The best new food spots in town
Koshy’s, Bangalore (Rs.200-400 per person)
Koshy’s, Bangalore’s literary salon, is a popular hangout located in the heart of the city for lawyers, journalists, artists, theatre-persons, and students. The high ceiling, wooden pillars, and photos of olden-day Bangalore clubbed with the friendly wait-staff take you back to the old Bangalore, that everyone cherished. Koshy’s is the perfect place for a weekend breakfast, but be prepared to wait for a table. Order something that comes with bread because you will want to have as much of it as possible — it just melts in your mouth. Omelets, sandwiches, and even simple toasted bread are delicacies here. Non-vegetarians have to try the mutton cutlets. The Koshy’s bar is open at all hours of service, so you can kick off the day with a beer with your breakfast instead of their very ‘special Koshy’s coffee’. Koshy’s is an experience you simply cannot miss!
-ARPAN DHANDHANIA
Fusion 9, Chennai (Rs.400-500 per person)
F9 or Fusion9 is really a fine fusion of food and décor. When you enter the place with its yellow-and-pink-fused lighting and plush interiors in shades of beige, you may wonder why it works. But that’s what the place is about – the surprisingly different. With an island bar in the centre, a private dining area at one end, and a raised wooden platform at the other, the place always has something to hold your attention. Through the evening, you may be surprised with the unexpected. The food is great and so is the service and hospitality on offer. There’s a wide variety of cuisines for everyone, from Thai, Swiss, and Chinese to several varieties from South India. The portions are large, so one dish per person is more than enough. Ladies can have a blast on Fluid Wednesdays, when all white-based drinks, such as vodka, gin, and rum cocktails, are on the house between 8pm and 10pm at the bar.
-SHWETA JALAN
Bru Café, Mumbai (Rs.100- 300 per person)
This new café on Juhu Tara road is a great spot to have a quiet dinner, catch up with friends, or even sit with your favourite book. It’s got a cosy ambiance, pleasant interiors, and jazz music that speak highly of the brand. However, the clincher is that the coffees are good and the pastries are even better. Thanks to the prime location, it’s usually quite busy on weekends and the best seats (read: couches!) are quickly occupied. Nonetheless, one can still perch on a bar stool with a biscotti and enjoy the people stream past to the beach. However, being new perhaps, they seem a little overeager to clear up and usher you out so the next lot can come in. We will certainly be back for another visit!
-MAYA DAS
