OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: THE RAMESHWARAM CAFE, RAJAJINAGAR, BENGALURU
A new home in the making. A new cooking hob to fire up in a new kitchen. But these things take time. The kitchen doesn't get operational until so many other things fall into place. I shall talk about my new kitchen in a future blog post but till the kitchen gets going you have to eat somewhere, right?
We are indeed fortunate to have The Rameshwaram Cafe, (TRC, for short) Rajajinagar within a short walking distance from where we live. This naturally became our port of call for the first few days- be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sometimes for more than one meal a day here.
Based on this experience, let me share my views on TRC with you readers, especially the ones in Namma Bengaluru. As you might know, there are The Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefield, in Indiranagar and in JP Nagar apart from the one we are speaking of. You can read about this chain of Quick Service Restaurants in their website.
In the picture below, it was about 7.30 am and not crowded at all by TRC standards. . We ordered idlis and our friends have gone to get us the hot South Indian filter coffees!
The Rameshwaram Cafe is crowded almost all the time, more crowded during the lunch and dinner hours, and packed to the rafters on Sundays when you have difficulty getting in! It is said to be open from 5.00 am to 1.00 am and that says a lot!
There is no system of reservation so the question of reserving a table and having a leisurely meal doesn't arise. The tables are the typical type you find in most fast food joints. Three- four people share a table and eat as they stand there.
Self service is the name of the game. You can order and get your food in one of several ways. You can stand in the queue and order your food and pay for it. You will get a bill - a part of which has the items ordered listed on it. This is then passed on to the flock of staff waiting behind numerous counters. One for rice items, one for dosas, idlis, etc. They typically give you what you ordered very quickly but if the crowds are too much, be prepared for a wait. Note your order number and wait for the guy to shout it out. " 257" he will yell or " 361" and you rush there and collect your order.
Modern tech has made it possible for you to use self- order kiosks which are linked to UPI systems so you place your order and make payment without any human interface.
The food is undoubtedly very tasty and is consistently of an extremely high standard. Whether it is idlis, dosas, akka rottis, puliogare, chitranna, or the wholesome full meals called Annalakshmi ( for which you have to be really, really hungry to do full justice) we found the food to be lip smacking.
Top of the charts Ghee Roast Dosa! We had this sparingly but worth trying once in a while!!
On another day we had rava idlis for a change!
The lacy Neer Dosa is a super hit with two types of spicy chutney and a sweet chutney to go with it.
Crisp Akki Rottis with a variety of accompaniments make for a delicious snack !
By and large the prices are quite reasonable, the staff is efficient, and the place- an important consideration for diners- is really clean. If you want a quiet place to have a chat and eat your food leisurely, this may not be the place for you. But if you are up for some excitement amidst a lot of hustle and bustle to savour some amazing South Indian food, I would definitely recommend The Rameshwaram Cafe to you.
As I write this, my kitchen is up and functioning. I don't have to go to TRC for breakfast/lunch/dinner every day. However, you can bet that I will go there from time to time to savour the tastes and sounds of what was an unforgettable and enjoyable experience.