The southern city of Bangalore is fast becoming one of the culinary hot-spots of India. A smorgasbord of cuisines to suit every budget are found throughout the city, but here’s some of our favorite places that serve local cuisine to satiate your tastebuds.
More than a restaurant, Grasshopper is a farm, a design studio and one of the most romantic spots in Bangalore. The brain child of fashion designers Sonali Sattar and Himanshu Dimri, they’ve turned their home into a beautiful space that is both relaxing and inspiring. The food is fresh and innovative, without being pretentious. Try the degustation menu and settle in for an evening of delectable bites tailor made for your taste.
For traditional North Indian vegetarian fare head to Imli. Filled with locals, it can be hard to get a seat but it is well worth the wait. The focus is on hearty home-cooked food, that does have some small variations that will not disappoint. Try the Set Pet Puja that provides you plenty of variety, and wash it all down with an ice-cold lassi. Just try and resist coming back more than once to try out more of the many delicious dishes on offer.
Located in the decadent Leela Palace Hotel, a meal at Jamavar is an experience. Get your palate started with a creamy buttermilk, before diving into the authentic selection of dishes from both North and South India. The surrounds are lavish, with intricately carved screens and tables decorated with floating candles, it’s easy to pretend you’ve been transported to a Rajasthani palace. If you can’t choose, try one of the 4 set menus, that seamlessly blends the different ends of Indian cuisine into a symphony for your taste buds.
Karavalli
Located in the grand Gateway Hotel, Karavalli is a stalwart on the fine dining scene in Bangalore. Its focus is firmly centred on coastal South Indian cuisine, from Goa to Kerala and everything in between. While seafood is the focal point, the cuisine also covers the tastes of the coastal (vegetarian) Brahmins, and the Portuguese influences that inflitrated this coastline for centuries. Request a garden table to take advantage of the magical outdoor atmosphere.
Dum Pukht Jolly Nabobs
The ITC Windsor has gained a reputation for its Awadhi cuisine thanks to this superb restaurant. With slow cooking the preferred method, expect deep, tantalising layered flavours that would make the Moghul emperors proud. It’s impossible to go past the mouth-watering kebabs and fragrant biriyanis. While vegetarians are well-catered for, it’s a carnivores dream. Despite its bold flavours, the ambience is understated and elegant. The restaurant also has one of the best wine lists in the city, so go on, you deserve it.
