Explore Bangalore – 3

Last Saturday was unique for two reasons. It was going to be the first time I was going to watch a Bond movie( Quantum of Solace) at a theatre (Urvashi) . And I had also decided that since I am near Lalbagh, I might as well have my breakfast at Mavalli Tiffin Room (aka MTR), a place that I had never visited before.

So I started early from my place at Thippasandra in order to beat the Saturday morning traffic through Richmond Road.

MTR is a pretty well-known brand. Their ready-to-eat packaged food items are popular amongst Indians who are very particular about their food-habits and who have to travel abroad frequently.

The place was packed! It was a real struggle to get in and find yourself a seat. I somehow managed to find myself a seat and then started looking around for someone who can take my order. Unfortunately, the place seemed to be very understaffed. I finally managed to catch a staff member’s attention and placed my order : one masala dosa and a coffee. The coffee was something that I was really looking forward to. I had heard a lot about it.

As I sat there waiting for my dosa and coffee to arrive, I looked around. I noticed that rava idli was a popular choice here as every fifth person seemed to be ordering that. The staff, though smaller in number, were efficient. I noticed the kitchen on the corner. There were people walking in and out, most of them the staff as expected but there were other people too.  The rest of them were just seated like me were laughing, casually chatting , seriously discussing whilst enjoying their breakfast.

I did not realise this but I had waited for 15+ minutes easily and my order had still not arrived. Luckily I had enough time to spare before the movie began. The order did arrive eventually. The dosa was nothing much to write home about. Pretty standard stuff. It was different from the regular dosa available in Bangalore in the sense that it was a tad bit thicker and served with just the chutney minus the sambhar ala SLV Coffee Bar. The same thing, however, did not apply to the coffee. It was mind-blowing!

Overall, MTR is a nice place. I think a bit over-priced at the end of the day but thats just my opinion.

Oh and in case you are wondering, the Bond movie was a total disappointment.

Explore Bangalore -1

‘Explore Bangalore’ is a new series that I am starting on this space. My objective is to be able to cover some of the lesser known places in and around Bangalore that I have had the privilege of visiting over the last five years of my stay here.

In this particular post, I will be mentioning about two eat-outs.

Sri Laxmi Venkateshwara Coffee Bar

aka SLV Coffee House is located at BSK 2nd stage, near BDA complex, opposite to that lovely BDA park. Anirudh suggested this place to me and I thought I should give it a try. Now I have gone past this place on innumerable occassions and always wondered as to why this place is so crowded. At first sight, you wouldn’t realise that an eat-out exists at that place thanks to a large tree present right in front of the entrance.

I somehow managed to squeeze myself in, avoiding the crowd, to try and have a look at the menu on the wall besides the counter. I couldn’t see more than 8 items on that list. I decided to go for a vada.

After another round of struggle with the crowd, I managed to get myself and my vada , soaked in the watery chutney, outside the place.

Aha! Time to eat! And as I digged into that vada, I could see what Anirudh was trying to say. The vada was brilliant! Period. I hadn’t eaten a more crispier vada at any other darshini in Bangalore. The chutney was watery yes, but it was spicy and tasted like chutney for a change. Interestingly, there is no sambhar to go with the vada or idli along with the chutney. Just the chutney.

No wonder this place is crowded! When I gave a search online, I found out about another place that is similar to this one. This one doesn’t seem to be too far away from SLV coffee house.

All in all, if you are a foodie and a foodie who loves the typical south-indian idli-vada-chutney combination, a visit to this place is a MUST.

India Coffee House

India Coffee House on MG Road is like a blast from the plast. The old building, the old tables, the waiters dressed in an attire so unique…everything about this place gives you a feeling that it has not changed since the place was opened for the very first time. The surprise package is the rates on the menu. They are all dirt cheap for a place that is located on MG Road, the heart of the city so as to speak.

This post has more on ICH. This is what the manager had to say then (15th of May, 2007)

“It is 50 years for our establishment,” said he, “but the building is much older; see it is still strong and does not need any repair but for a few minor patches. They did not even use any cement in the building. But next year, we are closing this place. We have a new building that is nearly ready in Avenue Road. We will be moving there.” I asked why did they have to move and if it has something to do with the Metro work. He said the owner of the building wanted them to clear the place, and will probably build something new in its place.

If you are lucky, you might still find this place on MG Road. If you do find it, do not miss the chance. Just walk in and let the place take you to what Bangalore might have looked like 50 years back!

More on this series later.