Hotel Narayana

Narayana ‘Hotel’ is the one of the most famous old-time restaurants in Mangalore. This humble eatery stands tall and brave in the coastal city despite the invasion of fast food joints and multi start hotels. Located in the bustling Bunder area near the fishing dock, Narayana is famous for its seafood. If you are not from Mangalore, you might need to take a little help of the locals to get here.

As seen in the picture below, Narayana does not offer any plush interiors or an enticing ambience. Definitely a place if you want to feast on the freshest of fresh fish and not the place if you are on a date. The place looks more like a house converted into a hotel.

The no-frills Hotel Narayana

We make it a point to squeeze in sometime for a good meal at Narayana each time we are down in Mangalore. Finding a seat for yourself is always a challenge especially during the lunch hours. We prefer the seating on the mezzanine floor. Sharing a table with total strangers is the way to work around this place.

The place offers vegetarian and fish meals, the latter being most popular. The meal comes with rice, fish curry, a vegetable and pickle. But the steal is the platter of fish. The waiters bring along huge trays of fried fish and you can take your pick. From the bhuthai (sardine) and bangda (mackerel) to the Kane (lady fish) and Pomfret, Narayana offers some of the best choices of fresh fish. A visit here is a must to taste what fresh fish tastes like. Quite different from what we get to taste in our cities!

The popular fish meals

Fried fish

The fish is basically fried in a red chilli masala and extra masala is given on request for those who like their tongues on fire. It is a homecoming each time we eat the boiled rice, with the coconut based fish gravy and a slice of fried fish. Wash it down with a buttermilk or a soft drink and your meal is complete.

Adding to the local flavor is the crowd. Businessmen, working professional, masons, local traders, college students - all find their way to Narayana. Overall Narayana never fails to satisfy those looking for great seafood. The place might not score a ten on ten for hygiene but does not let you down either. Mangalore being hot most of the year, it is advisable to sit close to one of the large industrial fans.

Pay by : Cash only

Restroom: Have not tried

Average meal for two : Rs 200 depending on the size of fish.

Mel’s overall rating : 3.5 out of 5

Location: Reach the Taj Manjarun (now known as The Gateway) and ask for directions towards Bunder. The road is called Azizudin road, if you must know. Ph : 0824 2440891.

Guthu

There are some places in Mangalore which I visit every time I make a trip to the city. Guthu is one such place. I stumbled upon this place almost two years ago and it has been one of my favourites every since.  Situated in Falnir, Guthu is a great place to taste good local cuisine.

For those who like a plush ambience, Guthu offers a fine dining ambience as well. But we chose to sit on the terrace which has a traditional village atmosphere to it.  The red stone walls, a boat, a bullock cart, a make-believe well and various other utensils and farm items bring alive the life in a village. The seating is mainly that of cane chairs. To go with the ambience, the food here is served in copper bottom utensils. 

Each time I have visited Guthu, I have gone back happy with the good food. The menu here is multi cuisine but I strongly recommend the local Mangalorean/ Tulunad cuisine. Not the others are not good, but this is definitely worth a try.  My favourite here has always been the Chicken Ghee Roast. The order was placed even before I perused through the menu. And it was as always, Perfect! The meat was tender and had absorbed the masala well to make it juicy. The masala was thick and fried with a lot of ghee. Fiery red and full of spices. Keep a tissue handy while enjoying this dish. 

Chicken Ghee Roast

This time around we also picked our salad to compliment our food. Chicken Tikka salad it was! Cubes of chicken grilled in a tandoor and served with an assortment of peppers and other cold veggies tossed together with a Vinaigrette like dressing. The vegetables were crunchy and fresh while the chunks of chicken were soft. The quantity on this was good too. 

Chicken Tikka Salad

Cosmopolitan

Magic Drinks

For a drink, I chose a Cosmopolitan which is Vodka, Cranberry Juice, Cointreu and lime juice. Vinod ordered a mocktail called Magic Drinks – a unique blend of Strawberry crush, orange juice, 7up and blue curacao. 

For main course Vinod suggested we try various items in small portions. Going by the suggestion we asked for Gattis, Pundis and Neer dosa. Gattis are rice stripes steamed wrapped in banana leaves. Pundis are rice dumplings while Neer Dosas are very thin dosa made of a watery rice batter. 

Gatti

Pundi

Neer Dosa

Chicken Puli Munchi

To go with it, we ordered a Chicken Puli Munchi, a very well known delicacy of the Malnad region. This a gravy with a red chilli base but has a dominant tangy flavour to it lent by tamarind. This goes well with rice too.  Guthu scores high on the spice meter so be watchful when you order. In case you are here for lunch, you could also opt for their non-veg thali options which are well worth the money. These along with an additional side dish make a complete meal. Not too crowded, this place is great for team outings, family dinners and even impromptu ‘treat’ sessions. 

Pay by : Cash and cards

Restroom : Clean but basic, unisex

Average meal for two : Rs 800 with a cocktail and mocktail

Mel’s overall rating : 3.5 out of 5

Location: Pailand Plaza, Falnir Road, Mangalore. Ph: 0824 2420224/ 2420225.

Mangala Bar & Restaurant

If you an old timer in Mangalore, you’re definitely familiar with Mangala. For years, this restaurant has dished out several delicacies for the Mangalorean palate. Situated near Fathima Retreat House in Jeppu, this place has come a long way from being just a bar and restaurant to a hip and happening hang-out. Thanks to the next generation that took over the management, Mangala has become a much sought after place for great food.

I had been to this place a few years ago with my uncle who has to pay his customary visit each time he comes down to India. Such was the restaurant’s reputation. But somehow having seen fancy restaurants around, a dark and dingy place didn’t go well with me.

Vinod convinced me that the place has changed and I decided to try it. I am sssoooo glad I did it. To begin with, the place has been strategically divided into various sections- pub, family seating area, smoking zone and the old dark section. These are not the names given by the owner, but that’s what I figured by looking around at the seating.

We seated ourselves in the family area, which was filled with a lot of youngsters intrestingly. I am guessing it was the spill-over crowd as the pub was jam packed on that Saturday night. Some things never change- like the old waiters who are right now going through a culture shock watching babes in short skirts as against middle aged aunties walking around in saris.

As the place was packed, we had to wait to place an order as well as to receive it. Mangala has long been famous for its bar and now in their new avatar, they serve some amazing cocktails too at throw-away prices. Vinod ordered a cocktail (missed writing the name) and me a Bloody Mary - classic cocktails that never fail to impress.

Bloody Mary

The menu offers a multi cuisine fare. The famous Freddies (burgers) are a recent super-hit addition amongst other great choices. To go with the drinks, We ordered a Fried Chicken which were diced chicken fried in Indian spices.

Fried Chicken

We also ordered Roast Pork Chops. What a  delight! Succulent, juicy pork chops in a dark sauce which tasted like a Teriyaki sauce. The meat was so soft, it came off the bone with absolutely no effort. Because of the long wait, the waiter himself suggested that we go onto the main course. So, we skipped our second round of cocktails and took Breezers instead.

Roast Pork Chops

For main course, Vinod ordered a Kori Rotti for himself. This is a Mangalorean delicacy of red-chili based chicken curry and crisp dry wafers (the thickness of a Khakra or even thinner) made from boiled rice. The wafers (rotti) are broken to pieces and soaked in the gravy. The gravy was truly delectable and was soon swept clean off the dish.

I was told never to miss the Freddie and chose a Phat Freddie. The look of this burger can add on a 1000 calories to your weight. The posters around the place make it absolutely irresistible. My Phat Freddie had a beef patty with bacon, sour cream, lettuce and cheese. This had heaven in every bite. The patty was done to perfection and gave  KFC and McD a run for their money. Phat Freddie comes in choices of chicken, beef and pork. 

Phat Freddie

We would have loved to eat more, but for the rush. Mangala is surely going to be added to my list must-visit places in Mangalore. 

Pay by : Cash and cards

Restroom : Did not try

Average meal for two : Rs 800 with cocktails

Mel’s overall rating : 3.5 out of 5

Location: Silva Cross, Jeppu, Mangalore. Ph: 0824 2436726.

Kismis

Of the many eating joints that have sprung up in Mangalore, Kismis is a decent addition. Situated in Bijai Hills near Circuit house, this place offers south Indian, north Indian, International, Oriental and Arabic cuisines.

Walking in what strikes you first are the pink interiors hinting that this place must have hired a woman to do up the interiors. I am not biased but yes, we do love our ‘Pinks’.  The custom-made tall back chairs are a genuine attempt to give the place a modern chic look. From the extensive menu, we wanted to begin with a soup and ordered a Beijing Thong. Not a great name for a soup, but tasty nonetheless.

Beijing Thong Soup

A thick soup with shredded chicken and lots of red chilli paste, this awakened all my senses. With a dash of vinegar, I enjoyed (read slurped) it all the way. For starters we asked for the Al – Faham chicken. This dish was made of chicken breasts flattened out flavoured with ginger garlic paste and tomato and barbequed in Arabian style. The spices and the masala have the meat the needed zing. 

Al-Faham Chicken

Kismis offered choices in salads as well and we chose the Kismis special seafood salad. Salad veggies and chunks of assorted seafood tossed together in a cocktail dressing formed a meal in itself. But it was not much to my liking since I did not find the shrimps fresh. 

Kismis Special Seafood Salad

For main course, we picked Dijai Mandi from the Arabian food section. This was nothing but Arabian white rice with chicken. the rice was flavoured well with many spices but the chicken was extremely bland. The dish was accompanied by a sauce of tomato, ginger and garlic which did not  go well with the rice.

Dijai Mandi



Caramel Custard



To end our meal, we ordered for a Caramel Custard. A thin slice is what we got. Since I enjoy eating custard, the portion at Kismis was too little.  In all, our meal cost us a little over Rs 400. The service was good, ambience was decent and the food was just average. They would definitely have to work on their food to retain their customers.

Pay by : Cash and cards

Restroom : Did not visit

Average meal for two : Rs 450

Mel’s overall rating : 1 out of 5

Location: Bejai Hills, Circuit House Down Road, Bejai, Mangalore 575004. Ph: 0824 4279438

Sizzler Ranch

I had been waiting to go to this sizzler place for a long time and finally on a rainy Saturday, Vinod and me decided to indulge in sizzlers. Mangalore has few choices for sizzlers but I found Sizzler Ranch a good bet.  Located near the Mangalore City Corporation building, this place looks quite small form the outside. The garden seating is great if it does not rain. Inside the cozy looking restaurant, the seating is in two levels. The place in all can seat about 50 pax if not more. The menu mainly consists of various sizzlers and some side orders to go with them.  When you visit a sizzler joint, go straight for the sizzlers unlike what we did. We shared a Cream of Chicken Soup to begin with. A bland, not-so-creamy chicken broth was not a great start but was not a disappointment either.



Cream of Chicken Soup

If that was not enough, we ordered for Chicken and Chips. The chicken was mildly spiced, well done but not juicy. A brown sauce was poured over it with a generous sprinkle of pepper and salt. The quantity is good and may be too much for two before the main course.



Chicken and Chips



When it was time for sizzlers, we were not too hungry. We asked the waiter to suggest a sizzler with a cheesy sauce. Since we were sharing the sizzler, we were looking for something sinful. He recommended the Chicken Satellite. What was served was a standard sizzler with chicken with veggies, the only addition being a slice of cheese. The sauce was the usual brown sauce. However the taste was not disappointing. It might not be as good as the sizzler at Kobe but this was still one of the best in Mangalore.




Chicken Satellite

 Finally we could not resist the Sizzler Brownie and ordered for one to be shared. A scoop of vanilla ice cream balanced atop a warm brownie, with chocolate sauce sizzling on the plate. There was a piece of heaven in every slice as we scraped the plate clean.




Sizzling Brownie





The exterior of Sizzler Ranch and the two waiters who refused to move



Overall the meal was good. The place is neat. The service is fast and the prices for the quantity are very affordable.  

Pay by : Cash

Restroom : Basic facility with a steel wash basin like those in trains

Average meal for two : Rs 450

Mel’s overall rating : 2 out of 5

Location: Nehru Avenue Road, Lalbagh, Mangalore 575003  Phone: 0824 2459008

Froth on Top

‘Froth on Top’ the name itself is inviting. This was a favourite hangout for Vinod and his bachelor friends and that’s how I found my way to this cozy beer joint at Balmatta, Mangalore. And boy, am I happy or what! And quiet a nice name for a beer joint!

It’s not one of those run-of-the-mill dingy, noisy pubs. FOT is a quaint house with a tiled roof renovated to make place for  this pub. Tall shrubs placed all around the house surely cuts down the din from the busy street.  Thanks to the shrubs, many students make themselves comfortable with a mug of beer away from the sight of passersby.

The décor of the place is simple. White walls with wacky sing boards and posters. The seating is very basic and is arranged to fit in a maximum crowd. Each room of the house is converted to provide seating. To make ordering food simple, the menu is placed under the glass toped table so you can look at it all the time while you’re wondering what to order next. On second thoughts, a good strategy to get the guests to order more!

The menu has a lot to offer and FOT is definitely the place to be if you like to spend half a day with your beer and friends. You can start your day with their good breakfast offerings. The American breakfast here is something you’d love to begin your day with. Apart from this, there are a whole variety of starters spanning across chicken, pork, seafood and of course veggies. There’s almost everything on a menu. The various cuisines at FOT are Goan, Mangalorean, Continental, Chinese and Thai. If you’re looking for a no-frill order, then there are always the burgers and sandwiches which are a good bet.



We reached Froth on Top for an early lunch. The bachelor boys, hubby and wifey! As ritual demands, beer was ordered first. Nothing to write home about KF Premium here. Bibhash, one of the boys ordered French Fries until he decided on what he actually wanted to order. The fries are yummy, similar to the ones you get at McD. Moderately plump and not follow in the centre like many other fries. The good thing is, there’s absolutely no oil sticking to your fingers. You can order a second and a third helping without feeling guilty.

French Fries





Vinod does not miss his Sausage and Corn Hash when he visits FOT. Chicken sausages chopped and tossed with corn hash and mashed potatoes in a white creamy sauce go into the making of this splendid dish. The dish is low on spice and can suit any palate. A dash of pepper is all it has. Top it with a little ketchup for a tangy twist and voila! Highly recommended, the Sausage and Corn Hash will make its way to your list of favourites.

Sausage and Corn Hash

The good thing about FOT is that many a times, they have new introductions to their menu. Bibhash ordered a pasta with chicken and corn. This dish does not feature on the menu but was one of those limited edition dishes they introduced. Bibhash being a regular here, gets to order it anyways. It looked like any other pasta. Penne with chunks of crunchy grilled chicken, steamed sweet corn in white sauce combined with spinach make it a whole meal. The combination of tastes is incredible in this dish but personally I would have preferred more sauce in it. I usually like pasta swimming in sauce rather than a mere coating.

Pasta with Chicken and Corn



Pasta from up close


Yashpal, another of our friends ordered a Paneer Shanghai. A starter which he chose to make the main course. Thanks to the back to back weddings in the month of May, the tummy craves for some simple vegetarian food. Not ours as yet, but Yashpal’s. The Panner Shanghai with its dark red colour looked tempting as compared to the previous two dishes. It tasted equally good with thinly sliced panner pieces in a semi spicy sauce of Capsicum and spring Onions. This dish would taste best when accompanied with a fried rice. The panner was not rubbery  and sufficiently soft, just enough to hold it together. The flavor of the soy sauce came out very well but at the same time blended with the other spices as well.

Paneer Shanghai

After a lot of speculation, I ordered a Chicken and Sausage Steak. Yes sausage once again! By now you know what my favourite food is. This dish had a generous amount of sausages and sliced of grilled chicken. The meats were stirred in a brown sauce. I do not know the exact name of the sauce but yes it was medium spicy and had a lot of pepper in it. The steak was served with a helping of buttered veggies and mashed potatoes. While the sausage and chicken tasted great as always, the hero in this dish was the portion of mashed potatoes. The texture was smooth and was tasted fantastic with its creamy flavor. Unlike other mashed potatoes, there was a distinct cheesy/ creamy taste to it.

Chicken and sausage steak

There are many reasons why you should go to Froth on Top. The menu is vast, the ambience is good, the food is great, the service is fast and above all it does not cost much. The bill for the four of us for a light lunch including the beer came up a little more than a 1000 bucks.

Pay by : Cash and cards
Restroom : Did not explore
Average meal for two : approx Rs 500
Mel’s overall rating : 4 out of 5
Location: Balmatta, Balmatta Arya Samaj Rd, Mangalore - 575001, Karnataka, India. Phone : 0824-4256855