South Indian

The hoardings tempt you. "GRASS"... the name sounds like a vegetarian paradise.. it was a flop show.

Dare not use their washroom/loo-s, especially after eating. The horror of the place might make you lose your lunch/supper.

Nice place, interiors.. Grrreat potential.. these guys (who are running it) are just RUINING it.. :-(

We (spouse & self) were the only 2 people eating there at 10 pm on a Thursday nite.. That pretty much sums up things.

Some lousy movie was on the wall projection cable TV. We requested the waiter to change it to any Eng News channel, the reply came back, All Eng News channel are paid channels and we have not renewed our payments !!

They have pizza in their menu. When we enquired the waiter about it, he said it was a nine inch 'pijja'. Thank you very much !

The prices are very expensive for what they serve. They slap a VAT of 12.5% but it is not mentioned anywhere on the menu. Further there is no Mah. ST/ CST Regn. no. on the bill. God knows where the VAT goes.. (to fund their VAT-69s.. I guess)

Six tiny pieces of mushrooms with two tb-spoonfuls of a gaudy red sauce - The starter - was INR130.. a big flop

I suspect they dump the sauces/ketchups used by the road-side sandwich-wallas inti their gravies.. you get tha unmistakeable (dis)taste in your mouth.

That sums up the experience of "Eggplant-in-Hot-Garlic-Sauce" (INR115). It would have helped if the dish had even traces of garlic.

The steam rice (INR50 per small bowl) was woefully under-cooked.

The tragedy that followed was the Green Thai curry (INR130). It tasted like paint. The texture of the curry was terrible.
The basil leaves were burnt (literally). The curry was loaded with just small pieces of cauliflower and carrots (aaaaarrghh !!)

However hard we tried, pushing the stuff down the throat was becoming a task that was getting more painful by the minute.

(Packing that and giving it away to the needy on the streets would have brought us their curses; not blessings!)

Couple of tables away, the waiting staff were sitting with legs on the chairs, slurping some drinks and noisily gossiping. Every three minutes a staffer comes to your table to ask whether he could remove the plates, even while you were eating !!!

The hotel management is JUST NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. It is amply clear.

Considering that we were the ONLY diners in that hall, they took an AWFULLY long time to serve the food !!!

INRs-525 spent on a flop dinner show.

Maybe my review is based on only their Oriental cuisine. Its a case of first impressio is always the best (here - worst) impression !!

As a rule, We are great supporters of pure veg restaurants; but this one was abominable.

Stay CLEAR of GRASS.

Like the great Ivan Lendl once remarked "Grass is for cows"

As they say, nobody goes to Goa to eat veg food.

But what about pure vegetarians (like the author)?

Research and enquiries threw up the name of Nav-Tara, supposed to be one of the best (?!) for veg southie dishes. We (a gang of 7 comprising 3 senior citizens) went there at 9-00 AM one morning.

At all times, the staff assume that they are doing you a favor. Grumpy and rude.. sample this : we ordered idli. It came ice cold.. believe it or not. When we requested the waiter to get us hot idlis, his response was classic:

" you will get idlis at this temperature only; if you dont want, then don't eat it"

and without even waiting for our response proceeded to lap up the plate of idli on our table. Atrocious !

At 9-00 AM in the morning you get cold idli-s !!

While exiting the place, I approached the manager (I assume so; he was the only staffer wearing a tie !!) who was on the phone, going on and on to his caller about how this particular DVD player has better features, with a remote control that has colorful buttons.. etc.. TOTALLY neglecting a customer who wanted to talk to him DURING THEIR BUSINESS HOURS !!

I prompted.. "Excuse me, Sir.. just a minute, pls"..

He went on and on with his phone talk, looking through me as if I was thin air !!

I prompted again.. "Excuse me, Sir.. just a minute, pls"..

He went on and on with his phone talk, this time je just turned his face away !!!!

I waited for exactly 180 seconds and then barged out.

Visit NavTara, only if you want a perfect way to destroy a simple veg dining experience.

In contrast, there are joints in Bombay which courteously dish out STEAMING hot idlis even at midnite tme.

For all the BUDGET TRAVELLERS to BANGALORE (BENGALOORU)
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Food expenses can range from mega cheap to expensive. I am refering to pure veg south indian stuff.

But Halsur is the mecca for real cheap southie food. Outlets located
along the Old Madras Road are the haven for cheap madrasi veg food. Checkout the roadside shops near the bus stand.. they taste helluva great and are very easy on the pocket.

Filter coffee for INR 5 !! served piping hot over the counter in small steel tumblers.. Forget starbucks.. u cant beat the taste of a hot tumbler of FC !!

Idli-s, Dosa-s, Bhajji-s, Bonda-s.. none of them above INR 20 (USD 0.50)
and the taste is heavenly and they are gentle on your gastric system.

Just tip the staff handling the works inside 2-5 bucks and see the ROYAL treatment meted out to you !!

Never knew chennai had such options....A health restaurant serving sattvic food ....(that which is freshly prepared and served immediately and where the concept of serving reheated food is anathema)...

well wanted to try this place after the excesses of the year ending jamborees. you need to get in early though...at 2.00 pm we were about to be turned away but for some effective bit of calojing by sriram and senthil :-)

We were lead into a house cosmetically converted into a "Kerala tharvadu lookalike" with small rooms leading into one another with seating around functional tables seating 4 -6.

Its a strictly course driven meal...wherein the first item served was a small bowl of sweet pineapple chunks as an appetiser. The next in line was a series of tiny glass bowls filled with pink, white, amber, green liquids...there were a total of 5 in all. We were informed that food would be served as soon as we are done with these healthful cups of vegetable soup, juice, minted buttermilk etc. The next course was 8 varieties of starters ...hope i remember all ...well here goes...there was a banana stem pachadi, mango salad (with the fresh bite of green chillies), a kerala style simply done glistening white pumpkin olan, a flavourful cabbage poriyal, some kind of pulinkari ( veg + dal + spices) side dish, a tomato and coconut based pachidi and i dont remember the other 2...but guess you get the picture .....
what follows is the rest of a traditional south indian meal of 2 dry vegetable dish, rice , sambhar, rasam, moru (buttermilk). Finally for dessert they serve pure honey which they pour into the cup of your palms ... slurping and licking the dripping sweetness of authentic honey was what the meal was all about ....fingerlickin good ;-)

Some trivia about the place...

The food is prepared only in earthen, bronze and copper vessels by specially trained staff. Usage of substances considered an irritant to the system like vinegar, red chilli and sugar, are totally avoided. Pepper, curds and honey are used instead...

while leaving don't miss the natural products counter...selling all natural products like ginger, coriander coffee, honey, palm candy etc...i picked up a packet of Kasthuri manjal...oh the things we do for vanity...(its supposed to be an awesome facepack)

For the kind of place this is, I am amazed at the fan following and the kind of crowd it attracts.

No frills means absolutely no frills. This place defines the term. No frills in food, no frills in service, no great shakes on decor - even the building is a creaky old structure that looks like a hundred years old.

So why does the place attract a lunch crowd of young professionals from the nearby banks and offices?

Let me describe the experience.

First of all, for people who aren't the urban explorer types, it is a little tough locating this place. The regulars just brush you off. "It's opposite Sterling yaar" - is the most concise direction I got. I've never found the place in the first attempt (I always ended up at the wrong place, then try a couple more buildings and watchmen) until my office shifted close by. So here's how - get to Sterling cinema, and walk towards the Cathedral and John Cannon School (in the opposite direction from CST). The second building on the left side of Wallace street is the decripit Apeejay Chambers with many old world offices.

You could go around to the back of the building for a rickety lift ride up to the fourth floor - or take the equally rickety wooden stairs up. If you are in lunch hour - 12.30 to 3.00, simply follow the well-dressed crowd.

Right. Now you are on the fourth floor. See a dining room? No, don't barge in there. You are advised to meet the well-built man on the counter on the left side, and buy a token of Rs 40/- (TR coupons accepted). Then, join the queue.

Modern Hindu Hotel serves eaters in batches. There are two halls, which seat around 12 people each. Only when either of these halls empty out, are you invited in by an old gent. You sit in a chair-table combo, and then it all starts.

You can chose to eat in a steel plate or a plantain leaf. (Shed your north Indian sensibilities and nod for the leaf, man). The quick, mechanical, efficient procession starts as soon as you have sprinkled water on the leaf. First, two katoris (small steel bowls) get plonked (If you like your dal in a katori, ask for an extra) on your table. Sambar (a delicate, yellow type which looks and tastes more like a Gujarati kadhi with cucumber, than the Udipi sambar we are all used to) comes first, followed very quickly by rasam (tangy gravy-soup made of tamarind, dal, tomato) - these are filled in your katoris. Then a curry of the veggies of the day (it was beans + gourd + brinjal once and beans + pumpkin the other), and a creamy but light dal, on your leaf/plate. You could ask for a spoon, but everyone else would be eating with their fingers.

Chapatis follow. Once you are done, rice, dahi and a large papad follow.

That's about it. You could ask for extra helpings of the same stuff which are free of charge. However, chaas, extra papad and sweet (Mysore Pak, usually) are charged separately.

The meal isn't exceptionally rich or heavy. Niether is it made with desi ghee or the finest, most expensive ingredients. But it tastes homely, simple, light and easy on the palate and wallet. No great gastronomic experience. But I go there again and again because it somehow reminds me of a simple time long ago, when you did not have to bother about trans-fats and lifestyle diseases - because they just did not exist. There is much joy in partaking a simple, hot and filling meal.

Modern Hindu Hotel is open for lunch from 12.30 to 3.00 pm and dinner from 7.00 to 9.00 pm.

I dont know how i missed writing about this place since i have been going here quite regularly. Was originally introduced to me by a colleague of mine from Dharwad.

I have always gone there for lunch of Jowar Rotis. What do they serve

- Kalu (legumes), Badnekai (Baingan) curry, Soppu Saru (greens), Raitha : All fantastic
- Unlimited Jowar rotis...hot off the tawa with butter... the focus of the meal
- Red chilly chutney...yum
- Ground nut chutney dry.. .have it with Jowar Rotis. I like to mix this with Curd
- Rice / Sambar / Rasam / Curd : Average
- End it with Banana / Pan

Wallet factor : 60 bucks for the lunch.

Was directed here while looking for quick good food after 10:30 pm. That too by a vegetarian gujju friend!

small place. has three sections. open general section in the middle, and coupla A/c sections on either side.

We ordered the kerala fried prawns to start with. They were just excellent, 8 pieces, medium+ sized. deep fried with only the masala (there was no breading), heads on but rest shelled. crispy, juicy, and the masala was typical kerala style, with a wonderful peppery taste. liked it enough that we ordered a second round.

Then ordered a curry, the steward recommended a Fish Moilly. a coconut based curry(without the coconut flavour overiding anything), medium spicy with a little sweetness, and with loads of karipatta. they served a pomfret with it. the fish was fresh and well cooked.

total value for money, and unassuming. highly recommended. they probably serve chinese and punjabi as well, saw other patrons ordering.

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Small joint with about 5 tables, where you stand and eat. They serve South Indian snacks like idlis, dosas, etc and some dishes like chappatis and paratha with gravy (no vegetables).

Good and afforable food. Best for a quick breakfast or lunch.

Avoid the north indian fare.

The famous Brahmins Coffee Bar.

Go there for Idly - Vada Chutney and coffee. They serve Khara Bath and the other sweet Bath also. Idly & Vada & Coffee are great. I like the Chutney at SLV better.

They are closed during lunch hours. Closed during 11:30 AM - 2:25 PM

Great South Indian joint. Has been around for 20+ years. Excellent Idlis & Chutney. They have rice preparations also. Self service, no seating, small, neat, efficient, crowded joint.