Reviews by allhail
Oct 10, 2008
Ground Floor, Old No. 14/529, New No. 14 , New BEL Road, Bangalore
Awful
Hungry kya? Not for this crap, certainly
This is the Domino's Cunningham Road outlet . They take an hour for home delivery , and the pepperoni pizza still tastes like rubber.
The pizza was supposed to be complimentary , but that doesnt make you less irritated at waiting for ages waiting for a silly pizza that costs 366. A spontaneous evening of watching a fave tv program with a take-out pizza( last time I did this was a year ago ) was doomed before it started , and instead we are all irritable and angry.
And then there are twenty calls back and forth to confirm its complimentary .The delivery boy still waits , he says hes new, and insists we should connect to his office . We cannot get thru. I am beginning to wonder whether I am working for Dominoes by now. And finally he tells us we have to pay the Rs 65 service tax. Then tell us that simpple fact , for the Lords sake , instead of going back and forth to the helpline. Magically , they never picked up the phone after that , although I tried all the lines on their delivery service. I ordered at 756 pm , got the pizza at 855 pm , and as of now, except for one call to Suresh after that. they are not picking up and its 9.36 pm.
Well.
Once long back I said never again when I ordered a crappy pizza from Dominoes. I obviously have forgotten that I had good reason .
Oct 05, 2008
34, Embassy Diamante, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore
Excellent
The Old Reliable- Tried , Tested , Top of the Pops
Sunny's was when and where you grew up to eating at 'real ' restaurants ( that wasn't at a five star hotel) . Whatta place.
Arjun and Vivek have got some great magic going with Sunny's. Let me tell you what makes Sunny's special to me . And a real grown-up restaurant.
How do I love thee , let me count the ways( with apologies to Shri William S )
It's Bangalore. real Bangalore . Not - I-have-come-here -yesterday , and I think Bangalore is a great place to make some money and set up a restaurant. Sorry if that sounds weird !
Its named after their late golden retriever Sunny whose lifesize poster hangs at the back of the restaurant.It breaks my heart everytime I see it , because he was obviously so beloved . What a tribute , though. Sunny's contributes Rs 10 for every meal to CUPA ( an animal shelter) , and you can too. And thats another thing I like.
Raja the sleek but shy community dog who sits at the door , has the perfect doggy life. I have always secretly thought - this is the canine life ! If he is getting anywhere near Sunny's leftovers, the lucky so and so is currently inhabiting doggy heaven on earth !
There is a sunny , light almost weightless air about the place - I love the new location. And there is almost always a great crowd that eats here . A smattering of corporates , foodies, expats and your regular Bangaloreans ( with taste ) .
The bread basket and pesto butter is SUCH a great start to whats going to be a great hour ahead . You break open the warm freshly baked bread , and as the aroma wafts up, you gotta smile.
The ingredients are fresh and top quality - you can see that there is no compromise here .
Arjun or Vivek are almost always there, gently floating around and checking if all in order .
Everything is good. Every single item I have tried has been outstanding . I have never been let down.The chicken with sundried tomatoes, shallots and wine in cream is still my Hot Dish No 1. Yes, I am boring and predictable, sigh. I think the waiter rolls his eyes when he hears the familiar order . The Greek salad and the Bruschetta with Goats cheese is great .They have a good wine selection , and seem to know their stuff. The desserts are fabulous, but after stuffing myself silly , I really cannot drag myself to the that calorific, visually delightful counter . Eat with my eyes perhaps.
It's not that expensive either . I think about Rs 220 - 280 for a main course. But its still the place you treat yourself to , or the place you take a buddy who needs to be spoilt , or if you have an occasion to celebrate.
Once we had ordered a mozarella salad with cherry tomatoes in balsamic dressing . It was great , but as I looked at the savoury remnants on the plate - delicious coal black balsamic vinegar mixed in with the green olive oil and basil , the waiter came to take away my plate . I was rescued by Arjun who passing by snapped ' Please dont take that plate away , just bring on another bread basket so she can mop up the dressing . Thats the best part . ' Thanks Arjun for being a knight in shining armor . The plate stayed . And yes, it was the best part !
One grouse, if one must search -some of the waiters are attentive and polite , but never really there. Its like they are thinking about their other (real) life while doing their day job. If you know what I mean.
So there is the magic of Sunny's and you will why its the perfect place for either a great meal with friends or family or a superb place to take a client or visitor to Bangalore .
The Old Reliable. Said in the nicest possible way, mind you . Never lets you down.
Oct 05, 2008
Near Symphony Madras Bunk Road, Residency Road, Bangalore
Excellent
As Bangalore as you can get ..
Okay, here's the thing. If you grew up in the 80's , Corner House at Residency Road ( below Nagarjuna ) was IT.
Their Cheese Sausage pizza has gone into oblivion as have their famed submarines, but nobody, absolutely nobody can mess with their signature Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Chocolate Fudge. They are certainly variants like the Death by Chocolate , and their famed Peach Melba, but its the Chocolate Fudge that has been a icon , and an unchangingly fabulous one , in the years past . What is so special about this ? One does not describe it . One simply must imbibe.
In some ways Corner House must always remain , in whatever avatar , as the place one grew up with . Its a concept , not a place. A convivial and spirited chat with owner Narayan Rao over the counter is always the icing on the cake. He is the quintessential old Bangaloarean like the rest of us. Loves the city , re invests in it , and reflects its never say die spirit .
Oct 05, 2008
44/1 Residency Road, Residency Road, Bangalore
Good
Distinctively Andhra
Great for 'meals ready' too but in my opinion, simply the best Andhra style Chicken Biryani in town. Notes re kitchen hygiene etc not withstanding , I still return. It helps that have a cast iron stomach and a foodie . Take your hankies or trail some tissue paper , cry your heart out if you must , while smoke billows from your ears , but if you are not vegetarian, a visit to Nagarjuna without having their famed CB ( small/large) is unthinkable.
It comes golden- heaped up on a tiny plate , and is popped on the banana leaf by the attentive waiter . Two katoris of Raita and a hot Yellow Curry accompany this. Mix that into the biryani. They give you a rasam if you ask for it . Ask for the green tamarindy chutmey they normally serve with the ' meals ' , as its a great combo with the biryani. Substantial chicken, flaming chili , and a great combo of simple flavors, you will certainly know what hot food does to your endorphins and metabolism ! You are sweating, tears streaming , you can barely speak , but whew, what a fabulous way to go ! Advice : Order the buttermilk or a diet coke with this straight road to perdition .
I know people who enjoy the Chicken 65 et al , and these side dishes are hothothot , but great . But the core is the famed Chicken Biryani, and thats what takes me back everytime.
Whats with the security guard who gives such a warm salute and personalised welcome as you enter ? It does not quite suit their simple , basic ambience . As its so obviously over the top, I always feel a little sorry for him, and thank him particularly . Otherwise service at the table is very good - and superfast ! Stewards keep a careful eye on traffic, tables and customers .
If you are really good , on your way out, you can even have a chocolate fudge with vanilla ice cream at Corner House on the ground floor .Presuming the belt has a couple of notches that can be opened up .
Oct 05, 2008
Ground Floor, White House, St. Marks Road, Bangalore
Excellent
Eggcellent. Sorry I couldnt resist that one...
Bangalore has another new eatery with personality , it seems. Friends mentioned this interesting new place off St Marks Road and we had planned to go there a couple of Sundays ago for breakfast but couldn’t as it was just too tucked away , and during a rushed chore-filled morning, you wanted something familar..
I looked through the reviews on burrp.com and thought wow, quite a few people seem to have liked it as well as commented on the value for money concept. Moreover , I love eggs. I honestly think I could survive on omelets ! Another reason to go .
So here we are on Sunday at 11 am , trying to find parking on the little by lane off St Marks Road. The building ‘White House’ is visible from the main road , and the attractive board saying Egg Factory tells us we are in the right place . We walk in and discover friends we know – they live close by . They greet a few others who walk in , so I gather this is popular with people in the St Marks/Richmond/Residency Road area.
I like the logo and concept – they have chosen a niche and made the best of it . Spartan interiors, but brisk and businesslike and windows that look out on some greenery. Wooden benches trimmed with iron rail, and bench like tables. The factory like setting also is reflected in the speakers hidden in the sirens. Nice music- upbeat and not too intrusive. Air-conditioning worked- always something that I check out , as I hate to feel warm and sweaty while I eat . The semi open kitchen , where you can see white clad chefs tossing an omelet or two , and racks upon racks of eggs, was nice. I liked the menus – on brown paper like in school , and great fun to read .
Lots of stuff available , starting fro the humble bulls eye, omelets , scrambled eggs, and its infinite variations. Its amazing how much can be done with the humble egg! The scrambled eggs start at Rs. 49 and come with two slices of toasts , butter and jam. VFM for sure . I ordered the tomato and mozzarella bruschetta ( they have 5/6 mini garlic bread pieces ) at Rs 49 , and though a teeny soggy , as I kept it waiting for 10 mts while I finished my simple cheese omelet ( mmm and Rs 59) was terrific. The spouse loved his Akoorie (Rs 59), although he did not like my side swipes at his plate since I made it obvious I liked it too. The Akoorie was neither too runny nor too firm , and with a substantial smacking of ginger . Very good. There are a hundred ways to do the perfect Akoorie, but I liked this one.
The coffee (Rs 29) my husband had was machine made but robust , and great with the scrambled eggs. No demerara sugar though ..I tried the Pink Lady a banana , cherry , almond and yoghurt smoothie at Rs. 49. Good but the bananas should have been more ripe.
Since we wanted to branch out this brunch, we ordered another item each , even though we were quite full . The hot sub ( Rs 79) - with scrambled egg , petiole chili and feta served with a side of cole slaw was good. My zucchini , potato and feta frittata – topped with a spicy cilantro sauce , served with garlic bread was fluffy and fun. Keen as I was on the famed Merry Kings of Windsor as a dessert, I realized I had some limitations on tummy elasticity and reluctantly declined . The two of us paid about Rs. 450 in all.
Yogesh the owner , popped by to our table to chat as he realized we were newbies. We had a pleasant chat , trying to understand his shift into the food business, his choice of cuisine etc. A senior corporate guy who has succumbed to the entrepreneurial bug, he seems to listen very hard to his customers , and is obviously keen to make this work . Me, I think it will .Service is pleasant but thankfully they leave you alone. Its got a good structure , its unfussy , and it has character .I would come back – there are too many items on the menu lying unexplored .
I kind of expected Seinfeld to emerge from the corner with an attendant Kramer and George trailing. I look forward to bumping into them the next time we are here.