Hungry in Bangalore: Lunch at Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR)

It took me 5 years, a cracked motorcycle fiberglass cowl and the magic of technology to enjoy the hallowed MTR meal. And one does not simply walk into MTR, one has to go through the arduous task of waiting in serpentine queues which could take up atleast an hour in the crowded portal of MTR. I have tried thrice previously and having exhausted patience had their sandwiches and desserts to satiate my hunger, which were pretty decent. Not worth the wait I decided, this place and Maiyas Jayanagar which are managed by the same family, I wouldn't eat at all.

I had to get a replacement for a part for my motorbike. A fiber glass cowling which wraps around the headlight, useless vanity and over engineering at work, but nevertheless required for a neat looking vehicle. The only place to procure this was JC road. Dusty and extremely confusing with its one way roads and multitudes of auto shops, I spent all noon getting the part and finding a decent service centre to install it for me. I was famished. The Mechanic told me it will take them 2 hours to get to start work on the bike and another 1 to finish. I had to kill 3 hours at a minimum.

Thank god for google maps. The search nearby function showed up Urvashi theatre and MTR. MTR impossible, lets head for the movie - Life of Pi. Looking at the crowds at the theatre I had a better chance at a ticket there than the MTR lunch.

It was 3.30 pm and haven't eaten since 11 am had made me super tired, hungry no more. MTR was the nearest source of nourishment and so sandwiches and ice cream it is. But there was no line at the coupon counter! Note  there are 2 stages of lines, one at the counter the other at the dining hall.

180 Rupees and dining hall waiting 30 mins, I couldnt believe my ears. I was afraid I would lose my appetite by the time I get served. And so I stood in line. 15 minutes later I was sitting in the old style dining hall sharing a table with a couple and their little daughter who weren't interested in small talk.

The fare is typical Kannada Udupi Brahmin style which is light vegetarian and closer to the 'sattvic' principles. Its healthy and when prepared well with the best ingredients is very delicious. Served in several courses, having lived in the south so long and having eaten this particular style of cooking several times, I knew exactly what to expect.

Round one

Steel plates instead of plantain leaves was disappointing but made sense given the ongoing garbage fiasco in Bangalore. And the onslaught begins - round one - puris with potato curry, mint and coconut chutney, crunchy carrot and lentils, thin payasam of coconut milk with cinnamon and cloves and a beans gojju. Great great taste. The food was really fresh and well prepared. Very less oil, simply prepared and everything rightly balanced. Oblivious while eating, I was served a super milk halwa dish I had for the first time, lovely semi caramelized dish of which I had two helpings.

Next came the star of the show - Bisibelle bhaat. This is the second best I have ever had which is a high compliment cause I have had this dish many times before, this here was a masterpiece. Really nice and thick with the correct spice balance - people mess the spice balance badly but this was on the dot. Served with a thin raitha and some crunchy mini papads. This Bisibelle bhaat was the high point of the meal.


Rice Sambar, Rice Rasam followed which were textbook dishes. Usual, but the quality of rice and preparation were top notch.

At this point, people around me were very stuffed. Still the food didnt feel so heavy at all. Louis CK said 'The meal is not over when I'm full. The meal is over when I hate myself'. There is no hating here, just the feeling of contentment.

Almost, I still have to try out their breakfast...

Banjara

Food - Banjara

Bit difficult to write after what has happened in Bombay.

Chandu finally decided to generously host us for lunch for his belated Birthday at Banjara at Jayanagar 4th block after repeated reminders on Sunday 23rd Nov. At 253 INR for the buffet, yeah those 3 rupees are for the toothpicks, we intended to attack the buffet table for every last paise that Chandu paid. Me and Advait know that there is a similar financial ‘correction’ in store at our Birthdays.

Kavita had tipped me off about this place and I have to really appreciate her choice. The décor was surprisingly very good inside. Huge dining hall with capacity to seat almost 250 people comfortably I guess. We were led to a comfy corner by a hostess, waited by a head waiter and served with the usual cutlery and stuff by another guy. Great presentation must say.

After Chandu confirmed his financial situation and the fact that they do take tax saving meal cards, we voted for the buffet. Not a very wide spread, we started with three kinds of salads and pasta salads. But it’s the starters we made a bee line for. The vegetable manchuri ( mind you they call it manchuri intentionally ) , chicken ajwain, peanut chicken and tawa chicken were good. Ok the peanut chicken was great. Almost full, we were determined not to give up at this instant.

Next up main course of some really fancy phulkas made on a unique wire framed roti maker which made for a nice show every time the phulkas went into the flames naked. I went for my healthy compensate of palak paneer, dal fry, spl gujurathi sabzi –actually undhhio ,dakshin fish curry and chicken labadar. Full points for the veggies. But the non vegetarian fare was passable. I didn’t care , it was very difficult eating anything after the starters. I managed to try few more grains of pulao of the rice varieties offered which was pretty decently spiced, just for formality sake.

I strangled the last breath out of my attempt at eating healthy that weekend by the next onslaught. Gulab jamoon, gajar halwa, vanilla mousse, ice cream and some dish I don’t know what to call. I had it all. Gajar halwa was toooooo good. The mousse was excellent. Gulab Jamoon was ok. Ice cream..ho hum. Please call for a fork lift.

How was it? Totally totally worth the money. The extra 3 rupees too.