I was starting to get desperate for an elite South Indian restaurant – a place where dosa is presented with class. Don’t get me wrong here. I love the busy Darshinis doling out idli vadas, masala dosa, bhajji and hot coffee. However, I was beginning to think I will never sit in a pretty sari, sipping a cocktail in an air conditioned room, decked with swankily romantic dim lights and have south Indian food. It was then that an enthusiastic Veronika recommended Bon South. And so came an excuse for a party and the three of us, Bella, Veronika and I made a booking.
The entry is quite formal. The facade is white and minimalistic. Lighting is classy but the furniture could have been more comfortable. The restaurant has a valet parking. Thank God for that, coz finding a good parking there can take some time.
Service was efficient, but we did sniff loftily when they asked us to move after we had settled down in a corner. The buffet came highly recommended, but we went a la carte. All the sections on the menu i.e., the soups, starters, main course, side dish and dessert are segregated on basis of the place of their origin. You can choose from the four South Indian states – Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Veronika and Bella decided to try out the vegetarian side of the menu, while I chose the meaty section. Veronika ordered a vegetable soup cooked in coconut milk, which was oh so soothing. Bella actually started with a dessert – the akki payasa. She had had a busy day, she said. It had just the right amount of sweetness, and the rice was well cooked. I chose a Kiwi ice tea from the elaborate range of beverages. They had an extensive bar section, which we refrained from exploring, but I have it from my partner that an Asahi beer really tingled his brain.
For starters, I had the Sambar thoppu yerachi – which is a dry mutton dish cooked in sambhar. I loved it. The spice wasn’t too much, retaining the taste of the meat. Bella and Veronika had gobi kempu bezule – cauliflower florets deep fried with a Manglorean masala. We all enjoyed the tricoloured papad with three kinds of chatni that came complimentary. I think I ordered an extra little bowl of tomato chatni.
For main course, I had Kori Gassi, a Manglorean chicken dish, which was in a lovely thick gravy. Veronika and Bella ordered mummidikayi pappu. We ordered neer dosa, plain and egg appams as accompaniments. The neer dosa came wrapped in a plantain leaf. I wasn’t very happy with the egg appams. I preferred the plain ones.
The dessert section was my favourite. I shared a elneeru payasam with Veronika which I regretted dearly because it was phenomenal. Bella ordered a jaggery-based parappu pradhanan. We loved that too. Our bill came up to Rs. 1500.00 for three, the highest I have had to pay for South Indian cuisine. Though the amount served was adequate, it pinched a little. I however, decided to go there again, to explore some more never-heard-of South Indian dishes.
Address: 749, 10th Main, 80 Feet Road, Koramangala 4th Block, Bangalore – 560034
Phone: 080-40543434
Parking: Valet parking
– Jo
3 of Spades 