Team-BHP - A Guide: Eating out in Bangalore

We visited Phurr, Jayanagar on Sunday. Liked the service and the food presentation. While the food itself isn't as great as it is made out to be, nevertheless it indeed was good. Their mocktails (esp the spicy guava drink) is really nice. I would definitely recommend.

Update: Due to kids school being off last Wednesday, we took them to Vidyarthi Bhavan. We got the table easily with very less crowd present on that day. Both my kids loved the masala dosae though the chutney was bit spicy for them. They liked the sambar and the aloo palya and enjoyed the dosae. We also had idli, vada and khara bath. While the idli, vada was nothing different than what you get other places, I did like the khara bath.

Next plan is to take them to CTR.

On my nth visit to Veena Stores in Malleswaram last week, I was left rather disappointed. Though the additional seating space is a welcome addition and so is the digital display-billing interface, the price, quantity and most importantly the taste has taken a severe hit from before.

The earthiness of the olden days has been replaced by an insipidness that is perhaps a result of the need to cater to a wide audience as well as the general change in the quality of ingredients available.

But I must be a minority in holding this opinion as I could see a good crowd even on a weekday morning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dailydriver (Post 5867894)

On my nth visit to Veena Stores in Malleswaram last week, I was left rather disappointed..

If you are in and around Yediyur lake, do visit Gayatri Coffee Kendra. The idly with the spicy chutney is really good. The texture of the idly is very different here. Avalakki bath on Sunday is another dish which is very good. Khara Pongal on Saturday with pieces of coconut is also equally good. Bisi bele bath on Thursday is a hit and miss in my family with different opinions.
Do not take the Upittu, it is just bland and does not gel well with even chutney.
This is a kerbside eatery with a good parking space and a couple of granite bench to sit and eat.

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Today had been to CTR along with my kids. Was a small 5 min wait for getting a table but a 20 mins wait to get Dosas( all of us ordered masala dose). While the dosae itself was ok, the accompaniments (palya and the chutney) was bland and tasteless. It was a letdown for us. Coffee was excellent so much so that I ordered one more at the end. While coming back, my daughter quipped saying next time lets goto tiles hotel (thats what she calls Vidyarthi bhavan) only for masala dosae. I could only nod my head in agreement :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie (Post 5873370)

I was mentioning exactly this today to my colleagues who agreed on this - most of the old eateries have lost their shine - MTR, CTR, Veena stores, Vidharthi Bhavan, etc.

The last time we went to CTR and Veena was almost a year ago when we had family visiting us. The food was only so-so. VB and MTR (the Lalbagh outlet) get crazy crowds but the food is always a let down. Coffee at both places are still decent but not worth the time and effort, if you ask me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dailydriver (Post 5867894)

The earthiness of the olden days has been replaced by an insipidness that is perhaps a result of the need to cater to a wide audience as well as the general change in the quality of ingredients available.

But I must be a minority in holding this opinion as I could see a good crowd even on a weekday morning.

Agree with you. I used to visit frequently when they were a small outlet with the MRF tyre showroom still next to it. The taste then and now has changed quite a bit and only those who frequent it since long before can observe the change. Those who go after watching YouTube videos are mostly biased.

People still go there because it is a routine for many, meeting spot for others. There is always a mix of new and regulars. So, the establishment chugs on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjatalli (Post 5873397)

I have vowed never to visit VB after visiting them a few years ago. I did not feel anything special in any of their items. Nearby Brahmins Coffee is far better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjatalli (Post 5873397)

I was mentioning exactly this today to my colleagues who agreed on this - most of the old eateries have lost their shine - MTR, CTR, Veena stores, Vidharthi Bhavan, etc.

I agree. Most of them are running on their erstwhile fame. :sadface

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao (Post 5873430)

Ironically, the only thing that lives up to the hype there too is the coffee. The food is passably decent, but nothing worth a visit.

But atleast the chutney is far better than the CTR. I do agree that their coffee is the best of the lot though :)

Was in Bangalore briefly and visited some of the restaurants I had eaten at while growing up in Bangalore.

Nagarjuna Chimney, Jayanagar
Used to like this place a lot several years ago but it was a regrettable decision to go there now.
The Menu has been severely shrunk and there was barely any vegetarian for my mother.
The Chilly Chicken I ordered had the same familiar taste as before but the Andhra Fish curry that my father ordered wasn't good at all. To top it all, the rice, which we presumed came with the fish curry, was billed separately at 170 Rs. No other restaurant in their sane mind chooses to charge 170 Rs for a serving of rice.
Utterly disappointing visit and my last there.

Mother and I chose to walk over to Andra Ruchulu in the vicinity.

Andhra Ruchulu, Jayanagar
The Chicken Biryani and the Andhra Meals met expectations. Nothing to write home about to be honest.
The service certainly is their Achilles heels.

Ranganna Military Hotel.

I had been to Ramanna Military Hotel in Yediyur several years ago. However, I was told Ramanna's brother Ranganna set up his own shop on KR Road.
Father wanted to go there since he seemed to like it.
He went for his favorite Leg Soup and Khaali dosa. I had Dosa and Chicken Fry and I liked it. Very different in flavors.
The chicken Biryani we had after that was good too but it was far too salty for some reason. Bad day at the kitchen perhaps.

Sanman, South-end circle.

Went to Sanman after a run in Cubbon park on a sunday morning. The Masala dosa and Rava dosa were awesome. Up untill this time, MTR's Masala dosa had been the best in my ratings. Sanman beat it now.

Highly recommended.

MTR, Lalbagh

We used to love the Lunch meals in MTR but the last such visit was 15 yrs ago. Chose to take my parents this time around for Nostalgia's sake.
MTR is all about consistency and I just doesn't dissapoint. The taste is still the same over the years and we thoroughly loved the full-course of the meal.
Very heavy though and most don't make it till the end.

Highly recommended.

Sreeraj Lassi Bar, Jayanagar

While Corner house is the quintessential Dessert spot for most, it is Sreeraj Lassi bar for me. The only dessert I ever order there is Mastani Kulfi which is simply amazing !

Highly recommend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjatalli (Post 5873397)

The last time we went to CTR and Veena was almost a year ago when we had family visiting us. The food was only so-so. VB and MTR (the Lalbagh outlet) get crazy crowds but the food is always a let down. Coffee at both places are still decent but not worth the time and effort, if you ask me.

All of the old names have lost something over the decades but the darshinis and new options are nowhere close to the old names. For example - the khara bath at Veena stores is my standard order, which I like. If I want to eat the same anywhere else in Malleswaram, I would probably end up at raghavendra stores. I have tried it out at many darshinis around but nothing comes close to the taste at Veena.
It's all relative OR you can make the argument that I am so accustomed to a certain taste, that nothing else matters.Either ways, I'm still going to enjoy the khara bath at Veena stores :D

Darshinis are struggling to stay alive because Instagram and influencers ensure that footfalls go to Instagramable outlets, thereby concentrating traffic and revenue. This directly impacts quality and taste. 20 years ago, most darshinis served very good dose, vade but today they don't. Even places like paakshala are just about average when it comes to south indian food.

I would rather stand inline for some decent food vs. going to a place that serves mediocre food.

P.S: Growing up eating from all the old Bangalore eateries (especially Veena stores) might have led to this high bar with regards to breakfast food.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjatalli (Post 5873397)

I was mentioning exactly this today to my colleagues who agreed on this - most of the old eateries have lost their shine - MTR, CTR, Veena stores, Vidharthi Bhavan, etc.

This is my view as well. I see this as a result of commoditising food; however, in my view, culinary skill is not something that can be commoditised. Most of these outlets survive on the goodwill created in the past, fleeting footfall, and the false hype created on social media. I have completely stopped going to these places—first, due to the lack of authenticity, and second, because of the crowds. I would much rather visit a less-hyped or roadside cart that appears clean!