Eateries with the word Sagar as a suffix, e.g. Shanti Sagar, Megh Sagar, are everywhere in Bangalore. Usually bright and airy, they open early, serve vegetarian fare, are affordable, and often full. But one does not have to wait for a table. There’s a self-service stand-and-eat area, an al fresco section for chaat/bhel, and many have an air-conditioned section (where you pay marginally more). There’s even the choice of service in your parked car.
The Sukh Sagar in Koramangala’s fifth block has a spanking new feel, with gleaming cream colored formica top tables in an art deco setting. The air-conditioned area in brown and sepia tones, has paintings of nineteenth century English squires and wenches.
At the self-service stand-and-eat section, we have sampled piping hot set dosas (Rs 14) as early as seven in the morning. Saucer sized and fluffier than the usual dosas, these come three in a plate with coconut chutney, and sagu, a pale, thin potato-onion gravy. Puri-sagu (Rs 17) is a meal in itself.
There are light snacks, thali meals, and north Indian, south Indian and Chinese dishes, all in extensive variety. Fresh fruit juices (Rs19-42), milk shakes (Rs 23-45) that include seetaphal or litchi in season, lassis (Rs, 10-12), fresh fruit dishes, somewith jelly/ice cream (Rs 22-27), falooda (Rs 31-40), milk drinks with dry fruits (Rs 45-65) and the so-called Bombay kulfis (Rs, 23-27) add to the array.
In South Indian snacks, (Rs 9-24) besides the idli-vada-dosa contingent, there’s bonda soup (Rs 12). A fluffy, tennis ball-sized round vada is served swimming in a dal "soup." But the alu matar toasted sandwiches (Rs 24) are good. The hot dog with cheese (vegetarian! Rs 29) goes well with French fries (Rs 28). The bhel, cutlets, samosas, pani puri, ragda patties (Rs 11-43) section of the menu yields fare of the usual standard.
The North Indian menu (available from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm and from 7-11 pm) has 11 kinds of rotis/naans. From the kormas (Rs 4352), koftas (Rs 41-51) pulaus/biryanis (Rs, 34-52) and kadai specials (Rs 51-56), the kadai mushroom is our favorite. There’s alu mutter, baingan bharta and vegetable Kolhapuri too (Rs 31-49) with kaju mutter being the most expensive dish here (Rs 58).
The page-long Chinese list includes 14 soups (Rs 25-39) and features spellings like "spinich manchoorian" (Rs 43). Besides the ersatz Chinese bhel (Rs 29) and Chinese pulau (Rs 41), there are spring rolls (Rs 27-47) and noodles (Rs. 30-42). The 16 varieties of rice include "escud rice with mushroom" (Rs 45), but no one at theeatery knew what escud meant.
One has to be hungry and a big eater to do justice to the excellent thalis (North Indian Rs 35, deluxe Rs 60, South Indian Rs 20, deluxe Rs 40).
Sukh Sagar, 100 Ft Road, 5th A Block, Koramangala, Bangalore
