New Delhi: Walk in, and feel like you just arrived at a small village in the interiors of Karnataka. Dried maize hanging off the roof, authentic paper art across the ceiling and the soothing tunes of the tabla and shehnai win your heart the minute you enter carnatic cafe.
Leave the other senses to be overwhelmed by the authentic south Indian spread that they have to offer.
Located in New Friends Colony, Carnatic Cafe draws crowds from all parts of the city. If you are a die-hard fan of south Indian cuisine, this is the place to be. If you haven't tried it yet, then this is a great place to start.
The USP? Home style south Indian food.
I decided to order their best seller, Malleshwaram 18th Cross Dosa, named after a street in one of the oldest parts of Bangalore. The owner of the eatery Pavan Jambagi has his house on 18th Cross of Malleshwaram. With spicy red chutney smeared on and filled with melt-in-the- mouth Aloo Bhaji, this crisp Dosa is served with three different chutneys- a red chatpata tomato chutney, an orange dal chutney and a green coconut chutney which just raise this Dosa to the next level. Oh, and they're so delightfully crisp because they are made in pure ghee.
Next I ordered the Paddu, a popular breakfast item and snack in Karnataka. Made from Dosa batter, these small round balls are seared to crisp perfection in- yup, desi ghee. These Paddus taste quite like spongy soft cheese balls. With 6 Paddus to a plate and chutney and sambhar, you can experience heaven in a bite.
No south Indian meal is complete without an authentic filter coffee. And I mean a perfectly frothy shot of filter coffee. Having just polished off my Paddus and Sambhar, the slight bitter taste of the coffee was just right to refresh my happy tummy and taste buds. Full marks to the knockout coffee!
Carnatic Cafe is run by a trained anthologist from Bengaluru Pavan Jambagi and his north Indian wife with a marketing background Shilpi Bhargava.
Depending on the user's visit, here's a quick look at his report card:
Dishes to try: Malleshwaram 18th Cross Dosa, Paddu, Benne Khali Dosa
Taste: 8.5/10
Value for money: 7/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Meal for two: Rs 600
Address: Carnatic Cafe, Sagar Mall, New Friends Colony Market, New Delhi & Carnatic Cafe, M Block Market, Greater Kailash Part Two, New Delhi
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