burrp! Stats
- 9 Reviews
- 9 First to review
- 10 Places Added
- Been to 9 Places
- Burrping since Jan 26, 2007
- Burrping fromJP Nagar, Bangalore
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- Artist
Reviews by r_revola
Aug 18, 2007
Opp. Prestige Tech Park, Sarjapur, Marathalli Outer Ring Road, Bangalore
Rated: Good
Unwind in the suburbs at Ivy
Tucked away from the busy Marathalli road, Ivy is like an oasis in that grubby landscape. After passing dusty construction sites and vacant plots on the windy ring road, we were delighted to step into this resort-style restaurant. Decked with gazebos, sandy floors and a lagoon pool it is both stylish and casual.
Their tagline, "the unwind island", is justified as they have everything from beach volleyball to fooseball. If you go there on a weekend you get crowds of IT guys in various states of unwind, but if you go on a weekday you could take advantage of the "player's lounge" with the pool tables and other cool stuff without having to jostle for space.
We chose to go there on an event night and needless to say it was packed to the brim. The crowd was eclectic and buffet was delicious, even if it was the usual panner masala, dal and tandoor fare (with the suprise addition of hyderabadi jaffrani pulao).
The open courtyard with the gazebos is the best option. You could sit in the gazebos on comfy cushions or sit under the sun or stars on the wooden benches. If you want to party, there's the lounge which you enter through a dramatic cave-like entrance. I didn't go in but i hear it is very chic.
The central gazebo functions as the bar (many exotic cocktails on offer) and it's surrounded by the lagoon pool that snakes through the entire courtyard. I was hoping to sit in one of the reclining chairs near the bar counter, but they were all taken up by the "fashion crowd" (spotted a guy with a cowboy hat and a cigar) There was a fashion show happening that night and they actually fixed a glass bridge on the pool to create the runway!
Space is such a luxury in any city restaurant, but here you get to stroll around and find your own nook to relax. The atmosphere was such that we ended up striking a conversation with the people at the next table and ended up being to their home for lunch!
The interesting thing about Ivy is that it is the backyard of a very chic and wi-fi hotel of the same name. They obviously cater to the executives who would be visiting the surrounding tech parks and regularly play host to business banquets and seminars.
If you find the place too unweildly, relax, Ivy has special "packages" to make sense of their many offerings - package 01: Pay Rs.699 for the Sunday Brunch (11:30 am t0 4:30 pm) and you get to play beach volleyball, swim in the pool, use the gym and players lounge and top it all off with unlimited drinks and a lavish buffet. If that isn't value for money, i don't know what is.
Package 03: Rent the largest dance floor in Bangalore for a private party. Price on enquiry.
The place is also a stone's throw from Innovative Multiplex so my package would be something like this: catch a movie, have dinner at Ivy and then later, if you have a sweet tooth, bite into the yummy stuff at Baskin Robbins that's in the same compound and drive home with the wind in your hair...
Mar 21, 2007
Terrace, # 50, 4th Floor, Golden Tower, Residency Road, Bangalore
Rated: Good
Most Happening Nightspot!
The newest hip hangout to see and be seen at, Nyx is a 15000 sft mediterranean nightclub with an al fresco lounge, an enclosed discotheque, a private dining area, a bed bar and a mini-spa. What more could Bangalore's PYTs ask for!
We sat at the outdoor lounge under a star-lit saturday sky...
The decor everywhere is stunning, but the perforated lights made with tall bamboo deserve special mention.
Chunky crystal bead curtains and loungy garden furniture set the mood in the outdoor area, while textured walls, opulent drapes, plush seating and a high ceiling are the highlights of the private dining area.
We had flavored martinis and tried out an array of starters.
The food is very high quality and varied - they have a Persian menu (Sufi) as well as a Mediterranean one (Med). The Morrocan Chicken and the Penne Arabiata, with a strong hint of basil, were my favorites.
The Dance floor is quite another story. It's packed to the brim with teens and adults alike and is only for the early birds and the adventurous. If you can manouever through the crowd you're in for some good House, played by a chatty DJ. I recenlty read somewhere, "The DJs at Nyx are known for teasingly accurate mixing and flirtatious crowd control." That really sums it up.
On weekends, be prepared to encounter a large bustling crowd that stands around in the al fresco lounge as well. Get there early, say 8:15, and you'll get prime seats.
Nyx, supposedly name after the goddess of night (in Greek myth), is a treat for the senses and the palate. So go ahead and head out for a "group hang". Order Nachos with your drink and give fatty French Fries a miss!
Feb 24, 2007
Avalahalli, Anjanapura Post, Off Kanakpura Road, JP Nagar, Bangalore
Rated: Excellent
Weekend Restaurant
Drove down to Tamarind tree yesterday to attend a friend's wedding reception and was pleasantly surprised to discover this unique weekend hangout. It's set in a 2-acre plot and has been meticulously done up by Venkataram Reddy, the owner. He is an antique buff - all the structural features, like wooden pillars, wrought iron columns, stone statues have been sourced from old South Indian village homes that were being demolished.
You enter the "lobby" to see a giant 4 ft high stone mortar that is now used as an urn for rose petals. Soon after that you discover the huge fish pond surrounded by ancient trees. This circular pond has stone steps leading into it and they were lit up with rope lights to create a beautiful setting.
Tamarind Tree is an outdoorsy place for private parties, weddings, wedding receptions.
They specialize in Andhra and Italian, but you could ask for a customised menu. Our friend had asked for Kerala cuisine and the food was simply amazing. The food had a distinct homemade charm to it. We washed our hands under a tree, with a copper pot, picked up a plate from Reddy's collection and tucked in. We started with cheese balls and paneer tikka that were prepared at the live tandoor grill; then we moved to the buffet where they had appams, tomato rice, bindi raita, beetroot chutney (cubes of
boiled beetroot floating in beetroot sauce) and kerala fish curry. Dessert was fruit treacle.
Sitting at the table by the fish pond we felt like we were at a friend's farmhouse because the ambience was casual, yet hospitable. I don't remember the last time I went out to dinner and looked up at the sky to see the stars and the moon - Tamarind Tree gives you a complete "experience" with it's decor, food and service. Stone elephants, stone nandi bulls and even stone snakes are littered thoughout the place. The
furniture is also antique South Indian and so are the ceramic salt and pepper shakers!
Must visit with a group of friends. You reserve in advance and if you are a group of 20, you get to pick the food. If you are a small group of 4-6, then you are served whatever the other larger group is having that day. It's not open on weekdays unless there's a party.
They recently extended the place and have added a bigger party area - the main feature here is the grand gazebo, which we were told could be used as a 'mantap'. Set in a lawn, this space has two covered verandahs on either side for additional seating.
Feb 19, 2007
#73, M G Road, Next to Gangarams, Bangalore
Rated: Average
New place on M G Road
Last friday, we were walking past Gangarams at lunchtime and discovered Emgee's - the new all-veg restaurant. We were actually heading to FoodWorld for a quick bite, but Emgee'swas just the thing we needed. It's ideal for a quick lunch in a clean and relatively quiet environment.
Emgee's is sort of an alternative to Woody's and mall food if you are a regular shopper on Commercial st. or M.G.Rd.
They have the ubiquious "Chinese", Indian (north, south, chats, juices) and a bit of the Continental (read sandwiches).
We had a basic lunch - aloo paratha with a bowl of curd. I was delighted that the aloo paratha had absolutely no oil oozing out (I'm into low cal). Their tagline - 'Veggie Veggie Healthy' - may be corny, but they did a pretty good job overall - the service was prompt, the ambience was nice (they have sepia photos of old Bangalore on the walls and a small waterfall near the entrance).
The only thumbs-down would be the army of waiters who keep an eagle eye on your plate and pounce on you to ask you what you want for dessert even before you've stopped chewing! In the end I realized: If you sit near the windows, the waiters will keep their distance...
Feb 12, 2007
Hatworks Boulevard, 32, Cunningham Road, Bangalore
Rated: Good
Gourmet Pasteries
Went to Cafe Fresco's because i'd read and heard about the
delightful pastries they make and I wasn't dissappointed.
After feasting our eyes on the luxurious gateaux on display
for several minutes, we chose the Bavarian Pie which was
a sea of mixed nuts and caramel. It was served with special rose
icecream which had the character of rose water in terms of
flavor and color. The pastry also came with a generous helping
of whipped cream and a limey sauce which I haven't been able to place.
I enjoyed the ambience at Cafe Fresco's - the outdoorsy, casual
feel and the languid pace of the waiters reminded me of Goa! We went
around 3:00 pm and it seemed like a great place for that time of the day.
Must visit if you have a sweet tooth.