Vidyarthi Bhavan since 1943
Posted on 6th October 2008 Tags: bangalore, food, restaurant, review
Vidyarthi Bhavan is the restaurant I visited yesterday. This is located near Gandhi Bazaar and forms a sybolic representation of old Bangalore. Vidyarthi Bhavan is best known for ‘Masala Dosa’ since it was started in 1943. If you are a foodie and exploring options for your breakfast or lunch, you shouldn’t miss this restaurant. While you are planning to visit this small crowded place, keep aside your calories related thoughts. This place is certainly not for those who are too concious about diet and calorific values.
One menu item you shouldn’t miss there is the ghee-fried dosa having potato masala and this is served with coconut chutney. The crispy feel and the taste will make you recall this restaurant for ever! You need to wait for atleast 15-20 minutes to occupy a table. To order the food of your choice, should have the patience to wait for another 10 to 15 mins. A suggestion from me is that you order for Idli and Vada along with Masala Dosa. It would be wrong to say the person who serves you here as waiter… reason being you are the one who is waiting for food, where as waiter is essentially not a waiter! He gets you Idli and Vada in Sambhar. You can keep yourself busy with these till he gets ‘Masala Dosa’. This usually takes another 10+ minutes. It is certainly fun to watch these guys carrying 15+ dosas stacked on their one hand while the other hand busy serving them. I have been visiting this place occassionally since my childhood.
Few things that really draw your attention include the simple interior with pencil sketches of famous ‘Kannada’ people on the wall. However the cleanliness and hygiene has deteriorated over a period of time. I saw a couple of kids being employed there to clear the empty plates on tables and then to clean the same. Another aspect is that many of us may not like people standing next to us when we are eating. But here it is pretty common.. others are eager too to occupy your seat and to rejoice their turn of eating food!
