Kollapuri's..!!

The fare at Kollapuri's - billed as "exclusive Savji's" - is according to the tradition of the Savji community. They were originally Maharashtrian, speaking Savji, a dialect of Marathi. They usually have first names that have a suffix of "sa" - as in Dhondusa - and the most well-known among them in our City are the distillery owners, Khodays.

Savji food is essentially what can be called "home style". In keeping with this "home food" tradition, the owners of Kollapuri's prepare the spices, masalas, and gravies at their homes, bring them to the Jayanagar restaurant, and later cook a dish based on the order placed by a diner.

The menu, an extensive one, includes food preparations such as pulav, gravy, starters, tandoor, sea food, egg, and rice. For vegetarians, who may stray to this essentially non-vegetarian outlet, there are about a dozen food items to choose from. The prices are a delight as most of the major dishes cost between Rs. 35 and Rs. 80.

The adventure begins in little steel thalis, and katoris with starters. Choose from kheema bhunka unda (egg with kheema stuffing), or pudhina chicken. The mutton chop dry, mutton kalimirchi, and chicken raja are all prepared in the Savji tradition. One learns here that what they call chicken manchoorian is not really manchoorian, but is prepared with Savji spicing.

Their tandoori kabab, malai kabab, kalmi kabab, and their prawn, fish, and egg dishes are all prepared in the Savji tradition. On Sundays, they have specials, and one among them is the bunjel kukdi. This is a roasted chicken dish with spices used to the minimum, to let the original chicken flavour come through. It virtually melts in the mouth.

Me & VJ happened to venture out to Jayanagar on Sunday and visited this place...heavy rains had dampened our spirits but we cud not shy away..!! So there we were @ about 2:15 PM...ordered for Jowar Bhakri with Chicken Kolhapuri & later settled for white rice with an extremely spicy chicken masala (I saw this dish at another table & cud not resist getting one myself..!!) Me, Chetan & Mintoo have been here before and I shud tell U we "ate" properly tht day..!!

They also serve naati chicken kadan, or sholay kabab, dry and delightful. Their bhakri and edme (a non-sweet, obbattu-like bread item) are served hot to touch.

U shud visit this place if U want to taste the flavour of Maharashtra and if U r a Maratha like me...this wont disspoint U..!!