Tigers Experience at Carnatic Cafe

 If there is some concept of Home Style Cooking it is HERE , the most amazing South Indian ,Specifically Banglorean Food I have ever tasted in my Life , so far . Bangolrean food is not spicy at all - unlike some of the other south indian food , it is truly home style cooking .Well balanced , Scientific,fresh and easy to digest  and unique. 

Hidden in the New Friends Colony Community Center , behind Batra cinema and next tot he booze shop . Beautifully . tastefully done by Pavan and his wife Shipi  - Cosy would be the right word for this  place . Love the colors of the cafe , nice yellow green - all earthy colors match the simplicity of the owner who is a Professional ,traveled distances in the south to discover recipes and then stepped on his passion for food by opening carnatic cafe with his best buddy from back home . He dedicates his restaurant to his MOM. He inherited his cooking skills from his mom who essentially taught him the secret of grinding the right masalas for each dish . 

Carnatic Cafe is frequented by  themselves and families of Rahul Gandhi , Shiela Dixit and Arun Jaitley and many many more eminent people from the who's who gang of Delhi .

Pavan has no solid background of running a udupi restaurant - Pavan's father Dr Prakash is a popular physician in Malleswaram. After studying at Sainik School in Bijapur, Pavan chose to take up business management, and did a BBM from Christ University, Bangalore . Later he went to Mumbai University to pursue his MA in anthropology, and worked with brand guru Santosh Desai in that city for four years before switching to the restaurant business.

Pavan - grew up observing Madhwa Brahmin rituals at Bangalore's ancient Uttaradi Mutt. He then volunteered as a cook at the mutt to learn new techniques. For experience, he worked for many years as a cook for a group of Raghavendra Swami devotees who go to Mantralaya by foot every year. He travelled along with them.

Besides the regular Plain masala , Mandaki , Neer ,Raggi etc the main  DOSA to eat is the - Malleshwaram 18th Cross Dosa truly Iconic  - A unique Masala rubbed on the dosa with loads of Ghee ,which is a must to enjoy the Dosa . I believe the raagi Dosa is also a hit for the glutton free patrons.

Crisp , fluffy - named after a street in Bangalore where Pavan was born and spent his childhood.

Malleshwaram 18th Cross Dosa

The man above is Pavan's Childhood friend from his native town , they are team together .The Malleshwaran Dosa is named by Pavan as he was born and brought up there . 

Pavan actually explained to me the difference between Bangalore Dosa and the rest of South India - the bangalore dosa is crisp from the outside and soft from inside .. unlike the others which are crisp all over.

The Three Chutneys - No Prizes for guessing - red slightly chilly , Green is garlic based and the third is the coconut chutney - my favorite . Yes they are definitely home style - perfectly grounded not watery just right - just loved it . coconut,corriander,onion

Beautiful Chutneys

The Rawa Idli - one of the largest sellers here - made with steam and under a muslin cloth . Super light with lentils,coriander , garlic and ginger  in it , served with an amazing veg stew a perfect accompaniment .Below fresh from  the steamer.

Masala Rawa Idli Fresh 

Sambar, Tomato Rasam and Pineapple Rasam 

The Rasams were perfect - Hot , Light , Sour and they had the tinge in them . Infact it was the first time i ever tried a pineapple flavored rasam , much to my surpise it was super duper. They have a range of Rasam :lemon,pineapple,black pepper,Mysore saaru,tomato

The Paddu - rice balls - I had these for the first time , almost like cheese balls if not better . just keep popping them in . And was a pleasure to see them being made , Pavan has a live counter specially dedicated to this awesome starter.

The Crisp Vada - Just the way you will like it . Good to eat even without a dip in the sambar .

Plain Crisp Vada

Who's for Kafi 

The Thaali - perfect for Dieters , perfect for the Gluton free freaks . The Thaali has :Kosambri ( moong dal peeli,chana dal,sweet corn,hara saaboot moong dal) Salad made of  pomegranate, lime, coconut, salt. Palya ( vegetable), Gojju ( pineapple,ginger), Kootu ( thick curry),rice,spl rice ( rice of the day - lemon , Tarmind etc ), Butter Milk,Pappad,Obbatu and  the super duper Kesari bath like the sheera or the halwa - comes in different flavors also. No Onions and No Garlic . They change the thaali contents every day .

Trust me the aThaali is an adventure... amazing flavors in each dish and bite. Simplicity Galore and in style . 

Pancakes with Jaggery - Divine , A punishment after a heavy delicious meal , A treat , a killer , lethal - but awesome . Not on the menu . Obattu / Puran Poli   - served with Ghee and Milk - The Obattu has channa dal and Jaggery which makes it a true festive dish . Simply delicious .

So basically when you have a restaurant run by a young a passionate man like pavan who doesn't want to expand , wants this establishment to be the beginning and end for Mysore food in Delhi - the food has to be AMAZING for sure .

Tigers Overall Experience of Carnatic Cafe - for the umpteen number of time, What an experience - earlier i used to always land up with indigestion eating at some of the very  famous south indian cuisine places but here it was delightful , healthy , delicious , original a perfect gastronomic experience .

Food : Understood the concept of Home Style Cooking and Home Cooked food . well researched recipes . Fresh Ingredients , Filled with different flavors , easy to digest , Innovative .

Service : Casual , Alert and prompt - full knowledge of the food and its origin 

Ambiance : Casual Modern Cafe type 

Value for Money : Yes indeed , in all ways.