Reviewed By:
Rajib
1/5/2010 4:09:55 PM
Memories of China - Taj Residency
Bangalore
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This is a restaurant in a starred hotel??!!!!
It was my anniversary, and my wife recommended that we vist Memories of China. So I called up and made a reservation. So far, so good. The nightmare started after I drove in. There was a crowd of foreigners at the portico, so naturally, us Indians are second-class citizens at the place. After a few strong words to the valet parking guys, I finally got one of them to accept the car keys. Once I walked into the restaurant - which resembles a particularly dingy Darshini (I have seen Darshinis which are better), there was no usher at the desk. Here I am standing out there with my wife, with no idea whom to talk to get to a table. Suddenly, an unshaven chap (seriously, at least 3 days' growth of beard on him) walks to us and says - I am not making this up - "What do you want?", with that stupid hand gesture - fingers curled, thumb out, acting as if he is inserting a rod into a hole. Yes, my man, I am here to have dinner. "So what about your reservation?" this unshaven beauty has the nerve to ask - the entire place is empty, you see. Yes, there is a reservation. Fine, can you please take a table by the bathroom? No, I won't. Everything else is reserved. Fine, then unreserve it. After this scintillating repartee, I finally got a table. After the menu card arrives, I order and am informed by ANOTHER bearded beauty that the food will take at least 15 minutes. Yeah, OK. Of course, I KNOW that the food will take at least 30 minutes to arrive and I am not wrong. The food makes its appearance - it is cold and congealed. By this time, I wanted to dunk the entire bowl of noodles on the waiter's head - but was held back by my wife (why do you want to waste the food you will have to pay for, anyway?) In the meantime, we were treated to a spectacle of a couple of foreigners seated at the next table with no less than seven people dancing attendance to them, whereas I had to actually rap my fork against my glass to get a refill of water. At the end of the meal, they roll out a cake, which is very obviously recycled (the top has a hard chocolate coating with Happy Anniversary written on the top and Happy Birthday written at the bottom). One bite, and I know that this cake has been there from the time Nehru made his famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech. The best I could do was send it back. When they roll in with the bill and I pay, I have the decided that the least I can do is not leave a tip. The first bearded beauty runs after me with the bill -- "Saar, saar, you forgot the tip". Huh? well, here goes a 1 rupee coin for you, my man. Of course, getting my car back took another 15 minutes, with a few other Indians shouting at the valet that preferential treatment to foreigners while in India is just not the done thing. Bottomline -- Taj Residency should go beakc to the days of the residency and post a notice "DOGS AND INDIANS NOT ALLOWED". At least, then I would know where I stand.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
1/5/2010 3:48:26 PM
Memories of China - Taj Residency
Bangalore
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This is a restaurant in a starred hotel??!!!!
It was my anniversary, and my wife recommended that we land up at Memories of China. So, I made a reservation. So far, so good.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
8/19/2009 3:55:47 PM
Roomali With a View
Bangalore
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Take a roomal (Handkerchief) with you
... and I had thought that I have seen it all!
About 22 of us from office had landed up at the Roomali with a View in Indiranagar for lunch. Since we were somewhat short of time, and anyway, selecting an a-la-carte menu for 22 people is almost impossible, so the buffet was the default.
Right off the bat, we were informed that there is no starter as part of the buffet. for good measure the manager also informed us snootily that there are no starters at the dinner buffet either. And without our asking for further information, he voluntarily informed us that at such a low price we were lucky that he was serving us food.
OK, thanks for the homilies - now, could we have some kebab platters, please? fine, replied our gracious host - but you have to wait for 15 minutes at least. The stuff needs to be cooked in a tandoor. Fine, we enjoined. And after 15 minutes, stone-cold stuff is served at the table. I called back the manager and asked him whether he was sure that this stuff has just been taken out of the tandoor. His reply was - do you think you know more than me about food? Why do you think we took 15 minutes?
This was the point when we should have got up and walked away. However, a few people in the group wanted to give this restaurant another shot. Ha ha, what a joke! Whatever was there at the buffet was a couple of indeterminate veg gravies (it could have been anything - even broomsticks - who knows), one non-veg gravy (said something like chicken on the card - but no chicken in it), and some kind of pulav.
That's it? Yes, other than the jalebies, which, thankfully, were hot, unlike the kebabs.
The story is not yet over - here comes the roomal part. The next day, almost 15 of us were laid low with a mild case of food poisoning.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
6/6/2009 12:04:00 AM
The Esplanade
Bangalore
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Gourmet Kolkata, with fusion food on the side
This place is a bit difficult to find, what with it's being located bang in the middle of the Koramangala commercial hub. You need to be careful and keep an eye peeled on the left side of the road (the road is a one-way), else you will end up going around half of Koramangala before you reach the road again.
But once you have located The Esplanade and climbed up to the first floor (there is no ground floor seating here), you will be pleasurably surprised by the ambience. The place is done up in a post-modern style, but none of the over-the-top kitsch. The seats are comfortable, the lighting is subdued, but not so low as to make it impossible to see the person you are talking to. The prints of old Kolkata buildings is a nice touch to underscore the roots, and of course, the ubiquititous Satyajit Ray (the mainstay of Bengalis, post-Rabindranath) memorabilia.
The menu card is nothing different from the other fine-dining places in Bangalore. Every item is post-scripted by the ingredients and preparation style. But when you look closely at the hors-de-ouvres, you will realize that chef / owner Shubhankar really means business in trying out confluences of apparently contradictory tastes.
We tried the usual fish rolls (served with spicy mustard), and shrimp wrapped in lotus leaves. We were supposed to eat the leaves as well. Quite obviously, the chef knows his stuff, since the shrimp was equisite.
For the entree, we all gave the Continental a miss, so I will reserve judgement. We tried the baked hilsa, which was quite flavorful - and was deboned to make eating it risk-free. We also had the whole fish cooked in gravy with simple white rice - and rounded it off with the traditional 'luchi-mangsho' (deep-fried refined flour puris and mutton in thick gravy).
Dessert was deep-fried ice-cream, which I had after a considerable time, since this is very difficult to get in Bangalore.
The service was courteous, altough the staff seemed just a little over-eager to please.
Verdict: The a-la-carte is definitely an experience to savour.
Since they have a weekday lunch buffet as well, we tried that on our next visit. To me, the lunch buffet is always THE acid test for a restaurant, since a buffet is always the lowest common denominator. And this is where the whole thing fell off the rails. The serving trays were empty most of the time, the staff didn't bother to replenish the empty trays, and didn't bother to fill our water glass even when we asked for it. The food tasted good (at least whatever was available, which wasn't too much anyway), showing that the kitchen is in good hands, but there is a steep learning curve the floor staff need to overcome. I don't even remember what I ate. The overall attitude of the staff was - "Just eat and leave, don't expect service. That is reserved only for a-la-carte diners."
Verdict: Avoid the buffet at all costs.
Overall, The Esplanade does a good job when it comes to cooking up the exotic stuff, but shouldn't play in the buffet space until the staff learns that today's buffet-hitters might be tomorrow's a-la-carte diners. Lunch buffets are not everyone's cup of tea.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
6/3/2009 4:39:22 PM
More than Parathas
Bangalore
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You do get more than the parathas
Why, oh why, does Bangalore have to pick up a fad and do it to death? First, we had the Chinese, which we did to death with gobi manchurian from darshinis, then we had grilled sandwiches, which we slaughtered by filling with chana masala + cheese, palak paneer + cheese, fruits + cheese. Now it is the turn of Old Delhi food. Very soon, we will have eclectic mixes of god-knows-what, what with a new Delhi food place opening up every once in a while.
OK, now let's go to the review proper. Valet parking is a good idea, since this area of Bangalore is a nightmare when it comes to parking. The keeper of the gates ushered us, with a nice smile, to a corner table on the first floor. Till now, everything looked good. The tables are inlaid with mother-of-pearl designs, soft music is wafting from the speakers. The waiter hands us a menu card, and promptly asks us to place our order. OK, give me a few minutes while I peruse the menu. No problems, says the chap, and disappears.
After a couple of minutes, we are ready to order. But every waiter in the place is refusing eye-contact. So, I actually raise my hand and wave, semaphore style, and the same chappie reluctantly trudges in. OK, I will have a dahi bhalla and a kabab mixed platter. Some beer to go along with it? Nope, I'm driving. I can see his thought process - what a cheapstake. The dahi bhalla comes up to the table in 10 minutes. The kabab platter will take longer, sir, the man intones. No problems, just get it when it is ready. Within 5 minutes, teh platter arrives, and there is not enough space on the table. Can you get it when I ask for it? OK sir (what a cheapo!). After another 5 minutes, I try locating the chappie for my kabab platter. Sir, it will take another 15 minutes. And why? Because we have served it at another table, and we have to get a fresh one made for you (aha, told you so!). Fine, meanwhile, can I order the main course? Not me, sir, you have to order it through another guy - that one (general finger-pointing in a vague direction).
By now, I was getting irritated. So, get me the 'other man in my life' now. OK, and the zephyr departs. No 'other man' for 15 minutes. But yes, he does appear after 15 minutes, sans kabab platter. Are you ready to order? Of course, I was ready to order 15 minutes back. So what, sir? I am here, and I can take your order now. Fine, so get me some Jaipuri parathas, keema kaleja and a mutton biriyani. How about some beer to go with your kababs? I am incredulous by this point - what kababs? I have been waiting for those kababs for the last half-hour. (Disdainful glance - cheapo, can't even afford a beer).
Finally the kabaabs make an appearance. No lemon. Can a get a lemon? Yes, sir. Another 15 minutes, but which time the kabaabs are over, and I am about to blow my top. The lemon appears, along with a smug smile from the waiter (see I told you not to make me run errands!). He sees that the kabaabs are over, and he departs with the lemon slices.
The entree makes an entry after another 15 minutes. How many 15 minutes have passed by now? OK, the food is slightly cold, but tastes good. But I see that we have ordered too much, so can you please pack it? OK, but give us some time. Why? The restaurant is nearly empty - what makes you guys so busy? Anyway, we are stuck with the food, so we can't even move. After another 15 minutes, somebody appears with the bill, and takes the excess food away. The payment is prompt, along with the 10% service charge tagged to the bill. That, I presume, is becuase the service is so bad that nobody tips. Anyway, I scratch out the service charge, tell the management that I am not paying any kind of charge whatsoever for non-existant service, and not to expect a visit from me anytime soon. The packed up food arrives.
As I am exiting the place, the keeper of the gates gives me an enigmatic smile (which looks like a devilish grin by now), and asks how I liked my dinner. I gave him something between a grin and a grunt.
After I reached home, I checked the packed food. Ah, ha, half the food which I sent for packaing has not been put in. So More Than Parathas HAS had the last laugh!
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
3/19/2009 5:32:44 PM
Grill House Restaurant
Bangalore
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Cheap-steak place
OK, oK, could not resist the pun, so stop already and concentrate on the food. This is an absolutely no-frills restaurant, so if you are looking for a la-de-la ambience, forget it. However, if you are a true foodie, then this place is a gastronomic delight. The steaks are succulent, the mashed potatoes could do with a little more seasoning, and the veggies on the side are done properly. Almost unlimited supply of garlic bread (and very good it is too) make it doubly yummy. Be sure to ask for a spot of brown gravy on the side. And the cost is down-to-earth.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
3/19/2009 3:33:41 PM
Ada Hind Ki
Bangalore
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Good joint to grab a lunch
I decided to give this restuarant a try when they SMSed me out of the blue. I was pleasantly surprised by the spread they had for the lunch buffet. The welcome drink (you get a choice of two sherbets) was excellent. The soup was a non-sequiter, but the starters were superb. Try their chaat section - it is crisp and delightful. Coming to the main courses, it is very tasty, albeit slightly on the heavier side in your stomach - but how can you complain? It is North Indian food, after all, cooked in the true North Indian fashion. The dum biriyani was fragrant and lightly flavoured, just the way they do it in the lanes of Old Delhi. The dessert section was the usual mish-mash of creamy, fluffy stuff, gulab jamoon and ice-cream (unfortunately, not much of an imagination has gone into it). The staff is well-trained, pleasant and very responsive, which makes for a great experience in dining. Valet parking is available.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
3/11/2008 2:19:59 PM
Angeethi - Museum Inn
Bangalore
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Punjab da dhaba
This rooftop restaurant has finger-licking, rollicking good food. The dinner a-la-carte is excellent - the chef really knows his Punjabi khana. The lunch buffet is a real value for money - only if you can find a table. It is always jam-packed. Maybe they should raise the prices a bit to lose the college crowd. Their rotis are fantastic, and the biriyanis are good. Try the Amritsari fish, it is to die for. Service is excellent, even in the huge rush. The only complaint is that with the summer approaching, it can be a tad uncomfortable during lunch, but then, it is authentic dhaba food, so one should not complain about the heat - it is all part of the ambiance. Since I am a huge Amitabh fan, the old film posters are a definite plus in my books.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
3/11/2008 12:44:10 PM
Raaga
Bangalore
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Definitely not Rajasthan
Well, they advertise themselves as Rajasthani food and hospitality place. The only comment I will make is that I felt like the Mughals faced with the ire of the Ranas. They have no idea of what Rajasthani food is like - their expectation is that if they add a lot of coriander to a dish and avoid the curry leaves, it becomes Rajasthani food. Yeah, right. I will not recommend this place to anybody looking for true Rajasthani food. An impersonation, yes.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
2/20/2008 5:08:49 PM
H two O
Bangalore
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Just not worth it
I tried the lunch buffet a few weeks ago. The ambiance is unusual, with the tables being fish tanks, and white sofas to complement it. But this is where the good stuff stops. The starters are supposed to be served at the table - however, I had to wait for at least 20 minutes before somebody even materialized to ask what kind of starter I wanted. After a wait of another 20 minutes, a small-sized platter comes in. Beyond that, nothing. And this is supposed to be a buffet. The number of main course items in the buffet is pathetically small, maybe about 6 or 7 items, and that was it. Some cold congealed stuff. There was no dessert to speak of. Bottomline? Avoid like the plague.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
1/24/2008 5:18:51 PM
Sue's Food Place
Bangalore
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Digg dis, maann
OK, bad imitation of Caribbean-speak. Go for the buffet. The veg and non-veg sections are kept separate. The salads are yummy, the main dishes are excellent, and the dessert, though not varied, is as good. And to top it all up, there's Sue - playing the perfect hostess, treating every customer as though s/he is a guest at her home. Ah, the customized touch.... Try the calilou from the veg section - even if you are staunch carnivore like me. Also, try the fish balls which are fried just right, and tend to melt in the mouth the moment you bite into it. The Jamaican jerk chicken is novel, but the majic tends to wear off after some time. But the mutton stew is something to die for. It is cooked with authentic Trinidad spices, and tastes different from anything I have experienced. The other dishes are as good. The only problem is parking - the location is such that it is difficult to find a parking place close to the restaurant. It would be better to book a table and then go - it is always crowded.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
1/24/2008 5:06:02 PM
Bangalore Mandarin
Bangalore
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Not great, not bad
OK, the title sums it all up. The food is good, not exceptional, though the bacon wrapped shrimp starter is done very well. As with all Chinese restaurants worth its name, they tend to go overboard with the oil in the food. The noodles, especially, are soaked with oil. The rest of the stuff is standard fare - nothing to recommend, but nothing to discourage you either. Go in if you are not too discriminating, and you can have a filling lunch/dinner.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
1/24/2008 5:00:20 PM
Naachiyars
Bangalore
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Surprisingly good
One look at the restaurant and you will think this is one of those fast food joints where you will regret eating. Don't go by the looks. Get inside and start ordering - the food is cheap, wholesome, tasty, low-fat and filling. I tried the chicken biriyani, iddiappam, chicken kolambu, mutton chukka, fish fry, dosa till date, and the food has been unifromly good. Service is with a smile, but sometimes a bit delayed because of the rush. I have not had the chance to sample their non-veg thali yet, but based on what I have eaten, it should be good as well. Parking is a bit of a hassle, but there are slots usually available on Haudin Road.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
12/5/2007 3:47:42 PM
Ruby Tuesday
Bangalore
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Good, but not great
The famous All-American chain is now in Bangalore. The menu has been Indianized, as has the portions. The cost is converted from dollars, which means that this is definitely not a place for a quick bite. Taste-wise, it is as good as it is in the US. However, the portions are way smaller than what you would get in the US. Alcoholic beverages are available, although they are on the costlier side as well. Valet parking is available.
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Reviewed By:
Rajib
10/25/2007 9:34:26 AM
Treat Restaurant
Bangalore
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Better for takeaway than dine-in
Treat has two parts - the Chinese and the Indian (North Indian to be precise). The best thing about the Indian part is that the food is not staurated with coriander powder. The kebabs are really good (I recommend the Malai and the Reshmi kebab). They rate an outstanding in the Murg Makhanwala, which is really a must-eat. The mutton dishes are not up to the mark, though. Their roti choice is really good. However, I miss their Kashmiri Dum Aloo, which they have taken off the menu. Seating is quite cramped. Parking is not a problem on 80 ft road.
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