Kamat Upachar, Kamanadoddi, NH-7

This is a relatively new restaurant from the Bangalore based Kamat group. It is attached to a Reliance Petroleum outlet. Since Reliance Petroleum outlets do not have as much business as normal ones and this eatery is yet to install its signage on the highway, the crowd was sparse.

I’m sure, given the shortage of restaurants in this stretch and the brand name of the group would ensure more footfalls.

It is not air-conditioned, has ample parking and can seat around 100 + pax. Liquor is not served.

Going For

 + Tasty Masala Dosa – It is the typical Bangalore Masala dosa which has a smattering of chili powder on one side (This is a powder made with red chili, some pulses and at times spiced with a touch of coriander seeds and / or garlic).

 + Ample Parking

 + Adequate seating

 + Prompt service (It had better be, considering only a handful of customers were present.)

Not Going For

 - Limited menu – I would blame this on the fact that this unit is only starting out now.

 - Specialties of the group, being based out of Karnataka, such as Kadubu are missing in the menu.

 - Cold Vada – This could certainly have been avoided.

2 Masala Dosas + 1 Idli Vada + 1 coffee came to around INR 110/-.

Reco – I sure do expect all the negatives, such as the cold vada, the limited menu and the lack of specialty dishes to improve. I’ll definitely visit this place again.

Gloria Jean's Coffee, St. Mark's Road

This is a popular coffee shop chain to which I had been in Australia. There is an outlet on St.Mark’s Road, opposite Bishop Cotton school. The outlet can seat around 40 -50 pax, is air-conditioned and overlooks the road.

The menu is a typical list of different cold and hot coffees, some teas and other hot and cold beverages, sweet and other bakes and some Indian short eats such as samosas.

Going For

 + The coffee – the espresso was quite good – much better than what you get at Coffee Day, as good as what you get at Barista. The cappuccino was good too.

 + The large espresso costs as much as a small shot – which is never the case in either CCD or Barista.

 + Pleasant service

 + Comfortable seating (quite a bit of sofas and couches), although a bit cramped.

 + Credit Cards are accepted – I am specifically mentioning this as a factor going for, since recently I had a tight squeeze at some CCD outlets and McDonald’s.

Not Going For

 - No Wi-fi connectivity

 - Parking may be a problem – if you have a four wheeler since the building may not have adequate parking on weekdays, being a commercial complex. The parking on the road too is not very adequate during peak hours.

 - Apple Pie – Taste was not bad. Had too much of dried grapes (kishmish). The sad part was the stem of the grapes was not removed in some of them. There was too much of powdered sugar on top and the pie just did not come off well onto the fork. The portion was quite good, I should add.

The two coffees and the pie came to around INR 170/-, pretty much in line with Barista.

Reco – Go there for the coffee.

Pelita Nasi Kandar, Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar

PNK serves Malaysian cuisine – which has influences of Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisines. The restaurant can seat in excess of 125 pax, is air-conditioned and seating is across two levels – ground and mezzanine. Liquor is not served as is the case with most stand alone restaurants in Tamil Nadu.

Parking is not available at the restaurant, but sufficient parking facility is available on the road outside.

Going For

 + Excellent Food – The Sotong Goering (Fried squid), and the two meal combos that we ordered – the Fish and the Quail – were both tasty. The meals come with a portion of rice (may not be sufficient if you are very hungry), a gravy of the selected meat, 2 vegetarian dry dishes and a papad. Both the gravy dishes were Tamil Nadu (Chettinad) cuisine influenced.

 + Live Kitchen – while the seating is not any different from any other restaurant, one side of the restaurant is a live kitchen - it is always nice to watch the food being prepared fresh.

 + Menu – The menu is quite exhaustive with a number of dishes of the three main types of cuisine available in Malaysia – right from starters to desserts.

Not Going For

 - Service – Service is a bit slow. Although there are a number of waiters and persons taking orders, the service is quite slow.

 - Noisy – The restaurant is very noisy – like some of the large coffee shops found near colleges.

The three dishes mentioned above cost around INR 350/-. The Fresh lime soda was expensive @ INR 35/- and bottled water is sold at double the list price.

Reco – Must visit. I will certainly go back and try another set of dishes.

McDonald's, India Grage Petrol Bunk, Kasturba Road

No I am not reviewing the food @ Mac's.  This is a 'fast' post for this fast food joint!

-It is the service - I had ordered 2 burgers - a Fillet o Fish and a Chicken Maha Mac.  The time was around 5.45 in the evening on a Friday.  There was not much of a crowd either at the counter or seated, ahving palced orders.  It took at least 5 minutes for the burgers to get delivered at the counter - pretty trady given their reputation of serving up in a minute or so!!

-The other thing is if you are not carrying cash, do not go to McD.  They do not accept cards.

The burgers that cost around INR 130/- were good!