A weekend back, my wife happened to go out of town on work leaving me scratching my head as to what can be done to spend the weekend effectively. A set of quick calls to my gang followed ensuring an entertaining Saturday evening. Most of us are localites and have been to every watering hole possible in this beautiful city of Mallya's. Our plan was simple - meet up in a pub for the first few hours.. catch up on all happenings (with of course drinks and snacks) and then head away later to a proper dinner (filling , high on quantity and quality but cheap on the wallet) - coz who would appreciate fine dining and small portions once you are floating on cloud 9.
Quick discussions and decision making found us on the way to Noon Wines (also known as Scottish Pub) one of Bangalore's favorites and old haunts. It is rightfully a heritage location now for the city and can be found on St. Marks Road, opposite SBI campus.
For folks who do not know about Noons, there are one of the old establishments where the food and drinks menu rarely changes, place has not expanded (like in forever), quality still tops and of course the mystical legendary sweet home made wine (whose mystery ingredients could put Coca Cola's 7X to shame).
We reached by around 6 30 pm and immediately ordered the standard - 2 rounds of large wine and fries, onion rings, chilly chicken.
First things first... the wine is a modern wonder.. sweet (but not cloyingly sweet), goes down smoothly and then the magic starts.. it is by far one of the most potent drinks that I have consumed but the taste does not let you feel that.. it is the pleasant buzz that you get half way through your first glass (yes.. first glass itself) that has made stories about this place and the drink - stuff of legends (and of course many a brawl..) :-)
The starters ("snakes" as we call them) are equally good - the fries are thick and well seasoned (not the crispy emaciated variety you get in the branded fast food joints), the onion rings are essentially onion bhajjis.. crispy batter coating and thin rings of onions spiced perfectly just explode in your mouth. My experience here is that their chicken is one of their specialties - chilly chicken or chicken manchurian or chicken 65.. perfectly cooked,, tender.. well greased and spiced to an Andhra-ites acceptable levels. Accompanying the snacks is a green looking sauce which is a better companion than the trusted old ketchup... this is made out of fresh mint and coriander and mustard - brilliant flavors that just explode onto your palate.Try the French fries with this sauce rather than the tomato ketchup and you will be shocked. A large glass of wine is around 130 Rs and the snacks average around 60-100 Rs making it an affordable place, with awesome food and a mystical home brew to boot. The place is filled with regulars that give it a nostalgic feeling - so quickly disappearing from rest of Bangalore with the advent of malls, multiplexes and lounge bars.
Once our watering hole session concluded we walked across to Brigade Road (another old haunt) and stopped at Queens on Church Street. For the uninitiated, this place is one of the best North Indian cuisine restaurant in the city. It does look more like a Dhaba but do not let looks fool you..
We were starving and hence the orders flew off our tongue rapidly - Jal Jeera (a local favorite) to quench, a roti basket (butter nans, lasooni kulchas and tandoori rotis), Bhindi (Okra) Masala Fry, Mushroom masala and of course the eternal favorite - Butter Chicken.
The Jal Jeera is a perfect blend of the right spices, iced and refreshing to drink with the crisp Bhoondi floating on the top. All the side dishes were brilliant with the butter chicken being exceptional and the bhindi being crisp and fried to perfection. If at all, I could crib - it would be about the lack of salt in the mushroom masala. The rotis, naans and kulchas were all so soft, warm and could easily be torn with just your thumb and forefinger of one hand. All in All - a massive hog fest with amazing appetizing food and extremely affordable rates. The bill for the above order came to around 800 Rs only and thus ended a good day's hard honest work.
Noon Wines ( Scottish Pub)
Location: 17/12, Vasavi Complex; St Marks Road
Phone: 080-22215002
Wallet Factor: Extremely affordable
Queens
Location: 7, Shringar Shopping Center, Church Street, off Brigade Road
Quick discussions and decision making found us on the way to Noon Wines (also known as Scottish Pub) one of Bangalore's favorites and old haunts. It is rightfully a heritage location now for the city and can be found on St. Marks Road, opposite SBI campus.
For folks who do not know about Noons, there are one of the old establishments where the food and drinks menu rarely changes, place has not expanded (like in forever), quality still tops and of course the mystical legendary sweet home made wine (whose mystery ingredients could put Coca Cola's 7X to shame).
We reached by around 6 30 pm and immediately ordered the standard - 2 rounds of large wine and fries, onion rings, chilly chicken.
The starters ("snakes" as we call them) are equally good - the fries are thick and well seasoned (not the crispy emaciated variety you get in the branded fast food joints), the onion rings are essentially onion bhajjis.. crispy batter coating and thin rings of onions spiced perfectly just explode in your mouth. My experience here is that their chicken is one of their specialties - chilly chicken or chicken manchurian or chicken 65.. perfectly cooked,, tender.. well greased and spiced to an Andhra-ites acceptable levels. Accompanying the snacks is a green looking sauce which is a better companion than the trusted old ketchup... this is made out of fresh mint and coriander and mustard - brilliant flavors that just explode onto your palate.Try the French fries with this sauce rather than the tomato ketchup and you will be shocked. A large glass of wine is around 130 Rs and the snacks average around 60-100 Rs making it an affordable place, with awesome food and a mystical home brew to boot. The place is filled with regulars that give it a nostalgic feeling - so quickly disappearing from rest of Bangalore with the advent of malls, multiplexes and lounge bars.
Once our watering hole session concluded we walked across to Brigade Road (another old haunt) and stopped at Queens on Church Street. For the uninitiated, this place is one of the best North Indian cuisine restaurant in the city. It does look more like a Dhaba but do not let looks fool you..
We were starving and hence the orders flew off our tongue rapidly - Jal Jeera (a local favorite) to quench, a roti basket (butter nans, lasooni kulchas and tandoori rotis), Bhindi (Okra) Masala Fry, Mushroom masala and of course the eternal favorite - Butter Chicken.
Noon Wines ( Scottish Pub)
Location: 17/12, Vasavi Complex; St Marks Road
Phone: 080-22215002
Wallet Factor: Extremely affordable
Queens
Location: 7, Shringar Shopping Center, Church Street, off Brigade Road
Phone: 080-25596361
Wallet Facotr: Affordable, Medium expensive
can't believe how hooked you are to the COKE 7X. You had to put it in there didn't you!!!
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