Ask not what you can do for your country, just ask what's for lunch!
Well, I have never really been a big fan of buffet meals. The reason being I believe ( from experience) that the quality and freshness of food served at a buffet are many notches lower than that served on an a la carte menu. And understandably so: when you get to eat around 10 dishes at the price of one or two, one must not complain. And the general observation about people going berserk at buffet meals, whether at a wedding or a restaurant, only goes to show that buffet meals are here to stay!
Last weekend I dropped in at Ebony. Yes, the same old restaurant located on the 13th floor of Barton Centre on M.G road. Almost every Bangalorean who is fond of eating out would have heard of this place and hence, it needs no introduction. For those of you who have not yet been to Ebony, let me tell you, this place gives you an amazing view of the city, particularly at night.
It was my second visit to Ebony and just like my previous visit; it left me satisfied but not ecstatic! As an answer to my grumbling stomach, I hastily picked up the dishes from the buffet and sat down with an eclectic collaboration of food on my plate.
Starters:
Sunheri Kasta: Call it the Indian Spring Roll sprinkled with Alu Bhujia. The waiter claimed that the cooks freshly cooked the starters for each table. Oh common my boy! I’m not that dumb. It was so evident that the cook had just re- heated it.
Sichuan Potato: Cold and stale, it didn’t leave a good impression either.
Main course:
Paneer Pasanda: This was just about average. The panner wasn’t juicy but if you’re a paneer fan like me, you could still enjoy it.
Lahore Rasili Sabzi: it’s a mixed vegetable side dish. I liked this one and actually went for a second serving.
Bhindi Nazakath: I’m probably the most ardent lover of Bhindi in this world. You can give me any dish that has Bhindi in it and I will gobble it up in no time. As a token of my loyalty to this vegetable, I shall say that I loved it.
Stir fried Cantonese noodles: You would probably have tasted this a million times before, at a different restaurant and with a more exotic name of course.
Five island vegetable in yellow bean sauce: the dish is as interesting as its name. If my memory is not that bad, then it had baby corn, broccoli, tomato, capsicum, and beans in it. It can safely be called a vegetarians delight.
Tomato and Dal: I simply couldn’t stop myself from stacking up my plate with this dish. Eat it with the basmati rice ( also on the menu) and you are sure to fall in love with Dal- Chaawal all over again.
Desserts:
Pyramid chocolate cake: Beautifully made and served, I bet you can’t have just one.
Khus ka Falooda: I tasted just one fourth of a teaspoon of it and realised, I just couldn’t take it anymore. It’s not a bad tasting dessert at all, but my taste buds seemed baffled when I tasted it.
Apple Crumble with Cream: Wow! This was the hero among the desserts. The outer crust had the perfect degree of crispness, sharply contrasted by the inner stuffing consisting of raisins, baked apple and cinnamon.
Time for my verdict- I would give ebony a 3.5/5. The ambience of Ebony is very basic, wooden tables and chairs on the inside and outside. However, Ebony exudes an old world charm that you just cannot miss. The buffet is priced at 375 rupees per plate. I suggest you go here on one of those lazy Sunday afternoons without too many expectations of course.
