Phone: 080 47483207
Address: 15, 3rd Floor, Madras Bank Road, Near Nexa Showroom, St. Marks Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Time: 12 Noon – 1:00 AM
Meals for two: Rs. 2,000
Cuisines: Modern Indian, North Indian, South Indian
Facilities: Full Bar Available, Smoking Area, Nightlife, Live Music, Serves Cocktails, Table booking recommended, Indoor Seating, Restricted Entry
Raahi, St. Marks Road, Bangalore: Decor
Raahi is where RockSalt used to be, just off St Mark’s Road. It looks pretty much the way it used to. A long, bright bar is a focal point. There’s mixed seating and you can choose from low sofas and high tables in the pleasant al fresco area.
Raahi, St. Marks Road, Bangalore: Food
Modern Indian is the theme of the menu, with some dishes inspired by regional cuisines and others with no particular provenance. From the snack menu, I had Smoking Salt Cured Snapper with Saunth Soy. It was a fiddly dish, the thin slivers of fish resting on a mini grill and with a boondi crumble served alongside. I did enjoy the Textures of Mushroom from the small plates — a pleasing mix of different mushrooms, including luxury gucchi, mushroom dust and cream. The Topli Paneer, sitting atop a dal moth salad, earns marks for the effort of making topli in bamboo baskets, but didn’t have enough flavor. The Coffee Cured Shrimps with XO Relish were pleasing enough, but I couldn’t see how the coffee enhanced the dish. In fact, ‘what’s the point of this?’ is a question I asked myself at certain points during this meal.
From among the main courses, I liked the Yak Cheese Datchi with Tingmo-Gurung Bread, though it was far less chilli hot than the real thing in Bhutan. The Bhoot Jholakia Pork Belly served with a comforting green galho worked as well.
The Duck Do Pyaaza had pulled duck with a do pyaaza gravy poured over the meat at the table. The gravy overwhelmed the duck.
For dessert, I’d recommend Coconut, a lovely concoction of creamy coconut that’s just sweet enough. Raahi also shakes up cocktails with Indian flavors which involve smoking, shrubs and Instagram-friendly garnishes. So, if you are the type who whips out your phone before you drink or eat, then here’s the place.
Service:
The wait staff are a perky bunch, well-up on the menu.
Plus & Minus:
The space is stylish and service is welcoming. Some of the dishes are satisfying. Others leave you underwhelmed.