Ebony opens in Whitefield with pan-Indian dishes like Tranquebar Chutney Prawns and Salonee Broccoli

With its regionally diverse dishes and eye for detail for flavours and spices, Ebony is a must-try, especially if in the Whitefield area
Saraswat Brahmin Prawn Curry
Saraswat Brahmin Prawn Curry

Ebony in Barton Centre on MG Road has been an institution in the culinary circuit of Bengaluru since 1993. Over the years, they added Parsi dishes, Mudaliar recipes and Balti cuisine to their menu, making it a truly pan-Indian affair. The restaurant now opens in Whitefield with some new additions. We took a trip to the area on a Friday to check out the new outlet. 

Empire strikes back
With a distinctly colonial decor, the interiors feature wooden furniture and heavy cutlery. A lot of their dishes too have a colonial touch, created by the mixing of European and Indian flavours during the British Empire. The Salonee Broccoli, for example, was chargrilled florets in a saffron and mustard marinade, but topped with a crunchy and nutty crumble, similar to that of a baked European dish. The Tranquebar Chutney Prawns, prawns stuffed with mint and coconut chutney, is a dish inspired by the cuisine of the Danish colony of Tharangambadi in Tamil Nadu. Some of the other starters we sampled were the Crunchy Masala Lotus Root, Shahi Kumbh Galouti and the Patiala Talli Kukkad. 

Lotus root, usually seen in Chinese spices and sauces, was tossed in Chittur chutney podi. The galouti, made of mushrooms, stood out for its smokey notes, while the Kukkad was spicy chicken tikkas soaked in rum. 

North to South
From the mains, we tried the Dilliwale Chole Kulcha. The spicy chickpea curry and the pillowy soft kulchas were a classic combination. A must-try is the Mrs Palekar’s Saraswat Brahmin Fish Curry. Inspired by owner Rajesh Rajaram’s mother-in-law, the tangy gravy is made with kokum and raw mango and is best paired with white rice and kosambari salad.

Do make sure to leave some space for dessert at Ebony, since they offer many delicious choices. The Hyderabadi special, Double Roti Ka Meetha was quite a treat with its layers of rabri and khoya. But the highlight of our meal was the House Special Tender Coconut Souffle. The delicately flavoured dish was topped with cubes of fried banana, which made it a winner.

With its regionally diverse dishes and eye for detail for flavours and spices, Ebony is a must-try, especially if in the Whitefield area.  

Rs. 1,200 for two.
At Varthur Main Road

anagha@newindianexpress.com 
@anaghzzz

Related Stories

No stories found.
Indulgexpress
www.indulgexpress.com