From the wooden tables and colonial chairs to the steel plates — everything about Bob’s is reminiscent of a bygone era. The menu, an extension of this idea, opens with an introduction that reads, “And this is your bar — a little tribute to what Bangalore once was.”
On recommendation from friends, we made our way to Bob’s on a weekday afternoon. To our surprise, it was crowded for a working day. We started by placing an order for Sea Fish Fry, Kappa Podimas and ‘Mascarenhas’ Beef Roast.
Steady start
The sea fish fry was seer fish coated with rawa masala and deep fried. The slices were large, but the slightly bland rawa coating didn’t impress us much. The beef roast, on the other hand, was just perfect. Spicy tender beef cubes roasted with minced garlic were juicy and succulent. The kappa (tapioca) fried with moong dal and grated coconut was a tad bit dry, but the combined flavours of turmeric and coconut blended well.
With the starters, instead of the usual cocktails, we tried the Kokum Crush and Raw Mango Punch. Both these beverages were refreshing.
Tangy treats
For mains, we tried the Amma’s Tamarind Baingan, Udupi Prawn Curry and Paal Katti Ghee Roast, accompanied with ghee rice, Coconut Kadubu Idli and Proudly Donne Biryani (vegetarian). The tamarind baingan (aubergine) was the best of all the curries. The sweet and sour sauce just made the aubergine all the more delicious. We recommend you try this with a Ceylon Paratha or Malabar Parotha.
The prawn dish, is a home-made red curry with coconut and tamarind as the primary ingredients. This qualifies as comfort food with ghee rice for its familiar, home style flavours. The Paal Katti Ghee is paneer fried in ghee with Byadagi chilli paste. Byadagi chillis are known to be extremely hot and spicy and this dish stands as a testament.
But the richness of the ghee balances the spiciness. The vegetarian version of the famous Donne Biryani is worth a try. We also recommend the steamed kadabu idli for its subtle cardamom and coconut flavour that pairs well with any spicy curry.
Caffeine fix
From the desserts section, we reccomend the Filter Coffee Cheesecake. Airy and creamy, this cheesecake is a must-try. Three slices are served on a crunchy rose cookie. The contrasting textures with the strong essence of coffee impressed us.
The best thing about Bob’s is all its dishes are available in half portions as well. Despite having an elaborate menu, the prices will not burn a hole in your pocket. So next time you are in Indira Nagar, do drop by at Bob’s to revisit a piece of old Bangalore.
Rs 1,000 for two. At Indira Nagar
ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
@aishatax