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Green 'n' refreshing

Konark, the complete vegetarian place, is a perfect getaway for a shopper who is tired and famished

EASY MEAL The food comes in subtle flavours

Shopping on Commercial Street and looking for some place to simply put your feet up and enjoy a good meal? Head straight to Konark. This restaurant, little over a month old, is more or less masked by other concrete structures and huge shopping hoardings and you are sure to miss it if you don't look out for it. "We plan to put in our hoardings on either entries to this street," says Ramamurthy, the man behind the food joint.

This eatery is the second branch of Konark. The first one on Residency Road was started 22 years ago, and is still a favourite joint for most vegetarians. Konark serves only vegetarian cuisine as "there are very few pure vegetarian joints in the city. "

The best part is it includes Indian dishes from across the country and has also added in Chinese and American dishes. "But these are Indianised," says Ramamurthy, who adds that starting a new restaurant is easy as it is a family business and "one gets to learn the tricks of the trade from a young age." Ramamurthy is assisted by his wife Sujata, who is there everyday, supervising the cooks and to ensure that no colouring agents or preservatives are used.

This joint is situated on the third floor close to the Bata Showroom and the building is designed to use plenty of natural light with the use of tall glass windows. So if you are lucky to get a place close to the window you can sip on a chilled juice and watch life pass by.

Coming to the food, the menu offers starters and soups, apart from the main course. You can walk in between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. Meals are served between 11.30 a.m. and 4 p.m.. Popular South Indian dishes like dosas, idlis as well as sandwiches and juices are served through the day. There are also pizzas, burgers and cutlets.

The food is not spicy and comes in subtle flavours. If you are one of those who likes to burn your insides with spices then you can specify that when when you place the order.

My treat started with a piping hot tomato soup, which was really creamy and tangy. Then it was time for a bite of rotis and butter naans with a tri-coloured sabzi called Hamaari Pratheesta. There was an orange part (kadai vegetable) dominated with lots of tomatoes and mashed veggies, while the white one had loads of apples in kaju with methi malai mutter and cream based gravy, and the green coloured masala was a palak and pudina gravy with crisp toasted pudina leaves as topping — a perfect start that did not sit like concrete in your tummy.

In the rice platter there was a heavy vegetable biryani with a raita to end the meal that was later sealed with a plain vanilla ice cream topped with hot chocolate syrup. Another aspect that hits you is the care with which the food is presented. Though it comes with no frills it doesn't disappoint either. Konark is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is also open for parties during the weekdays. For details contact 22240865/41248812.

Ambience: bright and happy

Specialty: Simply vegetarian

Service: Good

Wallet factor: Brings a smile to your face

SHILPA SEBASTIAN R.

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