BENGALURU: South Bengaluru is known for its eating joints. The oldest perhaps is Brahimin’s Coffee Bar, set up in January 1965 by Nagesh Adiga. People queue up here for their idli, vada, kesari and kara bath. The oddity is that they don’t make sambar, only chutney. “Even today no one asks for sambar,” says Vishwanath Adiga, who runs the joint. “The chutney is my grandmother Saraswathi’s recipe.” Vasudev Adiga, who runs the famous chain, is also an uncle. Coffee here is still made from a copper filter, for the past 40 years.
Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Restaurant or SLV is famous for its chow-chow bath. Started in 1974, it is run by Ananthapadmanabha Bhat. “Shivarajkumar is a regular customer,” says Gopal, who has been working here for 16 years now. “He has coffee and fruit sandwich (with crushed nuts and cut fruits).”
Congress is not a party alone. It is a mixture of peanuts, curry leaves and asfoetida in Bengaluru’s Brahmin’s Bakery, on DVG Road. If you feel like having sweet, try Sajjappa, made from rawa and coconut, seasoned with sesame seeds. In VB Bakery, there is even a Congress Bun – which is essentially peanut mixture sandwiched between two fluffy buns. Foodies frequent this 60-year-old bakery also for its pumpkin halwa, or dumrot.
A 65-year-old fan whirrs over patrons at Vidyarthi Bhavan. Crisp dosas, lathered with ghee, is what you should try here, besides badam halwas.
Celebrities such as saxophonist Kadri Gopal Nath and violinist Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan pick New Modern Hotel for their lodging during Ramanvavami celebrations. The late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar used to frequent here too.
Located close to Lalbagh West Gate, 45-year-old Kamath Hotel attracts many tourists. Rangappa Pandauranga Kamath started it and now is being run by his son LP Kamath. w