The review first appeared in Bangalore Mirror though I’m still trying to figure out the headline.
TGIF is an acronym that’s familiar in the dining-out context, and that’s probably why TGIT made us do a double take. We noticed it during our monthly check on The Elegant Elephant – just to see if it’s open. Not.
So, TGIT. Nope, not Tuesday, not Thursday, but The Great Indian Thali. Located on the busy 80 ft Road in Koramangala, (map) in the building that is now a mini Church Street with El Tablao, Barbeque Factory and the soon-to-be-launched Resto-bar & Grill. Yes, there’s valet parking. And guess what, all the restaurant owners have a mallu connection. Keramangala rises. Bwahahaha.
While many a restaurant in Bangalore serves a North Indian and/or South Indian thali, or even a region specific version, TGIT clearly has ‘Mile food mera tumhara’ in mind. But they do plan to have a monthly region-specific special with guest chefs soon. Meanwhile, you can lounge on low seating, or functional or high chairs as you watch the traffic snarls below and contemplate if Curd Rice and Paneer Lababdar do have a future together, and what theme links Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Bryan Adams.
The prix fixe (set) menu features four starters and the samosas that were served first turned out to be the hot favourites. A crispy exterior with a standard but mildly spicy and non greasy filling and complemented by the imli chutney meant that everyone asked for a second helping. The Dahi vada – soft and fluffy vadas in a faintly tangy curd, was equally popular. We also got the not-so-commonly-found Makhai vada – made with corn ground to a paste, and though the snack was not in the same league as the ones preceding it, its uniqueness makes it a dish worth trying out. Its blandness can be offset by the chilli chutney that’s provided. The cheese balls were the most debated dish, as a few of us found it well worth gobbling up, especially with the mint chutney, but discerning palates detected that the cheese was not really fresh.
In the main course, the Ker Kismis, a Rajasthani specialty made of desert berries was a dish that found favour with everyone. The different texture provided by the berries and the occasional sweetness rendered by the kismis made it a singularly unique offering. The Paneer Lababdar was a close second and was taken down a notch by the slightly hard paneer, though the mildly spicy gravy did its best to make up. The Parwal Masala, made with unpeeled point gourd was another dish that used its texture to good effect. The Shrikhand, though classified as a dessert, made an appearance, probably to serve as a combination with the Masala Puri. But it proved to be too diluted and though the masala puri got the flavour right, the combo didn’t really work out. None of the other main course dishes – Dal Makhani, Dal Tadka, Aloo Matar – managed to leave an impression. The Fulka proved to be too thick and the Pulao rice needed some more cooking. The curd rice just about managed to stay true to character.
Since it was a prix fixe menu, there was no danger of desserts not being available. The soft Gulab Jamun did a splendid job and got the sweetness of the syrup just right. The Rasmalai continued to be another dependable source of sugar based joy. The Lauki Halwa was a unique option and though it was a tad heavy and greasy, we thought it was an acceptable part of the halwa’s character. And yes, there was paan in a wrapper.
The prix fixe menu is priced at Rs.328+tax on weekdays and Rs.382+tax on weekends. With the starters and desserts doing an excellent job, the meal began and ended well. The main course was a bit of a disappointment. Considering that one can have as many servings of preferred dishes, the pricing is quite justified. With a few unique dishes mixing it up with favourites from across the country, TGIT does seem to have a reasonably good offering when you’re in the mood for vegetarian fare.
The Great Indian Thali, Lotus – 612/1, 80 feet Road, 4th Block, Koramangala Ph: 08065471151
PS: Yes, it’s a veg restaurant, and you can stop laughing!
One thought on “The Great Indian Thali”