Khansama

Last Friday I had been with family to Khansama.... located at UB City, Bangalore

Though they had advertised in their site / various other email / sms promos for 275 + taxes they charged Rs 325 per head... working close to 400 rs per head. 10% service charge apart from VAT 14% and service tax....


Ambience was decent. Well the waiter didnt have much to do, as it was a buffet. They brought 6 mini butter rotis just before we finished the lunch ( says 40 mins.)  for a group of  5. Pathetic!




The display of items were good compared to the taste.

Food was very average. Mom didnt like it at all. She referred to Anjappar and the quality taste

Kids liked the deserts.

:-)

Ramanna Military Hotel

Ramanna Military Hotel situated in Basavangudi, very close to Jayanagar 4th block, Kanakapura Road, Bangalore was recommended one of the Twitter pals Paval.

Over the weekend, we went to try! I had invited the family of Ramesh as well. Parking is a problem... We parked in a gully nearby, only to find many bumper hits on the return.

Warning - the looks are deceptive of the hotel. They need a thorough painting... Pricing is excellent at about 25% of a typical five star hotel! 50% of hotels at Church Street!

Since 2 families were there, the inside room, was blocked for us for 1 hour, with the rush. They kids did not complain.

We order sumptuously! Chicken Fry, Mutton Fry @ around Rs 60/- per plate, Biriyani at about Rs 80/-, (dry) Parotta @ Rs 11/- each.... They also service a small plate of rice @ Rs 8/- and Ragi Mudhe @ Rs 7/-. I am told they service Botti curry ( lungs and intestine of Goat ) in the mornings along with Idly, Dosa...

One think we liked was, they were providing unlimited gravy! In the end - there is no desert - they give each a glass of Rasam. I told them to serve a desert...

The waiters are from Mangalore, also talk Tamil.... expected a nice tip. We gave 10% of the bill, and probably the guy must have felt so shocking.

We left having a beeda each in front of the hotel....

Leave in Bangalore Nov 28th, 2008

Leave in Bangalore. Today. Nov 28th, 2008.

Janata Parivar is giving " respect" to VP Singh ex PM 89 - 91.

They were all one family.

Bofors pointers. Rajiv Gandhi's Ouster!

Good for Kids in Rain.

Long weekend.

The President, Jaya Nagar, Bangalore

The President, Jaya Nagar, Bangalore is a decent hotel, with a decent spread. It is closer to the shopping complex and Jewellery (I picked up 2 Golden Ear-rings from Bhima's - for wife and daughter, as a surprise). Beware parking is a headache. I parked in front of a house. God knows, what all he cursed me! You can indulge in clothe shopping. I have also seen a shoe showroom, selling Rs 400/- Bata slipper at a premium of Rs 165/-, saying Petrol, rent is high etc.

Today myself and my biz partner went there for the lunch. A place to sit, talk and eat. say many Honeywell badge tickets there. Decent crowd.

Rs 225 plus taxes. About Rs 600/- for 2 with a Soda....

I have been there many time, probably this would the sixth time. I used to take visitors from USA in the previous co. They definitely have Mutton, Sea Food and decent biryani, with a good spread of vegetarian. Salad was not good. Yucky!

Today's desert sucked. Only ice-cream was not spoilt. (Who would eat bread halva, smelly barpi's and rotten mousse?)

My rating 2 *'s out of 5.

Grand Taj, Shivaji Nagar

Grand Taj is a very good Non Veg restaurant. It is on Lady Curzon Road, Shivaji Nagar. Very close to access from M.G.Road, at a walkign distance. After eating you can go to shopping in Commercial Street (A La, the Ranganathan Street of Chennai)

I am used to this from 1980's, when my uncle had taken us there (Late Mr Krishnaraj R.I.P) when he was running Silk Saree biz in Bangalore. They used to live in Osalli Road, Padarayanpura.

Since I settled in Bangalore from 1999, it is a very regular joint.

Their Tandoori Chicken is very good, well done! Ghee Rice is the next best item.

They also serve good Naan and Parotta's. Their Chicken Tikka Masala, is very good. Also the next best item is Chicken Hyderabadi (sweet - typical Mughlai). I always end up hogging one Mutton Biriyani and half Tandoori Chicken easily and finish off with a Masala Chai.

AC room is 10% costly.

The cost has increased to double since 1999. 9% average inflation. (recently they have hiked 20% on all items)

Panic, Bangalore in 1993 Mumbai now

During 1993 there were 15 blasts killing 250+ people. Sorry state. Sanjay Dutt connection then?

Now today in BLR. 8 blast. 3 dead. 15 injured. Sorry for the people dead.

What is the government going to do? Conspiracy theories of Article 356.

Already enough rumours are going around that govt. is trying hard to get out of Diesel and Power crisis and they wanted something for the news channel. Politicians.

I was supposed to go to pick up a laptop uptown. Now the police checkup all around.

Power Cuts and Apartments

Bangalore life is sick nowadays with unannounced power cuts.

The power cost is obscene at 4.2 rs / unit.

We have backup power at home 6-8, 12-1 & 6-10. I am told genset is always on then! Rs 4.20/unit to govt. It works out to Rs 7/units, with the minimum other charges. They buy at 5.8/unit.

So for the apartment, it works out to 7 rs/unit, after the diesel price hike.

LOL.

Nice Drive from Hosur to Bangalore

I have been taking my wife to Hosur MGR College since 3 weeks, over the weekend, for her MBA exams.

Road is super for the 42 kms, except for Chandapura and Attibelle (Athipalli) circle entrance and not to forget the junctions of Bommanahalli and Electronics City.

NRN has to do something to speedup the flyovers.

The return travel around 2.30 is a mess at Sparsh, RTO etc. Too much of work is going on. No lane dividers are there and for guys like me used to US roads, it is a mess. These slow moving trucks kill you!

For the same distance and 15 more minutes, you can avoid the messy traffic into South Bangalore and reach Bannerghatta Road, JP Nagar areas by taking a left on the Attibelle Circle and continue straight (dont take left or right) till you reach Anekal (you can visit your farmland, like I do on the way!) and take a right, to reach Bannerghatta via Jigani.

Smooth as Hemamalini cheeks, like Lalu said.

The Saturday morning drive takes 1 hour and 10 minutes in the normal NH7 route, while on Sunday it reduces by 10 minutes and I dont exceed 65 - 70 kmph as my car is new.

The return drive on NH7 is cool too! About 1 hour to reach Mysore Road junction at Silk Board. Then the fun starts of crawling.... on Saturday and while Sunday is cool.

Petrol Crisis in Bangalore!

After Tamilnadu had Petrol crisis (includes Diesel) due to teh truckers strike, now it the time for Bangalore spilt across border.

I have seen the bunk owners forcing people to buy premium products at 10% extra cost.

Long live the pricing formula!

8.30 to 3.10 new school timing

For all schools in Bangalore (Bengaluru) the new school time is 8.30 to 3.10

Wondering about the first timers carrying lunch. Still my wife feeds my son at home.

His first day at school with lunch all by himself.

(Washing is done with assistance!)

My life In Bangalore!

Garden City Bangalore AKA Bengalooru/Bengaluru...

Elloriya Namaskaragalu!

I visited Bangalore during my childhood days of 1970's when my grandma was here. Osalli Road. Padarayanpura, closer to Vijaya Nagar. (She had bought a ground of land for Rs 40,000 then, with silk maggas & house) and during 1990 she sold it for Rs 4 Lakhs. Today I am told the price is about Rs 40 Lakhs. Too much! 10 times in 18 year! Thanks to IT Boom!

Real estate prices are very silly in Bangalore.

Just go across to Hosur side, Thalli Side, Denkani Kottai side, you get at half the price. In fact Thalli is having an operational airbase. Cargo airport is due to come there.

I frequented visitign Bangalore bcoz of its Garens and and nice cool life.

When I got my job in 1990, I wished to be posted here, but got Secunderabad. But frequented regularly.

After I returned back from USA in 1999, I wanted to settle in Bangalore. Hmm.. did not happen as I wished. Movements in 2001 and 2003. For good or bad. Now back in Bengaluru!

I will write more...