Exotic eating in Indiranagar, Bangalore

Indiranagar was a quiet, up-scale residential area back in the day when square footage was sold for a pretty package in Defence Colony. CMH Road was the most commercial area with a few chemists, ice-cream parlours, a Bata showroom and the occasional eatery. All that has changed: today the 100 Ft Road and the CMH Road have morphed into a commercial hub of retail- and eating-out activity.

Though there are numerous restaurants in Indiranagar, what stand out are the few speciality restaurants that are scattered all over the locality. The forerunner is Sue’s Palace, situated on the market road, parallel to the CMH Road and is the only restaurant in town to serve West Indian cuisine. The food is authentic and a welcome break from the usual fare. The restaurant is quaint and makes you feel at home as soon as you walk in, as the proprietor is at the door to greet you.

100 Ft, a boutique restaurant, on the 100 Ft Road, is set in a house that has been revamped to make way for a chic dining space. They serve good Mediterranean food and you can sip a glass of wine as you sit out in the garden or lounge in the spacious balcony on the first floor. As you wait for your order to arrive, browse through the boutique that holds everything from candles to shoes.

If authentic Italian cuisine is what you are looking for, head to Little Italy on the 100 Ft Road. The interiors are sleek and contemporary, and the food excellent. However, it would be a trifle disappointing if you love your meat as this is a vegetarian restaurant. Though being vegetarian takes some punch away from the dish, you would be surprised to find that lasagne with tofu doesn’t taste too bad either. Sangria, the lounge bar on the first floor, invites you for an aperitif or two.

At the fag end of the 100 Ft Road, near the post office, is Tangerine. Though the interiors are pretty basic, the food is good and is great value-for-money. Tangerine specialises in sizzlers of every kind, be it fish or paneer.

Last but not the least, for some hearty German fare, try the rooftop café at Max Mueller Bhavan on CMH Road. If you don’t feel like having a full meal, try the desserts that come straight off the oven and are sure to bowl you over.