We know we are late to the party, but we firmly believe that good things happen to those who wait. And after just over a month since it opened, we popped by Bastian Garden City for an afternoon lunch, and good things did happen for us; from the food to the vibe. Set inside a palatial bungalow that's tucked away from the bustling St. Mark's Road, Bastian's space is made up of an expansive hall, an upper floor with balcony seating, and our favourite space — the large al fresco garden seating with trees that have been there since time immemorial. Bangalore's famed weather is back and you know where we'll be to enjoy that while sipping on some breezy cocktails.
Before we talk food, let's talk decor because we are stealing some ideas for our homes. Boho chic is the vibe and the theme — something Sienna Miller would be proud of — and the beige-heavy interiors are interspersed with black patterns throughout with white and taupe adding some contrast. Wicker, feather, and terracotta lend themselves to the decor elements in the form of light fixtures, wall art, and ceramic pieces. The vertical fans and the chandelier in the hall? They give the luxe villa vibes. Oh, and since we went in the afternoon and stayed till almost the golden hour, we couldn't help but marvel at how much natural light was coming indoors — a selfie or full-blown photoshoot, either way, your picture will serve.
Our colleagues at LBB, Mumbai said Bastian's seafood is a must-try, so keeping that in mind, we asked Chef Daniel who played host along with beverage manager Mariki, to send us what he thinks we should try. First to arrive at the table were the Crab Roll, Jalapeno Salmon, and two kinds of bao — Tofu Bao and Crispy Chicken Bao. The Crab Roll was the standout dish for us — crab meat resting on a piquant ponzu sauce that we mopped clean. The menu is largely Asian-inspired with plenty of global influences — something for everyone attitude that we know works well in Bangalore.
Coming back, the Salmon gave tough competition to the Crab Roll with its ceviche poshness and tart-forward flavour. By now, you should realise, we love our ponzu. Of the bao, the surprise pick for us was the tofu version — the soy-garlic flavour worked well with the thecha. The baos themselves were soft. Between all the eating, Mariki got us the sober version of the Cucumber Breeze and a sober cocktail, Berry Delight. Notes of pickled cucumber and the freshness of the drink are why we know we'll ask for both a gin and a sober version of the Breeze. The Berry Delight? Delightful. Animal Prawns and Korean Fried Chicken were also served and we'd pick the Korean over the Animal. We washed it all down with a bespoke sober cocktail that had notes of ginger — something Mariki cooked up based on what we liked.
For mains, we were served Wild Mushroom & Truffle Fried Rice with Singapore Chicken Curry — a no-fuss, proper staple that works. We thought we were done until the chef sent us a double delight of Mango Tres Leches and a Lotus Kunafah Cheesecake. The latter, with plenty of smoke and drama, was our favourite — not too sweet with the berry compote adding nice tartness.
At this point, we were done, and the only thing left for us to do was to grab a few selfies before we made plans to come back to try more of the seafood spread. We have our eyes on Spicy Crab Thermador.
Location: 4, St Mark's Road, Ashok Nagar
Timings: Monday closed, Tuesday-Sunday 12 Noon to 4 PM, and 7 PM to 12 Midnight
Cost For Two: INR 2,000 (without alcohol)
