The Fat Chef in Whitefield

I absolutely love it when I enter a new establishment and see that someone has put some thoughts into the decor. I especially liked how the interior of the restaurant has a combination of rock cut walls and perfectly white pillars and beams. I thought it's very modern "Karnatakan". The food is good but nothing with a "wow" factor but I think it has a lot of potential. I'm looking forward to coming back soon.

Menu at the Fat Chef.


Bruchetta with tomatoes and basil, cheese and olive - a very refreshing starter. The bread could be a bit more toasted though.


Beer battered prawns - so very crispy on the bite but light and tender on the inside.


Alfredo with vegetables - considering how it's just vegetables with white sauce, it turned out pretty good. The dish was nicely seasoned and the sauce wasn't sweet like how it is in some places in Bangalore.


Lobster roll - I went to a New England seafood restaurant in NYC with my sister a couple of years ago and I remember feeling guilty because the small sandwich was both so very good and so very expensive. When I saw "lobster roll" on the Fat Chef menu, I had to order it. It wasn't as expensive (Rs240 vs. US$20) but it wasn't quite like the lobster roll I devoured back in NYC. I wish they had used less ketchup (I thought the sweet flavor and pinkness came from ketchup) and no cabbage. The lobster has an opaque color (undercooked, perhaps?) and didn't have much taste. Otherwise, it was a good try.


Pesto chicken and pasta - tender pieces of chicken and fusili drenched in pesto sauce and topped with shredded parmesan cheese.

Overall Ratings:
Po's: 7.5/10
A's: 7/10

Would we return?
Likely.

Address:
No. 5/2A, Jagriti, Ramagondanahall,
Varthur Main Road, Whitefield,
Bangalore

(Attached to the Jagriti Drama Theatre)

Roadtrip

So I heard from the grapevine that the owner of this restaurant used to partner with Herbs and Spice. That totally explains the similarities on both the menus and the tastes of the food served. I used to live around the corner from here, so I'd order an entree or two at least twice a week and I was never disappointed.

It's been over a year since I last came but I still like this place. The atmosphere is very laid back and the owner is super friendly. This has become our default post-yoga restaurant.


Shrimp bisque - a bit thick for my liking but the natural sweetness from the shrimp is unbeatable.


Stuffed mushrooms with more mushrooms, onions and cheese - nothing to write home about but it's not bad. I would rather have it stuffed with something else though, perhaps with some chopped up leeks or fennel?


Salad with sprouts - I liked the different textures in this salad but it wasn't really what I had expected. I can't even recall the name of this salad except I know it's not called sprout salad.


Garlic shrimp - I love this! The combination of garlic, basil, and a hint of tomato makes this dish yummy.

Overall Ratings:
Po's: 7.5/10

Would we return?
Yes, probably after yoga with some yogis.

Address:
1st Main HAL 2nd Stage,
3524/1, Service Road
(next to park, opp Subway)
Bangalore,
Karnataka 560038
Phone:080 41155848

ITC Windsor - The Raj Pavilion

It was midnight by the time we left the Chinnaswamy Stadium (we just watched an IPL cricket match between Bangalore and Hyderabad). There were not a whole lot of 24-hours dining options in Bangalore so we ended up at the ITC Windsor Luxury Hotel’s coffee shop called The Far Pavilion. It's a fancy name for a small coffee shop but this restaurant is covered by glass and has an interior that resembles a botanical garden. It was quite pretty. We ordered from the continental menu (or I'd like to call it "American") but they also have Indian-British and Chinese cuisines.

Chicken sandwich - came with a thin layer of omelet and toasted white bread. The cubes of chicken were tender and wasn't dry. Served with crispy fries and some pickled cauliflowers.


By the time we sat down at the dining table, "A" was drunk and famished so he had to order the biggest entree on the menu. Unfortunately, I think the best thing about this meal was the fried eggs. :-(


Fish & Chips - the best choice of all! The fillets were crispy on the outside but very moist on the inside. Served with wasabi mayonnaise on the side.

In case you're interested, Hyderabad beat Bangalore by 7 wickets. And click here for my IPL cricket experience.

Overall Ratings:

"A"'s: 6.5/10

Po's: 6.5/10

Would we return?

Probably

Address:
25, Windsor Square,
Golf Course Road,
Bangalore 560 052,
Karnataka, India
Tel: (91)(80) 22269898

Spoonful of Sugar

"A" is a little upset that I came here without him. It was a very last minute decision and I didn't even have time to change out of my sweaty gym clothes and the driver (sent by Mama B to pick me and dadi up from home) is already impatiently honking outside at the gate. I've heard so much about this place and even read a superb review about the desserts on the Food Lovers magazine. "A" would have to wait.

Tuscan Chicken Sandwich - this was good! Ok, to be honest, I only took a little bite because Sammie ordered it and I wasn't going to devour the whole sandwich. I'm pretty sure the people at Spoonful of Sugar had coated chicken pieces with sun-dried tomato sauce or some sort of pesto.

Chicken Quiche - the chicken breast chunks were very moist, the quiche wasn't too eggy and the crust actually looks homemade. Needless to say, dadi loved this dish and requested to have her last bite packed in a parcel to be taken home.

Mississipi Mudpie - yum! When I saw this behind the glass window of the refrigerator, it was intact. They must have heated the pie so the chocolate filling would melt and what better way to serve melted chocolate than with custard.

There is not many seatings, maybe a total of 6 tables but it's a cozy and intimate place to hangout with loved ones. Plus, it's always nice when others are indulging along with you.

Follow-up visit with "A"

Sun dried tomato pesto with chicken


Mushroom cheese quiche


Raspberry mascarpone cheesecake


The many dessert choices available here.

Overall Ratings:
Candice's: 8.5/10

Would we return?
For sure!

Address:
421-G, 1st Main Rd, Indira Nagar
Bangalore, Karnataka 560038

(By the way, there are two 1st Main Roads in Indira Nagar. Google Maps might point you to the 1st Main Road next to Domlur, which is wrong. This 1st Main Road is nearer to CMH Road)

Royal Orchid Cafe

Last weekend, I went with "A"'s family to the Karnataka Golf Club for a swim. I won't spend the time complaining about the run-down mold-infested place and their rigid and pretentious behavior but I will let you know that instead of having lunch at the club, we walked across the street to Royal Orchid Cafe for lunch, even though having lunch at the club would have cost us one-third of the price.

The cafe had a wide spread of Indian and western cuisine on the buffet but we went a la carte.

I was as hungry as a wolf after the swim so I ordered a lamb burger, medium-rare. Despite the hunger, the burger wasn't as juicy nor yummy as I had expected it to be. It was sloppy and the meat was dry and bland, despite the added mayonnaise and melted cheese.

"A" ordered the club sandwich that wasn't all bad except the egg layer was overcooked so it was a bit rubbery. The bread were too "toasted" which resulted to a crumbly, messy sandwich.

Overall Ratings:
Candice's: 3/10

Would we return?
Probably not

Address:
1, Golf Avenue, (Adjoining KGA Golf Course),
Airport Road,
Bangalore 560 008,
India