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Restaurant Name: 1 BHK: Bar House Kitchen, Koramangala
Phone: +919591426566
Address: #56, Raj villa, 5th cross, 60 Feet Rd, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru 560095 India
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 2,000
Cuisines: Desserts, Fast Food, Healthy Food
Facilities: Home Delivery, Takeaway Available, Full Bar Available, Indoor Seating, Desserts and Bakes
1 BHK: Bar House Kitchen, Koramangala, Bangalore: Decor
It is so very reassuring that after a long, forced period of inactivity, new restaurants have opened in the city. One of these is 1BHK, standing for bar house and kitchen. At a time when small, intimate restaurants are considered cool, this one is vast, seating over 200 people, with an al fresco courtyard, an air conditioned area and a terrace.
The restaurant is styled on the lines of a Goan heritage home and walls are painted an arresting shade of ochre. Arched windows and vintage grills emphasise the look. I sat in the open space, covered by a transparent roof, when I went here for lunch.
1 BHK is a brand from Mumbai and the Bengaluru restaurant menu replicates the original quite closely.
1 BHK: Bar House Kitchen, Koramangala, Bangalore: Food
At the table for three, we ordered the Bengali Fish Cutlets (₹399), Andhra Style Spicy Chicken (₹349) and, for the vegetarian, Chickpea Hummous with Chilli Thecha (₹349). The cutlets were excellent, packed with poached and flaked river sole and potato, fried to a golden crispness. The chicken, on the bone, in its hot, green masala was enjoyable, too. Hummus is now ubiquitous on multicuisine restaurant menus. This one passed muster. Having spent months in Goa, eating the poder’s daily offering, I did not think much of the poee that accompanied the hummus.
For main course, two of us shared a Khau Suey with prawns (₹549), while the vegetarian had the Veg Dhansak with Brown Onion Pilaf (₹449). The flavour of the khau suey broth was pleasant, but it was gloopy with too much thick coconut milk. This is also the case with Thai curry in most restaurants that labour under the mistaken notion that lots of coconut cream makes the dish rich and palatable. The original is often quite thin, yet intensely flavourful, the coconut milk being used only to add a velvety finish.
The Veg Dhansak got the thumbs up. I tasted also the Parsi-style Bharuchi Kid. The meat was tender, but its flavour was lost in the overly rich and creamy gravy that coated the pieces.
I haven’t been indulging too much in dessert these days, but I’m glad I tasted the Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel Tart (₹299). From the buttery tart crust to the play of salt and dark chocolate, it was just perfect. The Saffron Milk Cake (₹329), not too far removed from tres leches, was delightful, too.
1 BHK has a full bar and also serves sangria and all the cocktail classics.
