Sikander

Ratings

Food 4/10
Ambience 4/10
Service 6/10
Price: Rs. 300

Description

Located at the very top of Garuda Mall and overlooking the Police Grounds on Magarath Road, Sikander is not exactly what you would expect to find in the busy fast food atmosphere of a popular mall. The restaurant is well laid out, tables reasonably well spaced though on a busy Sunday afternoon please do not expect to go there to have a private conversation.

The food is nothing to write home about. The Sunday afternoon buffet is certainly value for money but not exactly the best Indian cuisine available in the city. The buffet consists of starters that are served hot at the table and then a rather limited set of dishes on regular buffet tables. Nothing we tasted made the Anonymous Foodie want to return though a buffet is certainly not the best way to grade a restaurant.

The ambience was a little tacky for what must be a new restaurant. In the unforgiving light of day, the tables were visibly chipped and the upholstery looked tired. The waiters are friendly, helpful and always at hand to get you an extra starter or clear your plates.

Getting There:

Sikander is located on the 5th floor of Garuda Mall just above the food courts. To get to Garuda Mall turn off Residency Road at Bangalore Central and follow the road down till the next intersection. Garuda is hard to miss. Its where the big traffic jam ends. Parking is usually available in the building itself though it might take some time and several trips around the side of the building till you find a spot. They can be contacted at +91 80 4125 2333.

Recommendations

Nothing stands out at the buffet. The menu mentions both Haleem and Raan which are likely to be good.

Ideal For:

A quick lunch if you are hanging around at the mall or dinner before a movie at the Inox. It is better than the noisy crowded self-service counters at the food court – but only just

Kabab Korner

Ratings

Food 7/10
Ambience 0/10
Service 5/10
Price: Rs. 150

Description

Bachelors all around South Bangalore have thrived on Kabab Korner’s efficient take-away for years. The food is tasty and you can rely on the quality. They have a wide selection of Chinese and North Indian dishes on offer and surprisingly offer a tasty chicken burger if you ask for it. The Mutton Birayani is highly recommended as is their entire Chinese menu.

You can visit their kitchens on St. Marks Road but I suggest you don’t. The whole establishment is tiny over-crowded and doesn’t inspire confidence when you look at it. You can get seating at their street-side tables but the noise and pollution of St. Marks Road is not the best ambience for a quiet meal. The waiters will also serve you in your car and will provide you with a makeshift table (a plank of wood that rests on the open window with innovative holes cut out to hold your glass while you eat).

Getting There:

Kabab Korner is located on St. Marks Road diagonally opposite from State Bank of India. Since St. Marks Road is a one way in the most complicated way, you will need to get onto it from the State Bank Circle and head towards Cash Pharmacy. Kabab Korner is immediately on your right. Or you could call them at +91 80 2221 5476. I’d call.

Recommendations

The mutton biriyani is excellent – but they make limited quantities so if you are calling up late in the day there might not be any left. They also have a mean chicken roll.

Ideal For:

Home-delivery or take-away when you are too lazy to cook at home.

Silver Wok

Ratings

Food 7/10
Ambience 4/10
Service 4/10
Price: Rs. 300

Description

Silver Wok is tucked away on a side street off Richmond Road and is easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. Despite its nondescript appearance, it serves some of the best Chinese in Bangalore giving patrons excellent value for money and a wide choice of dishes not otherwise available in other restaurants. The first time I ate bacon wrapped prawns in Bangalore was at this restaurant and even though many other restaurants offer the dish, Silver Wok still makes the best bacon wrapped prawns in the city. All their starters are usually excellent and if I were to pick, I would recommend you try their chicken served with crackling spinach.

On the other hand, the ambience is dull and uninspiring. Most of the restaurant is located in the basement which somehow seems to be constantly under repair leaving just about three cramped tables on the top floor for service. When the basement is not being renovated, there is more space though even then the decor leaves much to be desired. The service is adequate. Not much more than that. The staff know the menu but will not offer any helpful advice. And I always get the impression that they seem to be waiting for me to finish so that they can punch their clock and leave for the day.

Most of the patrons are old timers who know exactly what they have come here to eat. If you are one of that tribe, chances are you are a loyal fan of the restaurant. If you want good food at a reasonable price and are not too fussy about fake plant decor, you will enjoy this place.

Getting There:

Silver Wok is located off Richmond Road near the Lakme Beauty Parlour. Call them at +91 80 2224 2288.

Recommendations

Bacon-wrapped prawns are good but the chicken with crackling spinach is outstanding. For the main course their chicken taro nest and roast pork dishes are worth a try and they have a fine choice of rice and noodle dishes to choose from.

Ideal For:

A quiet dinner with close friends – you don’t need to impress and who will value good food at a reasonable price.

Sunny’s

Ratings:

Food: 8/10
Ambience: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Price: Rs. 800 – 1000 per head

Description:

For over a decade now, Arjun and Vivek have served up the same menu in exactly the same way at their chic recently-renovated-to-look-like-a-New-York- lounge-bar restaurant, Sunny’s. Named after a now dearly departed pooch by the same name who old-timer’s still remember seated in the porch of the restaurant, the restaurant has long been the haunt of the nouveau riche and semi-famous.

As a long time patron of the restaurant, the Anonymous Foodie is a little disappointed with the new look. It obviously works for some people but the moment the owners thought fit to replace the quixotic charm of climbing a treacherous metal stairway to the sunlit top-floor terrace with a gold sequinned bar area on top of the restaurant, something inside the Anonymous Foodie cringed. The outdoor dining area in the New Sunny’s is somewhat spoilt by the noise of traffic and the unwholesome smell of a poorly irrigated sewer just outside the restaurant.

That being said, over a decade down the road and one physical change of location later, the food at Sunny’s is still outstanding. In a city where the Anonymous Foodie can reasonably expect to continue to get good food no more than six months from the date of the soft launch, this is no mean feat. The filet mignon is exquisite and will be prepared to perfection, the chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes almost makes the chicken meat taste appetising (no the Anonymous Foodie doesn’t think very much of chicken), the goat cheese crostini is quite delicious and the parma ham with melon slices is a surprisingly mellow combination.

The waiters are usually courteous and efficient though they sometimes tend to be a bit snooty. Arjun is usually around somewhere in the restaurant and will stop by to recommend a new bottle of wine or just to see how you are doing.

Getting There:

The restaurant is located at Embassy Diamante on Vittal Mallya Road. If you don’t spot it immediately remember it is next to the Shell petrol bunk on Vittal Mallya Road. The Anonymous Foodie recommends that you call ahead (+91 80 2212 0496) and make a reservation – particularly on weekends.

Recommendations:

The Anonymous Foodie always begins his meal at Sunny’s with a portion of Sunny’s salad and tucks into the freshly baked bread with herb butter. Do not forget to keep place for dessert – this restaurant is famous for its delicious desserts.

Ideal For:

Classy dining experience at a hip and happening restaurant.

Kabab Studio

Ratings:

Food: 6/10
Ambience: 6/10
Service: 5/10
Price: Rs. 500/- per head

Description
Tucked away right on top of the roof of the Goldfinch Hotel on Crescent Road in Bangalore, the Kabab Studio is quite a find. It is not what you expect when you get there. The view, the decor and the ambience is a pleasant surprise. Word of this restaurant obviously hasn’t spread far enough as we were seated soon after we arrived even though we had no reservations.

There are just two options for dinner – veg or non-veg. Which took a bit of the fun out of my favourite pre-meal ritual. In general the food is good wholesome North Indian food. The non-veg main course starts with a selection of kababs and is followed by a gravy chicken dish with a selection of rotis and then biriyani. They round things off with a selection of sweets for dessert.

The waiters are courteous and offer to explain how the dishes should be eaten – which was helpful when I was presented with a soft minced cutlet on a oily chapatti with which I had no clue as to what I was to do.

The portions are substantial and you would be well advised to stick to just one round of starters even though the waiters may press you to have more.

Getting There:

The Goldfinch is situated opposite the Race Course on Crescent Road. The hotel has a map with directions on its website.

Recommendations:

I am afraid I don’t have anything in particular. Which is not to say that the food is bad. Its just that I have eaten spectacular kababs and these were not in the same league.

Ideal For:

A meal with hungry friends. Preferably people you know well and don’t have to impress. May work for a romantic dinner – the view is good and the tables far enough apart that you can’t really overhear your neighbours