Oct 22, 2009 05:53 PM
4985 Views
(Updated Oct 22, 2009 06:09 PM)
I checked out Benjarong Thai restaurant in Bangalore last week. This restaurant is owned by the famous Oriental Group that also owns a number of signature restaurants & coffee bars such as China Town, Copper Chimney and Café French Loaf.
The Bangalore branch is located on Ulsoor road (near to the Hilton suites) and though I pass through this place many times a week, I didn’t notice the little board on the busy road until last week.
In fact, it wasn’t a planned outing. We (me & my better half) were getting late for lunch and were heading home while we accidentally noticed the place. The restaurant is in the second floor of the small building (looks like a big house converted into commercial space) but you have to take their dedicated lift to the third floor which is the reception area.
Upon reaching there, we were welcomed by a Thai lady (dressed in Thai outfit) who chanted some Thai greeting which obviously we didn’t understand. We then descended to the second floor, through decorated (Thai accent again) stairs, which led to a roomy dining hall which also had a mini bar and comfortable seating. The staff (all of them lean and short) looked all smiles and they provided us with the menu card and that was the first shock!
The restaurant obviously looked cool and organized, the service quality was amazing and so was the pricing. Just to give you an idea, typical soups range from Rs 125 to 200, Nonveg/veg starters in the range of 150 to 750 (prawns at 700+) and even a plate of steamed rice costs around Rs. 130. However, since we both enjoy food adventures and the people around were having some exquisite decorations in their plates, we placed order for the following (relatively low priced dishes).
Satay as starter which is my favorite among all Thai starters – Rs 198 + tax.
Khao Nung or steamed rice – Rs. 128 + tax
Gai Pahd Bai Grap (as stated in the bill) as Chicken stir fried curry – Rs 268 + tax
A bottle of Aquafina drinking water – Rs. 48 + tax
Dessert (fried ice cream at the end) – Rs . 168 + tax.
(The final bill was Rs. 957/-)
From Wikipedia I learned that Benjarong means some kind of painted porcelain and it really was that as they arranged the plate and cutlery. The plates had a nice parabolic shape and looked nice. There was a free appetizer that was like pan (on lettuce you have to arrange fried coconut pieces, ginger, fried groundnuts, some spices, chilly pieces, tomato, lemon grass etc and chew) and that hot stuff was an indication of what to follow. The food arrived in less than 10 minutes and the smell was awesome. TheSatay as usual was exceptional with an extra tinge of lemon grass on it.
The rice and the stir fried chicken combo was good but as soon as we started the first bite we started sweating our foreheads. I am a mallu and we eat really hot stuff, we also eat extreme Andhra curries but this one wasreally hot. In no time a bottle of mineral water and the food also was finished and we rushed in the menu for a dessert. Until the icecream melt in our mouths it was like somebody burst a Diwali cracker in my mouth. But I must tell you that the food tastes really good (Just beware of the two chilly signs on the menu - even two of them means a volcano)
Once the eating was over, the lemon grass tea was served and it is supposed to help digest the stuff. I must say that it did some good to us as there was no acidic feeling nor we had any stomach upset. Overall, it was a good experience. There’s a handwritten endorsement by a Thai guest in the restaurant lobby which says that ‘This is authentic place, believe me I am a Thai’ and I believe him. The food, service quality, the decorations, taste everything is good here – Just wished if they could lower the price by 10-15%. We did not experiment with any alcoholic drinks or beer. I am sure they will be damn expensive as well.
Conclusion
I loved the place and I would definitely go back there (may be upon receiving the annual bonus - the recession situation permiting) but not too often due to wallet reasons. You may also check out the place which is located 1/3 Ulsoor Road, Bangalore (Valet parking available)
