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.