Not just for the suited and booted

The authentic yet perfectly spiced food at Anupama is a breath of fresh air

New on the block: The owners took nearly three months to decide on the amount of spice and the kind of Andhra cuisine that Bangaloreans would like before they opened shop. Photo: Satish Badiger

Decked up with lights against the backdrop of the evening sky, the building that houses Anupama cannot go unnoticed. On climbing a cosy staircase lit with dim lights, I was surprised to see the large restaurant that even had a spacious party hall.

The crockery, shiny flooring and non-squeaky sofas, earned it some brownie points. Sipping a colourful fruit punch that had a generous dollop of mango ice-cream further elevated my mood.

Famous biryani

With some clichéd Bollywood music playing in the background, I launched into a conversation with the manager N. Babu.

Anupama is a well-established name in Hyderabad and the owner wanted to serve his famous biryani to Bangaloreans as well, said the manager.

A year old, the restaurant is situated in close proximity to tech parks and caters largely to a corporate crowd. The evening seemed to be dominated by families though, who could not get enough of Anupama's food. “It took us nearly three months to decide what amount of spice and what kind of Andhra cuisine would be suitable for our customers here,” said the manager. Anupama also offers cuisines other than Andhra food. I started my meal with a platter of tikkas. I also kept my glass of water ready, just in case my mouth caught fire. The paneer was soft and the corn was crispy. But, it was the chicken kalmi kebab that stood out — tender and cooked to perfection. The best bargain was the fish tikka which, incidentally did not smell fishy, and was served with a green chutney dip. The best part was that the food was not too spicy. Anupama's food shows how authentic Andhra food can be served sans the heavy spices.

Main course

After watching the boneless chicken biryani being served at every table, I decided that was to be my main course. The basmati rice coupled with the chicken pieces, a hard boiled egg, gravy and raita definitely lived up to its reputation. Thalis, another specialty, is the most ordered as it is hearty and reasonably priced. Murali Kumar, a regular at the restaurant, said he comes back for the good service and tasty food. Vijay Bhanu, a first timer, said, “I liked the apollo fish and their quick service.” His two-year old seemed to be enjoying his chicken lollipop.

So, if you like Andhra food minus the spice, Anupama is where you should head.

But spice lovers need not get disheartened, for they serve food according to your preference here.

Good food, pleasant ambience and friendly service sum up Anupama. The restaurant is located at 253, Dolphin Mansion, near Hennur bus-stop. Call 25434111.