As a proud resident of Malleshwaram a few years back, the only the other place I ever wished to live in was – you guessed it – Jayanagar 4th block. For vegetarian middle-class souls, these two areas in Bangalore are worth Paris, London, and New York rolled into one. And not without reason. There are few such places in this universe where one can go around with a list of tasks and get them all done in a single walk. From getting clothes altered, to sipping a cup of coffee and tucking in an idli or two, to saying a hello to a desired God there is a little bit of everything for the mind, body, and soul.  Because of the restrictions of space and patience of my readers, I am going with my  gut feeling and writing about that one thing that you, my readers can never have enough of – great food that is light on the wallet.

Cool Joint – So, what is the first thing that almost everyone worth his sandwich knows about 4th block? You already have the answer.  It is a landmark that is hard to miss. The range of people this crowded food junction attracts deserves a separate blog altogether. Grilled sandwiches at Rs 20, fruit juices at Rs 10, and softee at Rs 5 – how do they beat the inflation?  

 Pavithra Paradise – Next to the food monument mentioned earlier stands its arguably second most famous counterpart. If Cool Joint is Lata Mangeshkar, Pavithra is you-know-who. From hot sunday afternoons to cozy tuesday evenings, Pavithra is the manna for all the shopaholics that flock to 4th block especially those who, between burps, reminisce lovingly about their many victories with the roadside vendors.

Adigas: Not strictly 4th block, but fie to the one who said that I have to live by my rules. If you never never have tasted the rava idli at Adigas, you should seriously re-consider the purpose of your existence. Poets could write paeans of this not-so-modest cousin of the humble idli, and still fall short of describing that melt-in-your-mouth, glaze-in-your-eyes experience. They serve other such divine stuff too – the jowar roti, the parotta, the masala dosa, the upma- but in this respect at least, I am monotheistic.

Ganesh Darshan: This is popularly known as something else, that something which is not displayed on their billboard at least. Dosa corner? I think I am close. Indulgent moms, starry eyed lovers, backslapping buddies, past-their-prime couples – all of them make space for themselves on the roadside while munching on India’s version of the crepe. The cooks here are extremely passionate about what they make. So, if you do such blasphemy like asking for less grease in your dosa, be forewarned. You might not relish the experience tooo much.

Sukh Sagar Ever since I praised their tomato soup the first time I was there, they have ensured that even if nothing else turns out right, their soup will still get the high fives. It is one of those rare restaurants that actually live up to their name.  Bangalore’s national dish as someone aptly put it – the Gobi Manchurian – occupies the hall of fame here. I have rarely seen a family go against tradition and order something else. And then there is the north indian fare – punjabi mostly – that has never failed to warm the most inner recesses of my stomach. Howthey manage to get all the spices right everytime I wonder. I could write a separate blog on their chaats but for now, in minimal whispers, I recommend the Paav Bhaaji.

There is a south indian thaali joint in one of the alleys, the name of which I am not immediately able to fathom. At Rs 35, it is among the cheapest meals you can ever hope to have in Bangalore. I wouldn’t go on a limb and say that this is the best thaali you will ever get for that price, but it sure isn’t a bad deal.

Because of my relative fidelity in matters of food, I have never made it to places like Hot Chips, Paratha Paradise, the juice corner, and places whose names my memory fails to recollect at this hour. I am hoping to cheat my instincts and get you information on these in my future blogs. Till then, happy burping!

 PS: For people who want me to broaden my horizons, and cover eatouts in the other bylanes of Jayanagar, send me your choices. So much to eat and so little time. Sigh!