Your Mallu Toddy Shop Experience Is Available Right Here In Town

If you are a Malayalee there will be days where you dream of a toddy shaap {shop for the uninitiated} experience in Bangalore. There are restaurants that might give you the toddy fare, but I am yet to find a place where you get the Pothichoru (meals wrapped in a leaf) experience. This is where Shaap, the eatery {we checked out the one in Indiranagar}, comes in.

Oh be still my coconut oil-filled heart. The Pothichoru, a banana wrapped meal which consisted of red rice {to the other restaurants who serve white rice. Traitors!!}, Chamandi which is a coconut chutney made with shallots and green chillies, Thoranwhich is the vegetarian accompaniment. Finally the piece de resistance, a lovely deep fried well-flavoured sardine.

If you grew up in Kerala, this is the smell you associate lunchtime with. As children you would land up in the neighbour’s house who would be serving this fish and mostly arm twist your way into a meal. Don’t think that is all you get, there would be sambar (not the sweet version, this one has ample asafoetida). Mooru, simply put the Kerala version of Kadhi, Avial, a mix of vegetables with grounded coconut, and finally to end the meal on a sweet note, Payasam. The Pothichoru also comes with beef {yes, you did not read it wrong }, fish, egg or vegetables. I have tried the fish and beef, they both were spectacular.

Post meal thanks to the fact I stuffed myself, I had the Sulemani Chai which really hit the spot.

I don’t need to say it is for Malayalees as their keen Spidey senses have already zoomed in on this place and there has been ample talks online too. You get the usual Mallu fare as well. But for non-Malayalees who probably thought they tasted it all. Try the Pothichoru, it may not be pretty and it is definitely messy. But, oh, it tastes so good.

Just two words: No toddy.

The food is spicy here, but you can ask them to tone it down for you. I’d also say stick to only the Pothichoru here. Other dishes are pretty standard. And if you want to get yourself a table and a good service, then the best time to visit is around 2pm.

Where: 13th Main Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Doopanahalli, Indiranagar and Basement, 574, 1st A Cross Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, Koramangala and 1010,

Price: INR 600 for two

Contact: 080 41530004

Timings: noon-11pm

Find them on Facebook here.