It's not that there's a shortage of places that serve an all-vegetarian menu in Bangalore, there is however a shortage of places that serve innovative and delicious all-vegetarian dishes. With interesting options such as Biryani Nuggets and Ratatouille Gujiya, Phurr in Jayanagar is bridging that gap. We went one evening for a preview of the space and judging by the crowd and the waiting line, we gathered this few months old space is quite popular. Expectations were high and while we were scanning the menu, the staff brought us an Amuse Bouche. But before we get into explaining the dish, a good point to note here is that the menu is crafted by Chef Sombir with sober cocktails by mixologist Avinash Kapoli (the duo behind places like Soka and Jamming Goat 3.0).
Okay, back to the dish. Presentation-wise it looked like an egg being served in a nest except it's a refreshing combination of coconut milk-mango puree. We'd probably have another round of it. We ordered Jack's Sparrow and the house recommended Citrus Hermit for drinks. The first to arrive was Jack's Sparrow along with the Tandoori Paneer Tacos served in a methi taco. We are not the biggest paneer fans, but this dish worked for us. Soft paneer grilled for that charred flavour and doused in house sauce with the methi taco adding a good twist. While we were waiting for the Ratatouille Gujiya and Biryani Nuggets, we had Jack's Sparrow which featured jackfruit juice, blueberries, and basil foam that added a herby touch to this delightfully sweet drink with hints of tartness.
The gujiya and the nuggets arrived with the gujiya served on a bed of banana chips and with a tangy dip. We were sold on the gujiya, especially when paired with the dip. It was cheesy on the inside too. The biryani nuggets reminded us of arancini with yoghurt raita and the fried onions worked well. We observed that both the dishes were perfect for sharing with the table. The menu largely offers Indian flavours but with a modern interpretation and without being outlandishly random. It keeps the essence of flavours but introduces subtle twists that we came to enjoy.
For mains, our eyes were locked on the Aloor Dum because we love anything from Calcutta and the sound of freshly ground kasundi (mustard) had us drooling. The dish is served with za'atar naan for a difference and guys, we wanted to swim in that curry. The mustard hits you so well without overpowering the spicy, tangy flavours of the potatoes. And you can mop up the entire plate clean with the naan.
We washed down all of that with Citrus Hermit, a guava-citrus-jalapeno water drink that's sweet and spicy and refreshing.
We don't come to this side of town that often but now we have a good reason to come and meet our friends who also happen to live this side of the town.
Location: Jayanagar
Timings: 12 Noon to 4 PM and 7 to 11 PM
Cost For Two: INR 2,000
