ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Phone: 080 49653443
Address: 3rd Floor, Gold Sand, Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Time: 12 Noon – 12:30 AM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,500
Cuisines: European, American, Modern Indian
Facilities: Full Bar Available, Live Sports Screening, Valet Parking Available, Indoor Seating, Serves Cocktails, Table booking recommended, Kid Friendly, Smoking Area, LGBTQIA Friendly, Nightlife, Craft Beer, Outdoor Seating, Live Music, Rooftop
Yes, another brewpub it is. Aurum Brew Works is on Sarjapur Road, located amidst high-rise apartments and office buildings. With its exposed brick walls, clever use of wood, glass and tiles, it’s a vibrant space. The upper level is al fresco, with lots of foliage and where you can unwind on windswept evenings.
Aurum Brew Works, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore: Food
Brewpub menus, with their emphasis on nachos and loaded fries, fail to excite me. So, I was happy to see Aurum devote an entire section to dishes from Karnataka. Skimming over the BBQ Chicken Wings and the Jerk Potato Wedges, I settled for the Goli Bajji, well-executed here. Then, street food from North Karnataka in the form of Menasinakai Bajji with Girmit, puffed rice tossed in masala. The papdi basket it was served in was redundant, but this is a nice thing for vegetarians to nibble on with the craft beers.
The Prawn Ghee Roast was pleasing, but didn’t make me polish off the masala which good ghee roasts do. The scene-stealer was the unassumingly named Surmai Fish Fry, a thin slice of marinated fish dipped in a rice flour batter and deep fried. It’s served topped with a generous scattering of batter crumbs — a little like using tempura bits — crunchy, salty, chilli hot, all of it coming together in earthy deliciousness. Hats off to the kitchen also for being unafraid to use coconut oil.
For main course, I had an assortment of curries. The Sauji Chicken Curry, green and with a pronounced tang, was the best of these. The Kaima Curry had juicy, well-seasoned meat balls in a tasty gravy. I found the Kundapura Koli in a creamy base lacking punch. The curries are to be eaten with Neer Dosa or Akki Roti. For the vegetarians, I recommend the Menthya Soppina Pappu, full of green goodness and a distinct hit of garlic, which goes nicely with rice.
Desserts are not a big thing in brewpubs, but do not miss out on the Karnataka sweets here. I tasted a superb Dal Obbattu, crisp and sweet, and a Banana Halwa, inspired by the temple prasadams of Malnad.
I drank a Citrus Ale, which was crisp and perfect for a warm afternoon. You don’t have to be a beer or cocktail drinker to enjoy the Aurum experience. This place could well stand alone as a dining destination, just for its Karnataka food. Real food that comes from a real place has a charm all its own.
Aurum Brew Works, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore: Service
Expect attentive service, but be prepared to wait when the place is full.
Plus & Minus:
An attractive brewpub that takes its food seriously. Traffic and the work-in-progress nature of the area means it’s for those who live in and around Sarjapur Road.
