You Have To Stop At Maddur Tiffanys For Car Service, Vadas And Coffee En Route Mysore

There may be many potential pit stops on the way to Mysore, but if you want to go old-school darshini, Maddur Tiffany’s is your best best.

It started out as a tiny little highway darshini in Mandya, with a thatched roof, a few plastic tables and chairs on the right side of the road, if you’re going to Mysore, and conveniently on the left if you’re returning to Bangalore. Slowly, it grew into a little hall filled with tables and chairs. But the highlight was being served in your car — quick, easy and cuts down time, so you can refuel {your tummy, not the vehicle} and be on your way. They’re best known for their Maddur vadas {Mandya is where these sinful treats were first made}, typical filter kaapi, and strangely, puri bhaji. Such is the fame of Maddur Tiffanys that actor Ramya, Upendra and even Arshad Warsi have visited.

Anyone passing Mandya will do well to break journey here. Open through the day, breakfast and tea time is very crowded, but service is quick. It’s great if you’re looking for a filling meal on your journey. It’s even better now that they have opened up restaurants on both sides of the highway — no need to take awkward U-turns. Plus, clean toilets and a few local souvenier shops make it good for outside travellers to pick up some knick knacks too.

The side on the left en route Mysore is the newer one. Larger, cleaner and with ample parking space, it’s got a section with tables and chairs if you want an elaborate meal. For the splash-and-dash lot, just hover around tall tables, share with fellow travellers, and gobble, gulp and go. On the other side, car service is still available, and the old thatched roof and stone structure still remains. It’s still more crowed and popular!

Maddur vadas with chutney, puri bhaji {though drenched in oil}, idli-vada dunked in sambar, and of course, filter coffee in a steel tumbler. A coconut water seller lurks around too, so in the summer, that might be more preferable to a hot drink.

A frequent traveller on this highway { up to 20 times a year sometimes}, I won’t stop anywhere but here. Breakfast on the way out of Bangalore, and vadas with coffee on the return. Don’t expect the place to be a fancy stop, it’s not. It’s just good South Indian food. Plus, you get to eat the historic vadas where there were first invented. Service is quick, competent and they don’t encourage you to hang around. Not because they’re unfriendly, but because the traffic jam caused by waiting cars, isn’t good news for highway cops.

If you need to park your car, best go to the newer restaurant. It’s got more space.