If u are fed up with all those masala doasa and filter kapis from dharsinis and sagars in Bangalore, still have an appetite to taste the traditional karanataka cuisines, then try 'Halli Thindi'.
This is a small food joint in near bull temple, basavangudi. They serve all the rural flavours of karnataka : ragi-roti, mangalore bajji, godambi dosa, mangalore idly, sukkina unde, sajjappa.. sound weird!!.. dont decide with the names, each one are really yummy rural dishes..
My personal favorite here is akki-roti (rice roti) and mangalore idly. Akki roti is at is best here, it just melts in to the food pipe along with the butter. Mangalore idly is similar to regular idly but shaped like a 'cup' garnished with coconut oil.
Even the regular rice bath is faboulous here. they have an array of un heard desserts, like 'sajjappa', sukkina unde, 'kobre unde' along with the laddoos and the very own kesari bath.
They have lot of items in their menu, yet to be tried by me.. but every time the sajjipa and their mangalore bajji's never let me discover something new :)
This is a great place for having a fabulous south indian breakfast or for a quick and yummy snack by evening.
I see lot ppl from distant places like jp nagar, btm.. flock here to revive their rural appetite.. of course also to have a dip with their own nostalgias
i just forget to mentions something.. 'halli' means 'village' in kannada.
Halli Thindi @ Bull Temple road
Hotel Prasanth @ Gandhi Bazaar
Are u a non-veggie, are u fed up with all those butter-sixtyfive-manchurian chicken dishes served with thick flour pastes, u r looking for some place where u feed ur self with a traditional liver fry, poti (intestine - குடல்), thala maamisa (தலக்கறி), naati fry (நாட்டுகோழி ப்ரை) stuff.. here u go.. just step in to Prasanth Hotel in gandhibazaar. In the midst of Basvanagudi, with all those fruits/vegetable shops and silk Saree showrooms, is this small clean no frills non-veg hotel. Hotel Prasanth.
you never get any fired rice, macnhurians, chicken 65, naans, kulchas'.. nothing.. just ragimudge, chappati, biriyani and plain rice.. thats it.. the main course menu stops here. :)
I have learnt the ragimudge they serve here tastes heavenly along with nati-kuruma ( Country chicken gravy). Im not a ardent fan of ragi, i have tried it couple of times and had some bad experiences, with my inability to eat it without the mudge getting stuck to my tooth. My north kannadiga friend nearly dives in to the plate once it is served and even he cudnt teach me the expertise way of having ragi-mudge.. so. i nver try it afterwards (these grapes are sour).
I usually start with a couple of chappatis (a decent ones.. no maida, full wheat). The side dish varies with the mood it may be either the plummy liver fry, the spicy poti fry or at times a plain chicken fry. they also serve a good anjal fish fry, though it dont go well with chappati's.
After those chappatis, its the turn of rice.. dont ever spend a second to choose between the mutton/chicken/nati biryani from the menu.. they serve the same rice, with just mixing 3-4 pieces of flesh as per ur choice, so better settle with 'jeera rice' the same biriyani rice without any flesh/bone in it.
The last part is more interesting one in having a complete non veg feast, the piping hot rasam, which they serve as 'complimentary drink'. Its a cute way to finish ur spicy lunch/dinner.
The very peculiar attitude of the waiters i observe here, in this place, similar to that one of those waiters from Velumilitary and amma mess in chennai, they never bring the bill to your table unless the plates are cleared. u finish ur meal, wipe out ur hands in the finger bowl and sit relax with the tooth pick, then arrives the bill, which to ur astonishment is very very low, at least to bangalore's standards. I really love this part, unless u dine in a posh restaurants, it may be those nandhinis/nandhanas or sagars the wiaters use to bug u with 'next sir!' type of questions and once u say 'u r done' they immd flash the bills, even before u finish ur meal. I luv this place for this attitude more than its food :)
mm.. keep in mind, there is one new eatery jsut a couple of building next to this place, which is named 'New Prasanth Hotel', dont ever bother to step in to that place.. its no where near to 'Prasanth Hotel' s standards. there is some mockery going on ter.. i have been fooled once, by trying them. beware!
This place is in the I floor above the silk showroom, they have a very clearn familroom too in the second floor !!
