The Konkan (Est. 2017) — Restaurant in Bengaluru

Food: Chicken ghee roast - An amazing Konkan dish that is subtle on a spice level but the flavors were out of this world; this fiery, tangy dish was well coated in their signature masala and spices, roasted well in ghee, and tastes exuberant. On first contact it feels spicy like a chili powder chutney but NOOO. The juicy boneless meat, and that fragrance from the Konkan masala make this dish worth the price 🤩

Mutton pepper fry - Classic Mangalore-style dish with loads of pepper, green chilies, and curry leaves. This wasn't boneless yet the succulent taste from the meat with the jelly texture from the mutton was OH WOW!! Crunchy on the outer with lots of flavours from the perfect marination 🥰

NV meal - Traditional NV meal served with appalam, thick rasam, chicken gravy, chicken 65, a veggie (yam), buttermilk and carrot halwa ❤️ The gravy outclassed every other dish they could ever serve in a Mangalorean meal; that Konkan chili flavor from the chicken gravy was soul-touching. With the rice and the mutton fry, this puts every other dish to shame. Even the egg roast had a similar fragrance and was mildly spiced; but, with the sides, this is one SOLID meal 👌

Mutton Biryani - One of the best biryani I've had in Bangalore; succulent mutton with no frills, excellent spices (not spicy at all) with the meat being cooked to perfection. The rice was perfect with generous meat quantity on the whole 😍

Chicken urval with neer dosa - This tangy BL chicken has got that beautiful aroma from the red chilies and the infused flavors from the Konkan masala. Topped with cashews this one is neither too spicy nor a gravy but goes very well with the soft neer dosa 😘

Sol kadi - A colored buttermilk-flavored drink made from coconut milk and kokum extract. This is a bit Tangy, very refreshing, and good on the tummy 😊

Ambiance/ Price: Located on the first floor of the building this place doesn't have its parking; off-street parking. They've got good seating space and might have to book tables during peak hours. The place was lit dimly but had good embellishments with more celebrities dropping by now and then. The service was commendable with not much of a waiting, kudos to that. The only concern would be their price since they're quite expensive even for one dish. But that shouldn't deter or take away the quality of food being offered. It's...

My recent dinner at The Konkan was a delightful culinary experience through the authentic flavors of the Karavali region, right here in Bengaluru. Here’s everything we ate:

Drinks: We started with a White Wine Sangria and a Soju Watermelon Passionfruit Cocktail. Both were refreshing and well-balanced, setting the tone for the evening.

Starters:

Paneer Kolivada: The paneer was soft and fresh, encased in a light, crisp masala coating with subtle flavors. Pairing it with a green chutney elevated the dish further.

Butter Garlic Prawns: This dish hit all the right notes - succulent, fresh prawns in a rich buttery garlic sauce. Absolutely perfect.

Chonak Rava Fish Fry: A must-try! The bite-sized boneless fish, coated in a crispy rava masala, was incredibly fresh and flavorful. I learned it’s a Karavali specialty, and it didn’t disappoint.

Main Course:

Chicken Ghee Roast: This was the star of the meal! Perfectly spiced, rich in ghee aroma and flavors, it was finger-licking good. Paired with soft neer dosa, it was a match made in heaven.

Mushroom Masala: A creamy, coconut-based curry with tender, high-quality mushrooms. It paired beautifully with both neer dosa and parota, making it a great choice for vegetarians who like mushroom.

Dessert: We ended the meal with a Caramel Custard. While the texture was light and jiggly, the slightly watery interior and subdued sweetness made it less memorable compared to the rest of the meal.

Ambiance and Service: Although the food is on the pricier side, the quality and authenticity make it worth every penny.

A special shoutout to Shivaprasad, whose attentive service and personalized suggestions enhanced our experience significantly.

Final Thoughts: From fresh seafood to traditional preparations, it’s a place I’d gladly revisit. Definitely recommended for those seeking a taste of Karavali flavors...

Let's start with the nitpicking - a couple of flights of stairs to climb and no alcohol served here. There, that's it with the negatives... so let's move on to the many positives! Its location on Church street makes it a cinch to find, and valet parking as well as a few pay-n-park options exist around the place to make life easier for those intending to visit. The ambience is very unassuming and subtle, definitely does not exude fine-dine vibes but the food and service exceeds fine-dine expectations... After the sad demise of some of our favourite Mangalorean/coastal restaurants due to COVID, we weren't expecting to find our new favourite here... but we were in for a pleasant surprise. We started with the delectable Solkadi and a very interesting Kokum Soda, while the wait staff gave us very thoughtful recommendations on starters - Squid masala fry, flavourful and not rubbery, Prawns Koliwada, an adaptation but a good one, and Pomfret Rava Fry, perfect in every way, delicate and fresh. We didn't have too much room for mains, but we tried the very amazing and cloud-like Sannas, Neer Dosas and Kori Gassi, all of which hit the spot. I am a traditionalist when it comes to how authentic I want the Kori gassi to be, and trust me this one came dangerously close! I really really wanted to taste the ghee roast but my normally reliable appetite let me down, I was about to explode, so with public interest in mind I decided to leave it for another day. A very memorable and authentic coastal meal at a very good price as well. And as for the alcohol... you can always head to one of the gazillion watering holes on Church street for that, before or after your visit here. Just remember not to drink and drive. I'll definitely be back here to try the stuff I wasn't able to... hope they keep up their excellent standard of food...