Imagine a calm and serene forest, right here in the city!
Tucked away in a corner of Padmanabhanagar is Vanani, a nature and wildlife themed restaurant. Inspired by outdoor treks, this joint partnership between Abhilash H. and Radhakrishna Reddy aims to give customers an experience rather than just a meal.
So there are private candlelight dinners in little ‘caves', the coos of birds in the background, ‘parrots' hanging from the ceiling and a large tree with its branches reaching out to the rest of the space. Food is served on large wooden picnic tables, set with wooden forks and spoons.
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Coastal specialities
Only six months old, the multi-cuisine restaurant offers tandoori, Andhra, Chinese and coastal delights. According to manager Sukumar, it is also popular for its Mangalorean dishes and biryanis.
A cold and smooth fruit punch was the perfect way to beat the summer heat.
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Next came the Tawa rawa fish fry and yes, I was pleased. With a crispy coating, the Anjal fish was cooked perfectly and served with a side of onion, carrots and lime.
Painstaking presentation earned Vanani's special Paras kebab some brownie points. A little scooped tomato with a candle inside was placed in the middle of a plate of kebabs. The chicken kebab itself was very tender and soft.
On the vegetarian side, the Hara Bhara kebab was flavourful and crispy. Served with green chutney, it made for a good starter.
“We concentrate on giving personalised service. Customer feedback is very important and we have made changes in the menu based on suggestions,” said Abhilash.
Apart from the corporate and family crowd, students make up a major share of customers. Coming from colleges nearby, they give a thumbs up to this place that offers a meal that isn't too harsh on the pocket.
Vanani is located at 1st Cross, Subramanyapura Main Road, Opp. Indian Oil petrol bunk, Padmanabhanagar. Call 42014000 or 9845030125.