You start by reading what looks like a menu but turns out to be a story of the origins of the biriyani, along with a brief bio of the owner, Mr Biriyani Merchant himself. The menu for the day is fixed, your only choice is vegetarian or non. You sneer at the vegetarian and get going on the two non-veg starters - one chicken, one mutton. There are four varieties of salads/raithas, one pickle and papads on the side.
The biriyanis come rolling in next. You are served three varieties, one following the other. You gulp down the first (Calicut Prawns Biriyani) just in time for the next (Hyderabadi Chicken). You sit back and burp when the third (Awadhi Ghost) arrives. The waiter stops by five minutes later, when you are surreptitiously loosening your belt, to ask: "Sir, which biriyani would you prefer as the main course?". You goggle at him and mutter something about prawns. He comes back with another serving of Prawns Biriyani. Unlimited, of course.
Some time later, the fingerbowls are out, you lie back on the seat. You can't move. The waiter arrives yet again with a serving of the day's sweet (Double ka meetha). You nibble at it, decide it's delicious, you wolf it down and order one more. A serving of Sulaiman Tea brings up the finale.
Mr Biriyani Merchant stops by your table, asking about the food. You restrain yourself from falling at his feet and proclaiming that you are not worthy. You also restrain yourself from gushing about the restaurant, on LiveJournal. After all, it's just another meal.
Reminds of Mercurries in Delhi. Fixed menu. Unlimited Kababs for starters (6 different kinds). Two choices for the main course (one of which is invariably biryani). Totally unnecessary, actually, because by that time the tummy can hardly accommodate much else. The manager comes running when it's reported that you are not partaking fully of the main course - have weakly waved it away, in fact. As you try and explain to him your stuffed condition while gasping weakly for breath, the waiter is hovering again, trying to help you make some room for the dessert. All this for 300 odd bucks. Heaven!
ReplyDeleteJust finished lunch and this makes me take the first flight there and eat. Sounds sooper stuff. Tried this once at Radisson in Delhi.
ReplyDeleteMust take a look when I am in Bangalore next month. How much does this gluttony event cost?
Funny, 300 is the price out here too. Maybe that's the going rate at Heaven.
ReplyDeleteGodamn. Bangalore's fast climbing up the social ladder. If the guy has a rollicking business at those prices, it has a lot to speak for the existing salaried class ... Oh, and my average meal outside is about $10 and it is mostly crappy ... beh ;/
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize it had WiFi as well. The owners seem completely clued-in! =)
I'm not going to state the obvious.
ReplyDeleteWhen you are in Hyderabad, try the biryani at Paradise, at Paradise in Secunderabad (the entire area / bus stop is named after the irani hotel and the old theater that used to stand there).
ReplyDeleteOh, my relatives stay just a couple of km from Paradise (Sikh village). Have had the biriyani lots of times.
ReplyDeleteHyd snobbery my gluteus!
ReplyDeleteI'm up to the gills with biryani, but you make me want to run to the Merchant.
ReplyDeleteReminded me of Biryani Baker (B.B. Caterers, Statue) who is a vakayiloru bruther.
I am at my wits end hearing about you guys talking about all the restaurants, especilly Biryanis mushrooming all over the city.... and to think that I haven't had a decent Indian meal in 2 years..... :-( I need a hug! :-((
ReplyDeletehttp://www.livejournal.com/users/fus/49231.html --> this one really made me salivate and got me seriously thinking about coming home soon!!
{{}} my friend
ReplyDeletewe havent spoken in a long time
how goes c++ and the molecules ?
hey there! Oh... learning all optics control systems right now to look at all those teeny-weeny molecules... not much c++ now :-)
ReplyDeleteMTR in Bangalore is for vegetarians - you're stuffed by the third course, with ten to go!!
ReplyDeleteExactly what I said to fus after our orgy at BM!
ReplyDeleteAah!! A brother-in-arms.
ReplyDeleteCrap ! This side of the world, curry seems to refer to cheese and baking soda with significant quantities of some color additives.
And yeah no thanks for that link too *wipes drool off keyboard*
I am completely kicked about your user pic and my user name :-D
I'm not going to guess what the obvious is.
ReplyDeleteNow that's one place I've always meant to visit. Thanks for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha. Thanks for the info! :)
ReplyDeletenow to find an excuse for this...
ReplyDeleteAnd, you do this to me!
ReplyDeleteHehe... I couldn't resist the user pic after all the XXX's and Oldmonk i guzzled back home... Rum is my fav alcohol!!
ReplyDeleteSorry Sir...
ReplyDeleteYou are excused, but mind it next time! I mean, how can I stay focussed thinking about biryani if you people are cluttering up this space with all your non-biryani nonsense? I can either eat biryani or sweep the floor. I can't do both at the same time. Don't you people understand?
ReplyDeleteis that the old lemom grass place or sigri?
ReplyDeleteeven hyderabad biryani on victoria road is good. Ask for the mutton pakodas- its not in the menu for some strange x files reason, but its superb
No, it's not the old Sigri. It's after where Sigri used to be, on the right if you are coming from airport road. Sigri has shifted to Indira Nagar and it's place has been taken by Herbs and Spices, btw.
ReplyDeleteI saw the Hyd Biriyani shop, haven't stopped to eat yet. Thanks for the pakoda tip.
If you really looking for oldmonk, Im sure you can get it whereever you are... a friend actually got me oldmonk from somewhere for around 20 euros... steep but nonetheless worth every penny
ReplyDeleteOk let's talk Biryani... for starters Got Rum? ;-)
ReplyDeleteAlso, Have any of you'll tried this well-known Spanish Dish - Paella? Thats the only European dish closest to Biryani...
Rum, rum, rummah! No. Not got.
ReplyDeleteNever tried Paella either, but I've had Spanish Omelette at Koshy's. Which reminds me: Danny and I once went to Koshy's and I pointed out the Spanish Omelette on the menu. Now, Danny's a Spaniard and he knows the real Spanish Omelette. He took one look at the menu entry and declared that it could not be a Spanish Omelette.
How so? It turns out that Koshy's has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions, and there is no non-vegetarian Spanish Omelette in Spain.
//--
ReplyDeleteTry Paella if u get an oppurtunity sometime... mouth-watering pot-pourri of different sea-foods in saffron like Biryani!
--//
Well, actually spanish ommelette just has eggs, potato and onion, so
there´s no reason to deny that it´s a vegetarian dish...
Fuck it, don´t think that much, just eat, it´s really good!!
Rubén.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards / Saludos
Rubén Abad
Well , whaddya know !
ReplyDeleteI was always under the impression that Uncle Sam doesn't look upon Indian alcohol imports very kindly (try Kingfisher brewed in New Jersey).
A few minutes on google and voila! At least some importers who supply only on wholesale exist.
Thanks for the tip :-D, although a friend arrives from home tonight, so should be laden with the good stuff
Hi...I'm Madhav's old schoolmate...Now in Delhi...You mentioned Mercurries...where in this weird wild city will that place be????
ReplyDeleteNew Friend's Colony - Next to Lotus Pond (that's the name, I think, of the Chinese joint). Only if you are non-vegetarian, though. The same model as The Great Kabab Factory, actually, but I somehow prefer this place.
ReplyDelete