Cafe Masala
Rated: Good
based on 6 reviews
No.60, 5th Floor, Eva Mall, Brigade Road, Bangalore
41113388, 41118477, 41118466, 41118422
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Mar 26, 2008
Masaledar!
Cafe Masala, part of the BJN Group's plaza at Eva Mall on Brigade Road, is a great restaurant with a focus on North Indian cuisine, a department in which it has really been able to hold its own.
Let's start with the decor; it's very nicely done, with a Bollywood masala theme, and the seating is pretty comfortable. The tables are a bit on the smaller side, but I suppose that helps bring people together! :-) The service was very pleasant and extremely friendly, and this really set the mood for the wonderful meal that followed.
The menu is officially multi-cuisine, with a wide selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches, but there's no doubt that North Indian cuisine holds center stage. I thought Cafe Masala does a really good job of presenting hearty Punjabi and tandoori fare in a vibrant and casual setting. It's pretty reasonably priced, especially considering the quality of the food and the size of the servings. The authentic and flavourful Shorbas cost about Rs. 90. Starters are priced between Rs. 175 and 245, vegetarian main courses will set you back anywhere between Rs. 150 and 200, and the decent variety of breads are between Rs. 35 and 60 apiece. So all in all, it's a pretty competitively priced place. Cocktails are on the pricier side, and be prepared for damages anywhere between Rs. 250 and 350, if you're so inclined.
The food is prepared pretty quickly, and is at your table in a jiffy. In fact, one of my companions had to send her salad back twice because she hadn't worked her way through her shorba yet! Still, that's a good thing; it beats waiting endlessly for your order to come in at any rate!
Now to the food. It's solid and hearty, and will certainly fill you up! The rotis and naans are well done. A special mention must be made of the tender Roomali roti and the superb stuffed kulcha with onion. Two of us split a dal makhani, which was tasty and authentic, and lasted us through the meal. We also ordered aloo gobhi, which was spicy and solid, and a vegetable jalfrezi, which was perhaps the weak point of the meal. That's relative, however, because it was a really filling meal, and we were struggling to finish everything at the end of it. That's always a good thing, in my opinion! My other friend had a Mexican salad, which was also pretty filling thanks to the generous helping of beans and penne.
We were too full for dessert. But if you have room left in your tummy, there's a pretty extensive selection, backed by an attractive display counter. We could have had a post-dinner drink here, given the friendly and laid-back environs, but decided to go upstairs to Vaayu, another BJN establishment that markets itself as a 'sky lounge'. That was an experience in itself, but I suppose that's a story for another day.
So Cafe Masala's a great option for a casual evening out and a tasty and filling North Indian meal. Parking's never an issue at Eva Mall, and there are a number of great bars and lounges in the area to relax in after your meal. This is a pretty spunky and friendly place!