OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CENTRAL JAIL RESTAURANT

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CENTRAL JAIL RESTAURANT

Some months ago, friends of ours had visited this restaurant in Jayanagar 4th Block  in South Bengaluru called Central Jail. They had posted a few pictures of it and we were somewhat intrigued by the decor and outfits worn by the staff. This restaurant, as the name suggests, has the theme of being designed like a jail!!The theme, at least for us, was most certainly unique. I am not adding pictures relating to the theme as you must experience it for yourself.

A few days back we happened to be in the area around lunch time and decided to give it a try. We had no reservations but since it was just after 1.00 p.m. we got space quite easily, not in the Main Jail where the dining places are like cells with bars etc but in our more preferred space outside which is more airy, bright, and well ventilated! This restaurant is open from 12 noon to 3.00 p.m. and from 6.30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

In no time the place filled up and by the time we finished our lunch, virtually all the tables were full and we saw a number of people waiting for their turn to get a table.  In retrospect, it may be a good idea to book a table in advance especially on a weekend.

Like most restaurants they offer a wide variety of cuisine ranging from the popular Andhra style to North Indian, Seafood and Chinese. The menu is quite impressive in its spread. There is a lot to choose from by way of beverages, starters, soups, main course, dessert etc in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, though I suspect this is better known for its non-vegetarian food. Since we were here for the first time, we didn't want to be too adventurous and decided to select the more common dishes which we thought would be good.

We started with Paneer Tikkas . I liked the presentation of the dish and they were as yummy ( to beat to death that old cliche) as they looked especially with the mint chutney. For a tikka to be perfect they need to be well- marinated. The ones we got were excellent.

For the next course, we opted for the Chef's Choice of Jail Special Chicken Biryani, described as being their signature dish. This was served with the customary salan and raita. We don't like bland biryanis so this was quite enjoyable as it had just the required amount of spice.

Since we are fond of prawns, we ordered the Prawn Chilli done in the Indian Chinese style which was outstanding. For this dish, as indeed for everything else the quantity was more than adequate.

We were quite full so we skipped the desserts though they had intriguing names such as " Inmate's Special ", "Hijack", "Shootout " etc. May be we should have this the next time. And, of course there will be a next time as we really liked the food.

The service was also very good as was the overall hygiene and we had no complaints whatsoever about our brief sojourn in the Central Jail!! 

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CHUTNEY CHANG

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CHUTNEY CHANG

Once in a while when I feel like it, I write about our experience in dining out at a restaurant, hoping that would be of use to readers of my blog. These days with Trip Advisor, Zomato and what have you, there are many inputs you can get about a restaurant but this is to share my personal experience.

Chutney Chang has something for everyone. If you are one of those who approach a buffet spread as if it is your last meal on earth, there is enough and more for you. Go ahead and eat till you drop. If you are more choosy, you can wander around looking at the wide variety of dishes and choose what attracts you or what you like best.

We went there recently to celebrate my husband's birthday and came away extremely satisfied with our dining experience. We visited Chutney Chang in Jayanagar though there is one in Church Street too. For elder people the landmark is the old Cosmopolitan Club, for the youngsters it is Amoeba!

What we liked was the spaciousness of the place. There were ever so many people around but it seemed like we had our own space and the tables were not crushed close to each other.

We started with the Sweet Corn Chicken Soup which was quite delicious. There was also Noodle Soup on offer which looked quite interesting. 

 

For starters we headed to the Live Grill from where we picked up Tawa Fried Seer Fish, and Stuffed Chicken Rolls sliced into Spring Roll like portions. These were excellent hot off the tawa. Also on offer was Mutton Kheema in roasted pav (buns) .

For the main course, we had Gosht Dum Biriyani, Chicken Tangri Kabab, Murgh Sesame Kabab and Fish Spring Rolls had with mint chutney, garlic and chilli sauce. The mutton pieces in the biriyani were soft and tender. The fish spring rolls were awesome!
























We also sampled the Bombay street food inspired Tawa Fried Noodles with a host of colourful ingredients that go into it.

 

In conversation with Chef Martin as we have the Tawa Fried Chicken Noodles.

Did we try most of the buffet? Of course, we did not. We didn't go to the Live Chaat section or the  Live Dimsum counter nor did we taste the vegetarian delicacies on offer.

For dessert, we skipped the Indian sweets and stayed with chocolate brownies, strawberry pastry, and marshmellows and jujubes soaked in the sinful chocolate from the chocolate fountain.

We visited on a Friday afternoon. The Khao Chao Indian Chinese fusion theme was on. The bill for two of us came to Rs. 1550 inclusive of all taxes. The staff were courteous and helpful especially Sheela our helpful hostess who took good care of us.












Overall, we were delighted with our dining experience and would heartily recommend the buffet at Chutney Chang. I believe you will get your money's worth!

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: MAINLAND CHINA

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: MAINLAND CHINA

Both my husband and I are fond of Chinese food, or really the Indian version of Chinese food which is popularly called Indian-Chinese. Recently to celebrate my birthday, we went to Mainland China in Jayanagar, Bengaluru which is one of several Mainland China restaurants in the city. I know there are many others in Whitefield, Malleshwaram, Koramangala, Indiranagar and so on..

It is important to make a reservation especially when you are dining there in the week end. We did so when we reached there at 1.30 p.m. we were straight away escorted to a table for two. Initially it looked as if there weren't too many diners but within no time it filled up. Soon there were no tables empty at all.

To start with, we ordered the Leechis and Basil Quenchers . These mocktails  tasted out of this world. The blend of the leechis and basil was a treat to the palate.

There is so much to choose from when it comes to soups. We overlooked the more common Sweet Corn Soup, and Lemon & Coriander Soup opting for the Hot and Sour Soup. This is made with soy and crushed white peppercorn. It was quite delicious.

For starters, we asked for the tried and trusted Assorted Non- Vegetarian Dimsum Platter. We read from the menu that Dimsums mean Heart's Delight in Chinese. The best part of the Dimsums is that they are lightly spiced and steamed. The platter had a good mix with Chicken Siu Mai, Pan Grilled Crab Cake and Prawn Hargao. These were delectable especially as we dipped them in the accompanying sauces. We particularly liked the orange sauce made with mustard with chillies.

For the main course, we did not  want to experiment so chose a combination of fried rice and fish, We skipped the offerings in noodles. There was again innumerable types of fried rice to choose from.  We opted for the Prawns Fried Rice which we had with Chilli Basil Fish served with Devil's Sauce as this was marked as being more spicy than the others on the menu. Both these dishes were great. The quantity served was quite adequate for the two of us. We were so engrossed in enjoying the fried rice and fish that no pictures were taken. That shows just how delicious they were!!

You can't leave without dessert, can you? We opted for the Dessert of the Day which was Date Ice Cream with Palm Jaggery and Roasted Almonds. It was well worth the extra calories that must have gone in.

All in all, we left entirely satisfied with the dining experience. The food was exceptional, the service and ambiance were pretty good too.

Highly recommended if you are looking for a tasty Chinese meal.

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: SOUZA LOBO, CALANGUTE BEACH

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: SOUZA LOBO, CALANGUTE BEACH

You can't visit India and not go to Goa! Check out the many interesting options for places to see, things to do and goodies to eat detailed in the Goa Tourism site. You can't visit Goa and not hang out at Calangute beach! And, here's my recommendation....you can't go to Calangute Beach and not eat at Souza Lobo!! This restaurant which offers diners a wonderful view of the sea ( if you are lucky to get a table, that is) was established in 1932. It looks to me that they have successfully built and nurtured a reputation over 85 years, which is a long, long time in the restaurant business.

I must confess that we were pointed to Souza Lobo by recommendations in Trip Advisor. They have received fairly impressive ratings so we decided to make it our first option when we were looking for a place to lunch.

We started with Fresh Lime Soda, Pineapple Juice, and Strawberry Milk Shake which was most refreshing coming in as we did from the hot sun.

As we sipped on these, we ordered our starters which turned out to be incredibly tasty. We began with the conventional Fish Fingers which were delectable especially with the tartar sauce.

The next starter was a killer! The Goan Masala Fried Prawns were simply out of this world! They were so well marinated in the thick masala and served with a light salad and potato finger chips.  Highly recommended!

For the main course, we chose a filling Pomfret Curry served in an eye catching earthenware pot in which interestingly the ladle was made out of a coconut shell. To go with the Pomfret Curry, we had plain rice which made for an excellent combination.

Overall, we were delighted with the food and the service. No wonder travelers using Trip Advisor have rated Souza Lobo so highly. We would gladly endorse their recommendations with our own.

Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5

So, if you are in the Calangute area around meal time and wondering where to go, head straight for Souza Lobo!

Post and Pics by Prem Rao

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE AT KESARIYA: A RAJASTHANI SPREAD

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE AT KESARIYA : A RAJASTHANI SPREAD

On my birthday a few days ago, my husband and I decided to lunch at one of my favourite restaurants here in Bengaluru. It is called Kesariya and is known for its Rajasthani cuisine. I love the wide variety there and thought I would share our experience with you. I would like to thank Prem Rao, my husband and partner in this blog, for sharing his views on the dining experience.

Firstly, it's best to make a reservation especially if it is a weekend.

The thali in Kesariya is served in "silver ware", whether it is silver or silver plated, I have no idea but I do know it looks so attractive spread out on the table for you. The little katoris are cute and there were some 11 of them waiting to be filled with the goodies.

Now let's get down to the most important part of this blog post: The Food! The menu looks imposing, listing as it does fully 31 items but I must hasten to add that quality was not at all compromised for quantity. Each of the dishes was superb, though things being relative a dish did pale in comparison with another.

As soon as you are settled down, the waiter walks up with a stylish miniature kettle like jar of the kind from which you would half expect a genie to emerge! This contains warm water for you to wash your hands in the bowl that he holds with his other hand.

Another waiter brings you an Indian version of an apperitif by way of Masala Chaas ( Spiced Buttermilk) and Pudina Neembu Pani (Lime Juice with Mint). These act as appetizers and as digestives, both! As you sip these you are served  a sweet- Sada Malpua, which was awesome dripping in its syrup. I read that in a Rajasthani meal there is no such thing as a dessert or sweet being served at the end of the meal. Sweets are eaten at the start of, during and after a meal.

The starters are next. Here they come and they are piping hot. Urad Dal Samosa, ( crunchy and spicy),  Hing Kachori  (with the flavour of asafoetida or hing) and Aloo Pakoda ( made with potatoes). As dips for these are an attractive green chutney, an orange coloured hot Garlic Chutney and a fiery red Rajasthani chilli pickle. If the dips were tasty, the pickle was out of this world. You also got a long dry chilli which you munched along with the Kachumber (a salad of fresh vegetables) In front of these, I am afraid the Papad went relatively unnoticed.

You can presumably eat as much as can  but should you wish to ask for another round of starters, be warned that there's lots more to follow!! Along with the starters comes the first round of Dal Panchmel with the famous Matar Paneer Baati served with ghee with the traditional pairing of sweet Choorma.

In the meanwhile, you are plied with repeated offerings of hot Fulkas, ( also spelled "Phulkas"),  Missi Rotis and Urad Dal Kachawdi. Unlike the normal fulkas which are large in size, here the fulkas and indeed the missi rotis are very small in diameter. They are as delicious as they are cute.

By then the katoris are filled with Maharaja Paneer, Bharwan Kofta, Aloo Petha, Tinda Masala, (which was awesome), Moong Mogar and the delicious Imlana, made of tamarind. You also have Do Chonk Ki Dal and Bhujiya Ki Kadhi.

When you are through with the rotis and fulkas, ( if you still have the appetite for it) you have the choice of Hari Moong Dal ki Kheechdi, Chasni Ka Chawal and Steamed Rice. After all the chutneys and pickle, we opted for the simple steamed rice served with some high quality curds.

Lastly, we cap the meal off with another round of dessert - we have two today Apple Halwa and the Mango Shrikhand. On any other day, the Apple Halwa would have stood out in my mind but I have to say it was dwarfed by the delectable Mango Shrikhand.

Before you can stagger away, there is one last item for you to finish. Mango Kulfi!

When we visited last (16/7/2016) the unlimited thali cost Rs. 545 per adult and Rs. 300 per child (between the ages of 5-8) on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays. From Monday to Thursdays, the comparable figures are Rs. 495 and Rs. 250 respectively. This is inclusive of all taxes.

I would overall rate the food and service ( despite it being crowded on a Saturday afternoon) as excellent. Tip: sample every dish and let the taste linger. I found eating small quantities of each dish was the secret to wade through the entire menu.

Highly recommended for those who are looking for a value for money vegetarian deal!!