Cuisine

Bangalore's Bobby da Dhaba

by NIDHI & BALAJI

Picture this - hot, just-off-the-tawa parathas with a dollop of butter on it, steaming hot channa masala and a tall glass of creamy buttermilk to wash it all down with ... sounds tempting, doesn't it? Then we suggest you set off to Ulsoor (Bangalore, India)  where, right next to the Gurdwara, you will find authentic Punjabi ghar-ka-khana (home-cooked food) at Bobby da dhaba.

The dhaba is easy to miss because neither does this oh-so-tiny place look like a restaurant from the outside, nor does it have a board announcing its existence. And to top it all, the neighbouring restaurants, when asked for directions, will pretend like they do not know where this dhaba is ... they probably cannot digest the competiton :) !

The first time we went there, we were alarmed by the sight of the dhaba from the inside. 

A tiled ceiling with quite a few broken tiles here and there, walls that badly needed a coat of paint, furniture that was nothing more than a few tables and stools and an old wheezing refrigerator in the corner. In the middle of it all was Bobby, shouting instructions and orders to his kitchen staff in Punjabi.

Nothing much has changed now. Except for the ever increasing clientele and the old faithfuls who visit the dhaba for a true taste of surprisingly affordable Punjabi food.  

The menu is very simple and basic at Bobby's dhaba. Five to six kinds of parathas, a few side dishes, kheer and buttermilk are on the offering. Parathas are served with butter, pickle and a plate of sliced cucumber and onion. All side dishes are served in portions just enough for two.

The sight of the steaming hot parathas with the butter slowly puddling on top is enough to make you hungry even on a full stomach! The mooli and onion parathas that we tried were soft and piquantly delicious. Channa masala and aloo jeera make for good company along with the parathas. They are not overtly spiced, like you would expect from typical Punjabi cuisine, so it suits all palates.  

The egg bhurji, the only non-vegetarian dish available here, is also a good accompaniment to the meal. It is peppered with green chillies and a hint of garam masala which gives it the right amount of zest.

And now coming to our favourite part of this meal - lassi. 

Rich and frothy, served in a tall steel glass, it is the perfect cooler after a heavy meal like this. Our quest for the best lassi in town had finally ended here!

Service is quick and efficient. Inspite of the Sunday crowd, the staff made sure we didn't have to wait for too long in between orders.

Bobby da Dhaba is open for lunch between 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm and for dinner from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm. It gets a little too crowded on Sundays due to the sangat from the gurdwara dropping by, so come prepared to wait a while to be seated.

But take our word for it: the wholesome food here is worth the wait. The right place for foodies to 'chak de phatte!'

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