jonaa" in Telugu and sorghum in English.

The meal is priced at 90 (normal) and 120 (special). In the special one you get extra sweet, ice cream and mirchi-bajji. You have unlimited quantity of butter milk, Jolada roti, rice, 3 different curries, raitha and list keeps going. "Pai" is another restaurant right near Anand Rao circle that serves this kind of a meal. I'm also told that Kamat "Lokaruchi" on the Mysore road near to Madur/Mandya serves the same and the Kamat Bugglerock near Bull temple (Basavanagudi) serves this. Ragi meal is typically the south canary meal served at New Krishna Bhavan (Sampinge Road) and Kamat Coffee Shop right below the Kamat Yatri Nivas.


Weekday meals are difficult to go by and the time taken to travel to Majestic all the way from office is also a big factor. All in all it is neat place for meal-freaks and first timers who are looking for so called authentic Karnataka food other than the likes of MTR (near Lal Bagh).


I'll be off to Chennai this weekend and will hopefully try to get you Saravana Bhavan at Mylapore and Murugan Idli shop at Besant Nagar (near beach). I'd been to the oldest and original Murugan Idli shop in Madurai couple of months back (hopefully will dig out the pics soon). Of course I go to Mumbai, Amit will probably will have to take me to some local desi stores.

Until then, bon appetit.