When you are a Foodie, you will visit endless number of restaurants, cafes, pubs, lounges, etc no matter where you live. On my recent visit to the Garden City, my relatives told me about their niece’s restaurant which had opened up a few months ago. When they asked my Mom and me if we wanted to go, we replied “Yes” even without hesitating.
The place is called The Light House and is located at 62, 80 Feet Road, Near MS Ramaiah Hospital, Opposite to Apple Store, Devasandra Village, RMV 2nd Stage, New BEL Road, Bangalore. They open from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM and then again from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. This restaurant serves North Indian, Chinese and Seafood Cuisines.
The restaurant is located on the 1st floor. As you walk up the steps, you can find a sketch of a Light House on the Wall. It is an ideal place to pose for photos! Once you reach the 1st floor, you will be saying WOW as the ambiance is something unique. You can find beautiful, hanging Velakkas, innovative lighting structures, a big Uruli with fish swimming frantically and a small counter with a display of the fish which they serve. This magnificent ambiance can be found in the waiting area. If you visit The Light House, you will have to wait for a few minutes to be seated, because the restaurant is extremely packed. I would recommend calling in advance and making reservations. We went on a Saturday night and could find many families enjoying their meal after a long tiring week. The waiting area has sufficient number of stools decorated with colorful cushions. Please do not miss out on taking a few photos in this place! It comes out really well. On the opposite side, you can find the Wooden Pillars, just like you find in traditional Karnataka and Kerala Houses. It brings a lovely coastal touch to the place!
Within a few minutes, we were greeted by the owner of this wonderful restaurant. Her name is Prathiksha and she is a very bubbly, talkative and sweet person. I did not see her sit for one minute the whole time we were there. She was jumping from one table to the other ensuring the Customers were satisfied with the food, beverages and service. All of a sudden, one can see her at the entrance of the Kitchen checking on the orders to see if they are ready or not. As we were visiting for the first time, she took the time to explain about the dishes which we had asked about. She also suggested a few to try as well.
Regardless of whether you are a Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian, there is something for everyone’s taste buds! The Menu is quite vast with categories like the following: - Beverages such as Juices and Soft Drinks, Salads, Soups, Papad, Breads and Rice. Indian & Chinese Vegetarian/Non Vegetarian Starters, Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian Indian Dishes, Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian Coastal Starters, Seafood Starters and Main Course, Chinese Rice and Noodles in Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. Then there are Indian Breads, Flavored Rice, and Raitas. Finally, the sweetest categories in the whole menu are none other than the Desserts, Ice Cream and Milkshakes. Do you feel hungry yet??? We were seated at Table 16 and on the wall opposite to us was a huge shelf of traditional brass items that you would have seen in your ancestral homes. It was so pretty!
You must be anxious to know what all we ordered! So here is the long list!
1. Beverage: - Solkadhi – This is the most favored drink at The Light House. My uncle, aunt and cousin ordered this. It was served in a small glass bottle. The color of the Solkadhi was dark pink. I took a small sip as I wanted to know what it tasted like. It tasted good and can be drunk by itself or along with your meal. I heard Solkadhi is good for digestion.
2. Beverage: - Fresh Lime Soda – My mom and I ordered for Fresh Lime Soda – one sweet and one with salt. This was very refreshing and cold. We always order this beverage when we eat food will be extremely heavy on the stomach. Had read the review about their Fresh Lime Soda on Zomato and thought that we should try it out too. Glad it met up to our expectations!
3. Appetizer: - Chinese Bhel – I had heard about this dish from many of my friends who have eaten it at many restaurants or even road side eateries, but I had never ventured into it not knowing how it would taste. When the waiter placed the dish on the table, we were ready to dig in and have a bite. The quantity was massive. Since there were 5 of us, we could easily divide it among ourselves. The crispy fried noodles which are used as a garnish in Chinese Soups were used to make this dish. The noodles had been mixed with Onions, Capsicum and Green Onions and coated with a tangy and spicy sauce. There were also a few slices of Capsicum and tiny bunches of Coriander Leaves on top to add more beauty to this colorful dish. The dish is packed with lots of flavors, so I would highly recommend it if you love Chaats and Spicy Food.
4. Appetizer: - Chicken Urval – My Uncle and Cousin are very fond of Non Vegetarian food. Therefore, one of the appetizers that were ordered especially for them was the Chicken Urval. There was sufficient number of pieces and ideal for two people to share. The chicken pieces were generously glazed with the thick ground masala. There were curry leaves and red chillies for garnishing. I heard it tasted good and the spice level was not too high.
5. Appetizer: - Mangalore Potato - When we were browsing through the Menu, this name caught our eye especially since it has the word “Mangalore” in it. The dish comprises of Baby Potatoes which have been tossed in a rich masala and tempered with the usual mustard seeds and curry leaves. What added the charm to this dish were the tiny pieces of garlic which were hiding behind the masala. It tasted mind-blowing! When Prathiksha described the dish to us, our mouth started watering and we could not wait to eat it! Within a few minutes, the waiter brought the dish to the table. We guessed it might be a spicy dish as the color of the masala was Bright Red! I took a small piece as I wasn’t sure how spicy it would be and started chewing. After a few seconds, I realized that it was not at all spicy, but full of fabulous flavors. Since the food was kept directly on the banana leaf, and then on the plate, it made such a big difference in the taste. Mangalore Potato was finger licking good. We liked it so much, and thought of ordering another plate, but we saved our appetite for the other dishes which were in the pipeline.
6. Appetizer: - Neer Dosa: - There is something special about the Neer Dosas which are prepared in restaurants. They taste much much better than what you make at home. It might be the measurement, the quality of the Dosa rice that they use, the method of grinding or how they take the Dosa on the tawa. We ordered one plate which consisted of 4 pieces. They felt light and the texture was so thin. One bite made us say YUMMY! The best part was when we ate it with the Mangalore Potato. It was so delicious, that we ordered another plate just to polish it off with the Mangalore Potato. What an awesome combination! Do not miss it!!
7. Appetizer: - Crab Sukka: - My cousin is a Foodie like me. He can order endless amount of dishes, and do justice by ensuring that not one piece or crumb is left. So when he ordered a plate of Crab Sukka, I felt so happy watching him eat it slowly and carefully. There was so much of masala coating each and every piece. The masala was semi spicy, while the crab was succulent. Since he had a little bit of masala left over, he decided to wipe the plate clean by eating it with the Neer Dosa.
8. Appetizer: - Prawns Ghee Roast: - Another very popular dish in the Coastal Category is Prawns Ghee Roast. Juicy pieces of well cooked Prawns that have been smothered with the Ghee Roast Masala in every nook and corner. When you see this dish, you will see more of the Masala than the Prawns! The taste of the Ghee Roast Masala is similar to what you get in the Coastal Region. I was told that it tasted significantly spicy. You can choose to eat the Prawns Ghee Roast by itself, or along with the pillow soft Neer Dosas!
9. Main Course: - Mungtaj – This is the name of the Subzi which my Mom, Aunt and I ordered. First and foremost, this Vegetarian Gravy is not made of Mung. The Gravy was full of Vegetables and also had a few cubes of Paneer nestled in between all the tomato based masala. The dish had been put together with the aromatic spices and though it was a North Indian Subzi, there were not layers of oil floating at the top. The quantity was perfect for the 5 of us. We had to pack the leftovers as we could not finish it.
10. Bread: England Naan – The first Bread we had ordered was England Naan. I need to check why they have named it like this. The size of the Naan was gigantic. It was not at all oily either. When I tore a small piece of it, I could feel the softness of the Naan in between my fingers. When I dunked it in the gravy and took a bite, I felt like I was flying in the air! What a magnificent combination of the unique gravy, Mungtaj and the bread, England Naan. You will definitely feel like ROYALTY after eating this dish!
11. Bread: - Hari Mirch Ki Roti – The Roti was made of Wheat Flour and there were slices of green chillies decorated on the top. My Mom really loved this Roti as relishes spicy food. She told me that the Chillies were bursting with flavor. Thanks to the mildness of the Mungtaj gravy, Hari Mirch Ki Roti complemented the dish perfectly!
12. Main Course: - Fish Biryani – Prathiksha suggested this dish for my Uncle and Cousin. Once again, the quantity was colossal. The Chef had made the Biryani using Basmati Rice which was tender and well done. The fish was smooth and had been cut in medium size pieces. They had been tossed along with the spices and layered evening with the Rice. The Fried Onions and Coriander Leaves adorned the Fish Biryani making it look richer. There was a cute bowl of Raita which was served on the side. I happened to be a fan of Raita, so took a spoonful and ate it along with the Mungtaj and England Naan. It cooled down my stomach as it was already full with Masala and Spices!
13. Dessert: - No meal is complete without Dessert, but since our stomach was satiated from all the mouthwatering Appetizers, Breads and Main Course, we decided to keep something for next time. One of the desserts that is very much in demand is Ragi Manni. Please make a mental note to order this during your visit!
Once we finished eating, we sat back and relaxed because our stomach was filled to the brim! During our visit that evening, I could see that all the tables were full of customers. When one group vacated their seats, another group was eagerly waiting to take theirs. Be prepared to wait as the restaurant will be extremely crowded. Not only do they have a massive crowd for Dinner, but it applies to lunch time as well. This is probably because they serve Thalis in the afternoon catering to the needs of both Vegetarians and Non Vegetarians.
When it comes to the Service, I have to give a 5/5. Not one of our dishes was delayed nor was it served unappealingly. The waiters are well mannered, they serve the portions in a neat and clean manner and ensure that if we are done eating, they come and take the plates, utensils and glasses instead of us asking them to. The waiters are very alert and no matter how many customers there are, they are able to handle any crowd without any goof ups.
I would rate the food a 5/5. We loved all the dishes. It was different from the usual cuisine that we are used to eating. Too bad I do not live in Bengaluru, or else I would be visiting The Light House quite often.
I have already described the Ambiance which is also a 5/5.
If you have not visited The Light House, then what are you waiting for? Head down to this hip and happening place and gorge on the dishes till you cannot eat anymore!
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