Dropped by, last Friday at the Brahmins Coffee Bar, an almost non-descript, small place in the old-timer eatopia zone of Bengaluru, Basavanagudi, after dropping off "la Niña", at her dance class. The place is tucked away in a primarily residential area and is surrounded by homes (not houses). The menu (if you call it so) is only idli, vadē, khara-bhath (upma/uppittuu), kesari-bhath, and coffee/tea/badam-milk. This place was voted sometime back as the best place for idli-coffee by Times of India. Never judge a building by its facade. This place can be missed easily if you aren't attentive, but the crowd around makes you pause. It isn't a sit-and-eat at leisure type of restaurant, however.
And me, being the idli lover, jumped right in, with a couple of idlis with vadē. There is no sambar and it is only chutney, poured over the idli and which tasted different and good. The idlis just melted in the mouth, aided by the chutney and were gone after one more deliberate helping of chutney. [Slurrrp, it was]. The vadē was wonderful. Roasted to crisp perfection and no trace of oil. Went for a small helping of kesari-bhath, stolen from Señora (I am no connoisseur of sweets. I'd rather stick with the khara items.) Snuck inside once again for a khara-bhath, again aided by the reverential chutney. Had to miss the coffee as it would have been the fourth in the day and hence vetoed out by Señora. :-( This itself was so heady.
The idlis cost around Rs.16 for a pair, the vadē Rs. 12 and the kesari/khara bhath Rs.12 for a single helping, higher than a typical darshini, but well worth it. You can take out a parcel as well. They are open for around 4 hours in the morning and then similarly in the evening. If you are in Bengaluru and if you are somewhere near Gandhi Bazaar in Basavanagudi or going close to Shankar Mutt, drop by at the Brahmins Coffee Bar. You'll never be disappointed!
And this post is dedicated to some of the foodies in blogdom like "
Bangalore Blues", whose experiences I have enjoyed reading as much as I try to walk their foodsteps.
12 comments:
RamMmm is hereby banned from writing posts like this as it causes immense anguish to readers like yours truly who live in a part of the world where such experiences are impossible and reminders of such joys of life make them yearn for home !!!
You really should become a food critic - nobody can review idlies like you can :)
im defnitely making sure my appa rides his "la Nina" (me) to this place when im in B'lore (Im already so nostalgic and here you are - 2 continuous b'lore posts)
Today bfast is idly with chutney, so now after reading ur post, iam going to make vade too, and night tiffen kichdi.. :)
Wow! Our very regular adda :) I luvvv this place :)
Thanks so much for the post .. am alll nostalgic nw .. hv to book my tickets to Blr soon :)
@Ramesh-Ok, Ok. I shall make my foodie post frequency, maybe once a fortnight or once a month to cool down tempers. :-D There was another lined up. :) Thanks for that idli compliment. :)
@AJCL-That place is worth it. While you are there, also you can make a short visit around to Vidyarthi Bhavan for masala dosais, then maybe Dwaraka Bhavan (NR colony) for khali dose (set dosai), Thindi Veedhi is close by, MTR a stone's throw (slightly powerful one) from there, Upahara Darshini (the first darshini). Lotsa places and a grumbling stomach. :)
@chennaigirl-kelappunga :-) (All in a day's wopk :-) Hope P doesn't complain) Have a wonderful gourmet evening. :)
@Swaram-ticket begaa book maadi. neevu Malleswaram alvaa? Aaakadey ondhu saari bara baekku. It is a long time since a visit that direction. And see the comments for AJCL, for all the more reason to come down to namma Bengaluru. :-)
My uncle stays in Basavanagudi .. nam aththe mane VVPuram ..thindi beedhi hinde ne :) Missing it all here :(
That is wonderful. I usually go to VB Bakery if I pass by that direction. :-D Now you can try Maiya's in Jayanagar as well. (erstwhile MTR owners' new restaurant)
my turn now ...
"guys ![deep sigh ] "
...was expecting some posts on March 8 :p
:-| You expected some posts on Women's day? At least I don't believe in having a separate day for women for them to be accorded respect. They deserve it every day. Why just single out a day for lip service?
And this post was shunted out on Sunday. :-)
All these non descriptive places gives out the best food and at very reasonable rates.
Yummmm.... Maiya is good. But the ambiance of trying to grab the tall table along the side is not there ;-). I am yet to grab a seat near the Karnataka corner. Next visit, hopefully. But a few photographs would let the rest of us look and feel blessed that we are also eating the same food?
My3
Welcome My3. Photographs while eating food? That is blasphemy. :-) Let me see if I can snap something on my next foodie sojourn.
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