Maravanthe is often considered one of the most beautiful beach stretches in the country. Close to Kundapur, this scenic region has the ocean on one side and River Suparnika flowing on the other. Needless to say, their cuisine, especially the seafood, is exceptional. A new restaurant right by the Indira Nagar Metro Station, named after the region, aims to bring the cuisine to the city.
We visited Maravanthe on a Monday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to find it crowded. The decor is simple and minimal, and their focus is solely on the food. We started off with a tall glass of Kokum juice to beat the uncharacteristic October heat.
The appetiser section is most impressive, boasting various seafood, poultry, meat and vegetarian preparations. The Sukka is available in options including crab, mussels, prawn, chicken and mutton. One can also choose from crab, fish, squid and chicken Ghee Roast. Other options include Rava fry, Gassi, Tava Fry and the tomato preparation Urval. On our table was the Prawn Sukka, a semi-gravy spicy prawn dish. Piquant but comforting, the spice levels are just right. We also sampled the Baby Potato Ghee Roast — soft and tender potatoes coated with the much-loved Mangalorean masala.
Dive in
Their main course has traditional dishes such as Gassi (a coconut based gravy), Pulimunchi (Kokum spiced gravy) and Kundapur Masala. We opted for their Mangalorean Fish Curry, seer fish in a blend of red chillies and coconut. You can choose from Pundi (rice balls), Kori Roti (thin rice wafers) or Idli as sides. But we felt the fish paired best with the delicate Neer Dosas. The menu, inexplicably, also has a Punjabi section with Naan, Biryani, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chole and a few more generic dishes. However, we strongly suggest you stick to the coastal section.
If, like us, you are indecisive, choose the Maravanthe Meals, vegetarian, fish or chicken. The spread includes red or white rice, Neer Dosa, Sukka Bhaji, Palya, Sambar, Rasam and Curry and is a great way to get a little taste of everything. We ended our lunch with the dessert served with the meal — Ragi Manni, a halwa. Although it did not look that impressive with its grey appearance, our spoons slid right in and we kept going back for more.
Rs.1,200 for two. At Indira Nagar. Details: 49653410
anagha@newindianexpress.com
@anaghzzz