Kaara by the Lake. It has a welcome ring to it. And a quaintness we all search for. Simple yet soulful. This new restaurant cafe with its baked wonders opened its doors a few weeks ago, right opposite the Ulsoor Lake entrance, and it’s worth a visit. The owners Jaishankar Pandit and his wife, baker and talented home cook wife Radha Nair, have struck gold with the location for this one after opening Café Kaara on Dickenson Road. There aren’t many places that sit serenely with Ulsoor Lake to gaze at, and give you an Old Bangalore vibe. Kaara by the Lake does so, in its cubbyhole avatar. And Radha’s baking skills are to note, given the delicious slices of cakes and pastries people flock here for.
This cafe offers a comforting meal with some gup-shup, with the affable owner making it a point to stop, chit chat, offer suggestions on what to pick from Radha’s cooking. Incidentally, Radha started this endeavour when her lunches to her ad man hubby at his office became a rage. Opening a café was the most natural progression to this serendipitous happenstance.
The lady behind this wonderful café, Radha, explains, “Kaara is basically named after Karthikeyan, my son and Ragini, my daughter. I used to cater from home for offices and birthdays. Then we decided on opening a café on Dickenson Road, and now our second: Kaara by the Lake.” Prod further, and she adds, “Some people have a keen sense of food and taste, and I am one of those. This is my baby, and Jai (my husband) has been generous with his time and creativity. I must give him credit as he made my dream a reality, though for the food, I take full credit!”
A place for comfort food, Radha and Jaishankar also bring in their Old Bangalore warmth and a friendly personal touch! “You can ask for more garlic, our breakfasts are eggs made to order, pancakes, chia pudding and green smoothies. If a customer wants something not on the menu, I don’t mind my kitchen whipping it up,” adds Radha, who is self-taught.
Open from 10 to 10 on weekdays and from 9 am on weekends, we started with the Greek Salad — fresh and crunchy, a fiesta of lettuce and simple feta. It hit the spot. The mushroom bruschetta was good, larger pieces of mushroom to chomp on would be better. We decided to order a paneer and basil sandwich — soft paneer in a simple packing. It was good. The filling was just right. A dip, and salad and potato wedges or crisps would make it a full meal, as a suggestion, though there are interesting sides to order as well. The pastas are home-cooked in taste, and on many home delivery lists.
Our next was the chicken and sausage pizza. Gooey mozzarella on a nice crusty thin crust with chunks of chicken and sausage (also chicken). It was alright, with the tomato sauce, delicious, while the chicken could be less done. We liked the price point: easy on all pockets and the slew of beverages, pumpkin spice latte and Irish coffee frappe in particular.
We hear many old Bengalureans scramble to get a slice of pastries made fresh every day. “Our Thai curry, risottos and pastas are popular. In desserts, the blueberry cheese cake, flour-less chocolate pecan, key lime pie are classics. Radha also decides a special of the day. Ours was avocado toast. We make 12-14 pastries a day. So when they are over, they are over. The idea is to give people fresh baked goodies,” says Jai. Pretty apt considering that we walloped ours, and looked hungrily for more. First came a gooey flourless chocolate cake, which was melt in the mouth. Then our eyes got the better of our full stomach, and we spooned a delicious blueberry cheese cake. The walnut cake with sugar frosting was wow, moist and crumbly, and the cheesecake was not too sweet, yet creamy and delectable. Radha’s keylime pie is the freshest of fresh, and so are her chocolate and pumpkin cakes. You can’t go wrong with desserts here. Though you might want to be an early bird that catches the last crumb! This corner neighbourhood café’s is akin to that very special mom and pop eatery, homely by nature, interiors that are swanky and tastefully done, and easy on the eye. There are plans to have book readings, and a blank wall where Jaishankar, the veritable ad man, hopes to add artsy leanings of local artists. The already bustling café also offers khao suey and Thai plates. Next on our list, for sure. The menu is small, has soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, bakes, rice-parantha curries, milkshakes, tea, coffee and oodles of warmth!
It has something for the home-cooked food searching hungry horse for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s warm and welcomes all.
Two Kaaras already, are the enterprising couple planning more? “We have no plans of another. We just want to concentrate on both. We will also be adding 25 new items to the menu soon. The personal touch, of an old school coffee shop where stories and relationships unfold, that’s what we offer,” Jai adds.
We would have loved to see beef and pork on the menu but Jai wanted a universal appeal. The staff is helpful, service is quick and the vibe is — you do you, I’ll do me. Have a quick meal here, or order home delivery. This warms the ambers of one’s solace seeking soul. A friendly neighbourhood cafe that is not ambitious in its pickings, offers simple regular fare, it is a soothing salve for any traffic-hassled Oourean who reminisces the Bangalore of yore and longs for the comfort and camaraderie of the Cantonment. With Kaara by the Lake, you can almost taste that blissful era.
119, Annaswamy Mudliar Road, Opposite Ulsoor Lake Call 25586860
Meal for two: Rs 700 onwards
Must-haves: Keylime pie, chocolate flourless with Pecan, blueberry cheesecake, walnut cake and muffins. The Greek Salad, pizza and coffees. Try their khao suey, pastas and beverages
