Canteen-Style Dining And Old-School Favourites At The Bangalore Pantry

From Rajma Chawal to Bombay Grill sandwiches, this new bistro in Indiranagar offers comfort food with a twist, all in a canteen-like setting. Say hello to The Bangalore Pantry.

Bhejitabil Chop, Kheema Ghotala

Cold Coffee

 Their spin on regional favourites and iconic dishes from the city.

Sticking to a canteen theme, the eatery has a mix of retro and industrial elements in its decor – think old-fashioned electrical switchboards, filament bulbs and pipes snaking along the ceiling. Done up in white and brown, they have high chairs, long tables and benches, and four-seater tables as well. The folks at The Bangalore Pantry {Anirban Dutta and Roshu, who are city-based IT professionals} have plans to turn the space into a gallery of sorts, as a platform for new and amateur artists.

All-time favourites from across the country like Bombay Omelette, Avial and Dosa, Rajma Chawal, Kulcha Chole and Goan Sausage Pav find a place in the menu here {almost reminiscent of The Bombay Canteen cafe}. We love that they have also included some popular dishes that are quintessential to Bangalore – Khara Bun Congress, Chicken Liver on Toast {recreating the Koshy’s special with Andhra spices} and Patti Mutton Samosa {after Albert Bakery’s samosas}.

Start off with a Cold Coffee, simple and tasting almost like a homemade version. The Bhejitabil Chop {Kolkata-style beetroot cutlet pronounced the Bengali way} was an instant hit with us. Subtly sweet, the cutlet comes with a slightly tangy and piquant kasundi {mustard sauce} and some hung curd to cut down the sharpness of the sauce. For mains, we tried Green Masala Chicken Roast. While we liked the mashed potatoes it came with {flavoured with fried garlic and not the regular creamy kind}, the pot-roasted chicken {prepared in a Goan-style} was nothing exceptional.

We happily tucked into the Kheema Ghotala {a classic from Mumbai’s Iranian cafes} — flavourful minced meat topped with an egg {sunny side up}. Served with pavs slathered with butter, this one makes for a rich, filling meal. Finish up with their Kulfi on a Stick, classic Bowring kulfi with a dash of salted caramel {we didn’t find any saltiness} and praline nuts.

When it’s about giving a new spin on old school dishes, there are bound to be hits and misses. But this one’s worth a try if you’re up for some experimental flavours in your comfort food. Also, they open quite early {by 8am}, making it an ideal spot for a quick breakfast.