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Miniature dosa and jamoon
PAVITRA HAS been popular with the folks in Jayanagar. A landmark in the huge Shopping Complex, this is where a group of college friends or a middle-class family would want to spend an evening together over some good food.
With the profile of Bangalore changing into a cosmopolitan one, Pavitra was thought of as a bastion of old values. But while the original Pavitra remains nostalgically the same, there has been an add on. Called Pavitra Palace, it is a 100-cover, air-conditioned annexe up one flight, done up in the art-deco style.
Old favourites such as dosa and bisibelebath are on offer, but the menu has been expanded to include north Indian fare as well. To keep up with the times, it includes pseudo-Chinese items such as gobi manchurian.
This Indianised dish has caught the City's fancy and is even seen in the stand-up "darshini" eateries. But gobi manchurian is rendered well at Pavitra Palace.
There are also some innovations such as masala dosa done in miniature size, available in the fast food section... another bow to the City's changing character.
There are also mini jamoons, and other familiar sweets in small sizes. The long list offers matar paneer, gobi masala, dum aloo along with peas pulav, jeera pulav, vegetable fried rice.
With roasted papad, mixed vegetable raita, and green salad as side dishes, the plates can be heaped with a bit of everything.
The prices show that it is an upgradation from the old Pavitra's tariff, but reasonable all the same.
The place is usually packed with diners waiting their turn for a table, but, despite the rush and bustle, each item is prepared well.
For instance, many City eateries resort to the use of food colours, especially red, in dishes such as dum aloo and gobi masala. But, it is not so here. The vegetables are treated with appropriate seasoning and heat to bring out their essential character with the desired tempering. The pulavs are delicious, while the vegetable fried rice goes well with the gobi manchurian.
The portions are generous, with puffed up kulchas looking like golden brown footballs waiting to be punctured. From the mixed vegetable raita, the green chilly bits have to be removed. Other than that, the cuisine is spicy but not overly so.
Pavitra Palace is open from noon to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. It can be contacted on 6630179.
ARUN BHATIA
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