Sultans of Spice – A Sultani Gastronomic Delight!

Sultans of Spice is located on the 4^th floor of Hotel BluePetal, which also has another famous buffet restaurant, Buff Buffet Buff. Sultans of Spice is a restaurant, which specializes in North Indian food, particularly Delhi, Punjabi, and Afghani food. This place serves buffet during lunch hours and ala carte during dinner. While I am a regular customer at Buff Buffet Buffet, I heard a lot about Sultans of Spice and wanted to try this restaurant since long. The restaurant is located at a prime location on Jyoti Nivas College road in Koramangala.

I went there with my blogger/reviewer friends on a food-tasting invite. As I entered inside, I noticed that this place has a superb ambience and excellent décor that matches with the concept very well. We were greeted very well, and the staff showed us the seating area. Meanwhile, Mr. Manoj, who is the Hotel Manager and his staff came to meet us. They told us about the concept of this restaurant and the kind of food items they serve. The staff is polite and extremely courteous!

ORDER, TASTE, AND QUALITY:

DRINKS:

I started ordering with the drinks. They have a good collection of cocktails and also, they have some excellent signature drinks. So, we ordered 7 Wonders Of The Bar, Watta ! Melon, and Green Appletini.

While 7 Wonders of The Bar includes 7 different alcohols with lime juice and ice, it is also the strongest cocktail among others. It’s their signature drink and tastes good. A suggestion is to add more ice to make the proportions right to improve the drinkability of this special drink.

Watta ! Melon is also their special cocktail, served in a highball glass and prepared with watermelon chunks, lime juice, melon syrup, and Gin. It is the most refreshing drink I had in the recent past! Absolutely mind-blowing and refreshing, it was also on a lighter side and I could hardly feel any bitterness, which was good.

Green Appletini is equally refreshing as Watta ! Melon. I really enjoyed it. As the name suggests, it was made with Vodka and Green Apple syrup. It was served in a cocktail glass and had a perfect combination of alcohol and syrup.

This restaurant also has a good collection of mocktails, which we couldn’t try this time.

SOUPS:

I tried their Badam Aur Murg Ka Shorba and Dal Subz Shorba.

While Badam Aur Murg Ka Shorba sounds good, it lacked some essential flavours. Although, it had grated almonds added to it, I couldn’t identify any taste of Chicken or Almonds in it. It was just bland and salty.

The Dal Subz Shorba was delectable!

STARTERS:

In starters, I had Dumwala Old Monk Chicken Wings, Murg Taftan, Makai Aur Cheese Ke Kebab, Galouti Kabab, Prawn Lollypop, Amritsari Bharwan Taang, Chatpata Paneer Roll, Triple Seekh Kebab, and Chicken Malai Tikka.

I will give full marks to the Chef for bringing innovation in the menu items. I could really see the hard work to make the regular food items different from others. Dumwala Old Monk Chicken Wings is a signature item, in which the chicken wings are flamed with Old Monk to give a unique bitter and sweet taste. Absolutely innovative!

Amritsari Bharwan Taang was amazing! The chicken leg pieces were stuffed with mutton keema to make it a wholesome experience. This is a splendid combination and worked well.

Chicken Malai Tikka was probably the best I had ever in Bangalore. I remember having such Malai Tikka in New Delhi. It was authentic and delicious. The chicken pieces were tender and succulent.

Prawn Lollypop is also an innovative item where garlic and chilly flavoured minced prawn is served on a small sugarcane stick. It was yummy, and I liked the concept. However, the staff should bring this out more clearly that it is not a regular stick but a sugarcane stick.

Makai Aur Cheese Ke Kebab had the perfect combination of cheese and corn. It was good.

Galouti Kabab was OK and it was close to the authentic recipe of Lucknow. I don’t compare it with the ones available in Lucknow but for Bangalore, it is probably one of the best Galouti Kabab. It didn’t melt completely in mouth unlike the authentic Galouti Kabab, still it was appetizing.

All other starters that I had were delicious.

MAIN COURSE:

In main course, I had Dal Sultani, Butter Chicken, Sarso Da Saag, Nalli Gosht, Sultani Kofta, and breads, which had Garlic Naan, Makke Di Roti, and Tandoori Roti. I am fond of the main course at Buff Buffet Buff and I had the same expectation here. I am happy that BluePetal didn’t disappoint me. They are famous for serving the main course as good as the starters, which is to an extent less seen.

Dal Sultani was excellent in taste and quality. I enjoyed it to the fullest. Butter Chicken was delicious as well. Sarso Sa Saag was an authentic Punjabi preparation, and very close to what you get in the Punjabi families. It was good in taste and reminded me of my visits to Punjab.

Nalli Gosht was scrumptious and I relished it. Being a Non-Vegetarian, I still liked their Sultani Kofta the most! It is a lip-smacking delicacy by the Chef. I really enjoyed the Kofta and its gravy.

DESSERTS:

In desserts we witnessed a lot of uniqueness and innovation again. I had Gulabo and Gajar Halwa Ki  Seekh.

Gulabo is basically Rose Phirni, flavoured by Rooh Afza kind of syrup. It was yummy! I absolutely loved it. Gajar Halwa Ki Seekh is a unique dessert, which I haven’t seen anywhere. It’s chef’s own creation. It’s prepared by making a kind of dry Gajar ka Halwa and put it on the skewers to grill it in tandoor. Yes, you read it correctly, they grill the Halwa and it’s presented like a seekh kebab. Amazing creation! By the way, it tasted really good.

SERVICE AND AMBIENCE:

The staff is courteous and polite. They have a high-level of service and they leave no stone unturned to make your experience, a great one.

Ambience is classy, and they have an excellent décor. They also have separate areas with curtains for candle light dinners.

LOCATION:

https://goo.gl/maps/K1PWpTn8x142

GOOGLE MAPS:

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Weekdays: 12 Noon to 3:30 PM, 7:00 to 11:30 PM

Saturdays and Sundays: 12 Noon to 4:30 PM, 7:00 to 11:30 PM

Open all days.

ZOMATO: https://www.zomato.com/bangalore/sultans-of-spice-koramangala-5th-block

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Sharief Bhai, Koramangala – A Non-Vegetarian’s Paradise!

Sharief Bhai serves good-quality authentic Muslim cuisine, which is not easy to find in Bangalore. This restaurant is an absolute delight for a non-vegetarian food lover. Strategically located at a prime location near Jyoti Nivas College in Koramangala, this place provides an excellent hospitality and altogether a great dining experience!

A couple, Mr. Nawaz Sharief and his wife Mrs. Falak Nawaz Sharief runs the restaurant. All off their recipes are authentic and prepared the way it’s done in Muslim families. This restaurant serves the most exclusive gastronomic delights, which is not found elsewhere. They have an open kitchen where all the magic happens, so you can see your food being cooked.

I visited this restaurant on a food-tasting invite along with other reviewers/bloggers and we were warmly greeted by the owners. They have a thorough understanding and knowledge about the food that they serve, and this is a big differentiator unlike many others! In fact, their good home recipes are being carried forward by this generation, and they are highly quality-focused. So, you get the original taste in the food, and of course they have some secrets to make it better and lighter on the stomach as well. 😊

ORDER, TASTE, AND QUALITY:

DRINK:

I started off with Apshoola, which is a drink made with lemon and cardamom. It helps in increasing the appetite. It’s basically a unique and aromatic lime water preparation. I loved the flavour, it’s different than what you get anywhere else.

SOUP:

In soups, I had Gosht Marag, which is an almond-flavoured Gosht soup. It had chunks of tender mutton and was full of the aroma and taste of almonds. I relished it fully.

PATTHAR KE PAKWAAN:

These are the delicacies cooked on stone. All food items are absolutely delectable in this section and a must-try when you’re there. I tried their Patthar Gosht, Gosht Shami Kebab, Gosht Kaali Mirchi Ki Sukki Phaal, Gosht Lal Mirchi ki Sukki Phaal, and Murg Kaali Mirchi Ki Sukki Phaal.

As the name suggests, Patthar Gosht is a mutton preparation, where pieces are cooked on a heated stone and flattened to perfection. But this is not all, the way it’s done is an art and that provides the authentic taste in mutton. Also, the meat they choose for all their mutton preparations is Lamb meat only so it’s tender and flavourful. The mutton pieces are cut selectively keeping in mind what tastes best for different types of delicacies.

Gosht Shami Kebab is a mutton preparation, in which boiled egg is stuffed inside.

Gosht Kaali Mirchi Ki Sukki Phaal and Gosht Lal Mirchi ki Sukki Phaal are basically same food items with the only difference being the choice of chilly, black pepper or red chilly. Phaal is a prepared by cutting the Lamb pieces from the rib section in a specific manner and then it’s pulled apart and cooked on the stone. These Phaals were new to me and I truly enjoyed both. It’s worth mentioning that they prepare their own spices and don’t buy from outside. Hence, you get a delightful taste and quality.

TAWE KE PAKWAAN:

These are shallow pan-fried delicacies. In non-vegetarian, I tried Gurda Kaleji Fry, Bheja Fry, Anjal Tawa Fry, and Prawns Tawa Fry. In Veg, I had Mushroom Lal Mirch and Paneer Kali Mirch.

Gurda Kaleji Fry is basically the kidney and liver of a Lamb, which are fried on a Tawa. I’m not a big fan of Gurda and Kaleji, still I loved this preparation at Sharief Bhai. It was way different and much better than the ones I tried elsewhere.

Bheja Fry or Brain Fry is a popular Muslim preparation. I have had this before a couple of times. It was absolutely delicious! The tiny pieces of brain melts in mouth in no time. Perfectly spiced with curry leaves, this one is my favourite!

Anjal Tawa Fry is a fried Seer fish preparation. It had the aroma and taste of a fried fish.

Prawns Tawa Fry is again good in taste and quality.

Although, there isn’t much for vegetarians here, but they do have limited but good options for vegetarian friends. Mushroom Lal Mirch and Paneer Kaali Mirch are definitely saviours for Veg lovers at this place. Both the veg food items tasted like the way they are supposed to.

BHUNE PAKWAAN:

These are the grilled food items. I tried Murg Tangdi Kebab and it was lip-smacking. The leg piece of chicken lwas grilled to perfection with the right spices and flavours. A splendid preparation, which tasted very well.

TALAN PAKWAAN:

These are the deep-fried items. I tried Chicken Kebab and it was delicious. Although, deep-fried but it was easy on the stomach.

AHEM KHANA:

These are the main course food items. I tried their Nalli Nahari, Cutt Kofte Ande, and Gosht Hare Masale ki Phaal. We also had Laccha Paratha, which was very soft and Kushka as accompaniments.

Nalli Nihari is mildly-spiced, a bit different than others and can be customized to taste. Cutt Kofte Ande is a scrumptious preparation made with boiled eggs and Kofte in a mouth-watering gravy. I enjoyed it the most.

Chicken Hare Masale ki Phaal was also good. All the gravy items were delicious and with Laccha Paratha and Kushka, it was a perfect combination.

DEGH-KE-PAKWAAN:

These are the rice items, which are made in a Deg (cooking pot). I enjoyed their Har-dil-Azeez Gosht Biryani and Murg Hyderabadi Dum Biryani.

Har-dil-Azeez Gosht Biryani is mutton biryani prepared with jeera samba rice. It was amazing! The biryani had the perfect aroma and flavours and the mutton pieces were succulent. This is a must-try item at this restaurant.

Murg Hyderabadi Dum Biryani is prepared with long grain Basmati rice and chicken. It was good in taste and quality.

MITTHAY:

This category is for the sweet items, the desserts. I tried Muzzafar and Matka Phirni. Both the desserts were yummy! I liked the flavour of Muzzafar, which is similar to Phirni. It’s probably the best dessert I had in the recent past and a perfect choice to end your dinner on a sweet note.

SERVICE AND AMBIENCE:

Ambience is fine at this restaurant, they have a decent space to accommodate large families. Nice décor and an open kitchen, and it clearly shows their intent and passion.

The service is absolutely incredible. The owners welcomed and sat with us to explain all the items in their menu and how it is prepared. They were not hesitant in answering to queries and gave a detailed insight about the Muslim cuisine. Great hospitality, I must say. It’s not that they were so good only to us but to anyone who visits the restaurant.

LOCATION:

https://goo.gl/maps/h52zx3Q5ucJ2

GOOGLE MAPS:

HOURS OF OPERATION:

12 Noon to 1:00 AM, open all days

ZOMATO: https://www.zomato.com/bangalore/sharief-bhai-1-koramangala-5th-block/info

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Kareem’s Chef Delhi, Jayanagar – A Non-Vegetarian’s Delight!

I was exploring some options for dinner when I saw Kareem’s Chef Delhi restaurant. I have lived in Delhi for over 8 years and the name Kareem’s itself makes me crave for some meaty delight with Khameeri Roti. But this is about Kareem’s Chef Delhi restaurant in Bangalore and I don’t know the history behind this restaurant, so I wasn’t sure if it will match the taste and quality of the very popular Kareem’s chain in Delhi and particularly the original Kareem restaurant offering Mughlai cuisine near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. The name suggests that perhaps some chef from Kareem’s restaurant Delhi has opened his own restaurant in Bangalore or has been hired by a restaurateur in Bangalore.

So, I decided to give this restaurant a try for delivering my dinner. I ordered a portion of Mutton Nihari and Tandoori Roti. The order was delivered timely and to my surprise the Tandoori Roti is actually the same as the fluffy Khameeri Roti, which is served in Delhi. Mutton Nihari was perfect in taste and they had served a generous number of mutton chunks. It made me feel nostalgic about Delhi and the years I spent there, where Kareem’s was my one-stop destination for Non-Veg food.

Kudos to the restaurateur who has brought the original taste of Old Delhi to Bangalore! I have not visited this restaurant yet, but the delivery experience was too good. They also have a variety of other Non-Vegetarian dishes in their menu and my next order was Mutton Paya, which was spicy and delicious.

This restaurant is pocket-friendly and the half portion of a Mutton Paya just costs around INR 125/- while the Mutton Nihari was priced at INR 200/-. I ordered through UberEATS and the delivery was really quick. Food was delivered to my doorstep in less than 30 minutes. I would recommend it to anyone craving for Old Delhi’s Non-Vegetarian food.

North Indian Food at Silbatti, HSR Layout

Silbatti is a typical dhaba-style restaurant with nice decor. They serve a variety of North Indian food, which includes flavourful vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. This place is usually crowded over the weekends and there is a high chance that you’ll have to wait for a table. A suggestion is to reach the restaurant early or reserve your table.

With some expectations, I ordered Lal Maans (a popular Rajasthani mutton gravy dish) along with Garlic Naan and Plain Roti. It took a while to get the food on table. Lal Maans was not like the authentic Lal Maans that you will get in Rajasthan. Not that it was bad but it lacked the authenticity. I like the original preparation and authenticity so this was the only reason I ordered it and not any other mutton gravy.

However, the gravy was delicious and the mutton pieces were cooked to perfection. It was like any other medium-spiced mutton gravy but if you don’t think of it being Lal Maans, then certainly the taste and quality was good and I enjoyed it. Portion size was on a slightly lesser side but you can always try out more items for an enjoyable experience.

Garlic Naan had almost no garlic in it and it was almost a Butter Naan only. I don’t have a problem eating Butter Naan but in my opinion, if they added a “Garlic” tag with Naan, they should serve Garlic Naan. Plain Roti was just like how it should be.

Nevertheless, it was an average experience.

The service was a bit slow initially to get the food on table but considering the fact that it was a weekend and the restaurant was jam-packed, it should be fine. Nevertheless, they improved the service later and got us an extra Garlic Naan and Rotis in no time after ordering.

Ambience was good and I felt like sitting in a desi dhaba somewhere in Rajasthan or Punjab. They have nicely decorated the restaurant and the tableware also matched their dhaba theme well.

Restaurant Address: 171, 19th Main Road, Sector 4, HSR, Bangalore

Phone Numbers (as per Zomato): 080 65656010, +91 8105374003