Java city - Coffee & Conversations

For all those who really like their coffee, this is the place to be. Move over the other popular & glamorous coffee shops, java city scores over all just by sheer value and place. For all those who know this place, and have been here, they always come back again, n again n again.

For starters, this place is not as glamorous as other colorful places are. Its a simple place with no frills attached. But what really sets this place apart is, the friendliness of the place and coffee. Here the Star is the coffee and one can order is cuppa cappuccino and enjoy it over a conversation with friends without the fear of being asked to move out once your coffee is done. (this happens in some coffee shops)This really is the best factor about java city other than their coffee. For all ye other coffee shops, if i just wanted to have coffee, i would have made it at home, even the colder versions.. but i come to coffee shops for the ambiance and conversations and of course my share of leching.

Espresso and cappuccinos are the hot favorite among people who come to java city. Off late i have also seen people switching over to different teas. The people who serve coffee are warm and friendly and if u go there more than once, will even recognize you and acknowledge you. If one is hungry, there are also food to eat ranging from light snacks to even lunches and dinners. Also in some of the JC branches they play live music in weekends and there are also designer boutiques.

All in all a economic place run by good people and the high light is coffee and conversation. Check it out.. Grab a up. Discuss life.

SLV and the tales of chutney..

SLV is a hot favorite for all those who have stayed in south Bangalore. Most of us at sometime or other have been to this small tucked away and quite unassuming self service restaurant. SLV embodies the essence of the original bengaluru, much before the name change it self.

This small place has quite some branches across south Bangalore, mainly BSK II stg near the BDA park and near JP nagar just to name a few. The food is typical south Indian snacks. But the specialty of this place is the chutney. Its mouth watering and they rightfully so, have a separate counter for second innings chutney batting. Also the specialty of the this place is that you don't get sambhar with your idli, vada or dosa but only loads of tasty chutney.

For the size of this place and the crowd, its surprisingly very clean, actually more clean then some of the other restaurants which are much bigger with place to sit. This place is perfect for the early morning coffee after the walk and may be a quick breakfast and some conversation. Some how at this joint, once you walk in, it takes you back to the olden days where things were much more relaxed and conversations, coffee and art ruled us, unlike IT, deadline and traffic.

All this and tasty chutney and clean ambiance. This is what the humble SLV offers you. Come here with out expectation for a quite nice breakfast and you shall get a little more in bargain. This is the perfect place where you can see, how happiness lies in simple things and in this case - some hot idli and tasty chutney.

Prashanth - The Gowda Delight

For all those who dig there teeth in flesh and still cant get enough and also for all those who swear about quitting meat while u are tearing that chicken meat away to glory, this is the local version of Empires.

Not for the faint hearted and vegetarian, Prashanth is located on Gandhi Bazaar main road. You need to be careful of the imitations and the original prashanth is in the corner of the road, just before roti ghar and its entrance is in a side alley, right next to a shady bar. Now this joint is not a place where you can land up with your girl. This is a strict guys only place and the ambiance is not much to talk about, though basic cleanliness is ensured.

This place is famous for its Mudde (ragi balls) and chicken and mutton curries and kebabs. Mouth watering and done it true Gowda style, these place is a great delight for any non fussy non vegetarian foodie, whose only concern is food. After some ragi balls, mutton chops and some rice and curry, at the end of the meal you are served with rasam (a south indian curry), unlike other places where they serve dessert. This is a hot drink, which helps in digestion. If you are a newcomer to the place, do check the bill once before paying. Not that they cheat, but its good to be careful.

Also be careful of duplication as there are quite a few of other prashanth hotels, but ask for the original. Most of the people you find here are regulars and localites who have known the place for a long time now. And if you are a veggie, im afraid, you are in the wrong place. You belong to the minorities over here.

So calling all ye carnivores, the strong hearted and the food obsessed , pay a visit and its worth every kebab the adventure.

Papa johns - With a Bang

Now the other day we had planned a night out at my friends place who stays at (old)Airport road {"is that how its called now!!!"}. Once everyone got by, we ventured out on (old)airport road near Total Mall to get something to eat for dinner. Now we reached a point where to our right was a new Pizza place called Papa johns and to the right the good old Udupi Darshini.

Immediately there were sides taken and an argument started about where we go. Since these are the times of recession and I being no great fan of pizza as every other pizza place offers the same pizza taste almost, i was not so impressed by this new pizza place. Some how my opposition quoted some of other people's comments he knew and how they has really liked the pizzas here and has asked him to try the place. So reluctantly i followed.

First thing u enter and u notice the people their smiling and greeting you and welcoming inside. OK, a nice start, but then i was more into food then the greetings and only this would not impress me. The menu looked pretty much the same, so i did not take much interest in ordering and left the ordeal to my friends.

First came the garlic bread sticks, soaked in some sauce. Now one bite and i was gunning for the other. Now these were fresh. Then came the pizza. They had given us some pickles and some other add on, what i think was ghee but not sure. One bite and I was hooked. This was fresh, tasty and good. The add ons really blended with the pizza without spoiling the actual taste and actually was something different and good. The first pizza was over too soon. Now I had to convince my friends to order another one. This time we wanted something spicy, naturally we are south Indians.

The second pizza was hot and spicy and probably one of the best pizza's i have had compared to lot of boring dry and the same old pizza's at other joints. Even the bill was not too heavy on the pocket. And again as we left, we had the same people, smiling and wishing us good bye as we walked out, all satisfied.

Hotel Dwaraka - Little known wonder

My latest find has been this little joint tucked away in the southern part of original bengaluru. This place is near NR colony and one would definitely mistake it for just another regular self service hotel (where u stand and eat) if they have not heard about its legend. I also did not know anything about this hotel, though I have stayed most of my life in south Bangalore and hardly 2-3 kms away, until one of my friend took me to this place.

Even as far as the ambiance and the look of the place is considered, its just like any other darshini hotel. There is a distinct Blue board that stands out, but that is when compared to the mundane shops around. But still, one closer look and you will see something different about this hotel. The times that i have been into this hotel, which i do, atleast 4-5 times in a week, the cashier has been very polite. As a matter of fact, he keeps coaxing you to buy coffee/tea after you buy your Dosa or idli.

The specialty of this place is its khali dosa served with unlimited chutney. 2 bucks extra can fetch you some butter and another 2 bucks, potato sabzi. The khali dosa comes hot and soft and really tasty. Even the other snacks here have a authentic South Indian touch with a distinct flavor to it. Also you feel like this place has a history to it, as they have lot of regular customers and certain unspoken way of how things are done here. For ex. the guy serving the food at the counter always refers to people who are ordering again with their first order. Fancy this "ondu Khali dosa, Khara bath tagondavarige".

On certain probing with my friend who took me their and certain other online blogs, i found out this place was with its own history and interesting anecdotes surrounding it. For beginners it was in Bull temple road and then was shifted here and the reason for its shifting has many stories around it.

Whatever the stories are, I would not mind listening to them as long as they are with the Khali dosa served their. Takers anyone?

Blog about Eating, food, hotels, eating joints, savouries & anything edible

This blog is about different eateries in Bangalore, the experience and little known eateries where you get great food.