Showing posts with label restaurant review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant review. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2025

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: THE KONKAN, BENGALURU

 OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: THE KONKAN, BENGALURU

My husband and I love seafood so when we were celebrating our wedding anniversary recently, we decided to go to a seafood specialty restaurant. After viewing various options we decided to drop in for lunch at The Konkan, established 2017. This is located at the junction of Church Street and St Marks Road in Bengaluru. We had been here before and had loved the food- hence the decision to repeat the experience.

Their website is here  and they also have a Facebook Page 


There were many fish options to choose from. For starters, we ordered the old favourite seer fish preferring to have this tawa fried. It looked really attractive but though it was tasty it does not get a rave rating as it fell a little short on the salt.. 


This was followed by the hit of the day: Prawns Butter Garlic. This was incredibly tasty! I would strongly recommend this to all of you, especially if, like us,  you love eating prawns! The prawns were expertly sautéed in butter with the right amount of garlic flavouring giving the dish a taste that you will remember for very long. 


To go with our meal we opted for Somaek. This is made up of Soju, Korea's iconic and most consumed liquor topped up with beer. We didn't have the soju in the regular Korean style by downing it as a shot. We had this as a Somaeak - soju + maekju (as beer is called in Korea). I am not sure if they had Korean beer but we had ours -with the ever popular Heineken!  


For the main course we opted for a chicken dish, considering we had already relished fish and prawns. Being from Mangaluru, our eyes lit up on seeing the Chicken Kori Rotti on the menu. This dish (which is most popular in Tulu/Bunt cuisine in Mangaluru)  has chicken curry eaten with crisp dry wafers or flakes made with boiled rice. We crush the wafers in the chicken gravy , mix and eat it with our fingers. This too was superb! 

After this delicious meal, we chose to have Caramel Custard for dessert. This came with the right amount of sweetness and was presented nicely with a garnish of assorted nuts. It tasted just great and was a perfect end to our meal. 


We went on a Friday afternoon around 1.30 and we got a place quite easily. The timings are 12 noon to 3.15 pm and from 7.00 pm to 10.15 pm. They are closed on Mondays.

They have a fairly large numbers of options to choose from -mainly centred around seafood for which the Konkan area is so highly reputed. The service was efficient . We liked the fact that they didn't hassle us with too many suggestions or bug us to speed up. The ambience is fine- nothing great but the food is indeed excellent! 




Monday, November 25, 2024

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CCDD, BENGALURU

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE: CCDD, BENGALURU

Seeing the title of this post, you could well ask, "What is CCDD? It sounds almost like a Government Department". But you have to be a Bangalorean Foodie to know this one. We know that MTR is Mavalli Tiffin Room, CTR is Central Tiffin Room, TRC is The Rameswaram Cafe and so on,..... CCDD stands for Chulha Chauki Da Dhaba! You will find CCDD - a chain of Punjabi- dhaba style restaurants - in as many as seven locations in Namma Bengaluru. We went to the one in Rajajinagar, situated bang opposite the Orion Mall, for lunch the other day.


Pro tip: There is no system of reservations here! It's FCFS or First Come....First Served. If there is a crowd, as there will be -especially on weekends- you need to give your name to a guy who notes it down in a register. When a table is free, he calls out your name and that's it! 

The seating is designed to give a rustic charm to the restaurant as it serves dhaba style food. For the uninitiated, the "dhaba" traditionally is a restaurant on the highways where hungry truckers would stop to grab a bite and some rest.  Today, dhabas are as much frequented  by city folk who drive long distances to eat there. Hence at CCDD we sit on moodahs ( low bamboo stools) or charpoys (low slung cots with interlocking ropes) and the food is served on low bamboo based tables.


From the wide varieties of starters, we began with Babycorn Manchurian. The portion served was quite generous. We found the babycorn to be crunchy, spicy and totally delicious! We loved it!   


After that we went for a dish which was highly recommended: the CCDD Special Chicken Kabab. The chicken kababs were luscious and very well marinated. They were served with a salad of onions and a green chutney. This dish can easily be described: lip smacking.!


For the main course, we opted for the Chicken Lahsuniya which we enjoyed with hot Garlic Butter Naans. As the name suggests, this medium-spiced dish of chicken had a flavour of garlic. We deliberately chose to have a milder dish after the fiery starters we had.  


By now we were feeling too full! So the Kadhai Paneer that we had ordered  was packed for us to take away. We enjoyed this for dinner. It tasted just great with succulent pieces of paneer ( Indian cottage cheese)  well blended with the coarse masala that characterises Kadhai Paneer. 


And yes, I must mention that as we enjoyed our lunch we sipped at our tall glasses of Sweet Lassi. This  provided an ideal foil to the spicy food and was delicious in itself.


Being a Saturday afternoon, the restaurant was full. There were no vacant tables to be seen. Yet we could enjoy a leisurely meal. We found the service to be excellent. There wasn't much of a delay in getting one dish after the other. We weren't rushed either!

Overall, if you like  high quality Punjabi food, CCDD should fit your bill ( no pun intended).  The awards CCDD have won and proudly displayed speak volumes of the quality of this restaurant. 




 

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE : GO NATIVE

OUR DINING EXPERIENCE : GO NATIVE

A couple of days back we had a wonderful lunch at Go Native in 5th Block, Jayanagar in our city of Bengaluru. As you can see from their website they have a boutique there but our main focus today is on the restaurant at the same premises.  We had read positive reviews for this restaurant at Zomato and decided it was worth checking out. Believe me, it most certainly was!

It was a week day and there wasn't too much of a crowd but there were a fair number of diners when we got there. We were led up the stairs to the balcony restaurant from where one gets a view of greenery which is becoming increasingly in short supply in Bengaluru. It was nice to see this restaurant was located in a lovely nook in a relatively uncrowded part of bustling Jayanagar.



We were delighted with the food. All the items were very tasty and we got our money's worth. The service was impeccable and Sooraj the guy who looked after us was knowledgeable in helping us navigate the menu which was full of dishes we hadn't come across before. The focus is on providing customers with seasonal products so we saw that many dishes had jackfruit in them. A few weeks earlier perhaps it would have been mangoes.


We started with the Mushroom Chilli Potato Soup which was simply superb!! If you like a spicy soup you can't find anything better. It was a splendid start to our meal.



There were many items on offer- all of them vegetarian, by the way- and we decided to opt for Harabhara Sabudana Kababs served with two types of chutneys. Sabudana, as you know is tapioca.



While we ate this we sipped at the Jackfruit and Coconut Milk Shake. It was surprisingly light given the ingredients and very refreshing.




The next item in our order was Cheesy Maddur Vada. As you would have guessed by now, this was not the conventional Maddur Vada as it had a light stuffing of cheese in it. The accompanying coconut chutney was delicious as were the crisp Maddur Vadas.




We hesitated between the Kathal (Jackfruit) Biryani and the Masala Banana Flower Rotis. We already had some jackfruit so we opted for the rotis. This was served with a spicy green peas gravy and a dry salad of healthy sprouts, groundnuts and the like.  The combination was great with the spicy peas curry paired with the relatively bland rotis and kosambari.



For dessert there were many items of offer. We chose the Lemon Cheesecake Tarts with Jackfruit Compote. This again was something very different from what we had tasted before and the freshly baked tarts were accentuated with the dahi and jackfruit compote. Lip smacking indeed!!



Over all we liked the ambience, the decor and the service. With all this we had a delicious meal with dishes we had never tasted before in this form. What more can one ask for??



In conclusion, this restaurant is highly recommended, if you like something different from the ordinary.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

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!! 

Monday, November 20, 2017

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!

Friday, July 21, 2017

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.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

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