Foodie in me is alive again (when was it ever dead, I hear you guys say!). I don’t know about people, but I love old time places… that small coffee house with rickety chairs, that Irani restaurant with its checkered table cloth and those old udipis that serve just three things in their most basic form. All these places give you the feeling of an era gone by and serve delicious food in all its original splendour!
One such place that I like going back to Lake View Milk Bar (and you thought drinking milk was for kids?!) on MG Road,Bangalore. Just thinking about the food served there, my mouth has started watering.
Started in 1930, the Lakeview Milk Bar has an interesting history. Originally owned by an Englishman named Charles, it was sold to 19-year-old Vraj Lal in 1947. The outlet is said to have been named by Charles who had a dairy overlooking the Ulsoor Lake. Mr Lal would jokingly say, “The Parade Grounds was once a lake!” (Courtesy an article from Deccan Herald).
Already more than 75 years old, it was started as an ice cream parlour that graduated to serving super exotic sundaes and today also has a repertoire of Continental breakfast, Pizzas and Burgers and Pastries.
Just the other day, we went to watch Superman Returns, had couple of hours to kill before the show. It was lovely Bangalore weather at its best, as we walked down MG Road, dreaming about our near future, dinner at Lake View! It isn’t exactly the most amazing place to have a romantic dinner for two, but it has this lovely collegey (I know the word doesn’t exist, but you get the point, naah?) kinda feel to it. It’s a kinda place that would remind you about your first date over a cup of coffee or that sundae with two spoons in it.
It has simple wooden tables, with hard wood chairs fixed to the ground. So if you want to move the chair closer to hold hands across the table, tough luck (sit on the same side of the table!!;) The walls are a dull ivory with around 12 tables in a single area diner. There is no AC and no lobby to wait in etc. The lighting is simple in terms of tube lights and crockery clean.
The waiters dressed in black and white come to your able with clean glasses with water and menu cards. You open it up to find neat sections of salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, sundaes, juices and milkshakes. I have eaten lot of their non-vegetarian fare (Mayunk is against eating ghaas-poos while eating out!) and the taste is just awesome. The chicken sandwich is a great snack as you top it up with a hot coffee. The Hawaiian Pizza and the Meat Feast Pizza with chicken and ham, made with their freshly baked pizza base and topped with delicious mozzarella is to die for. The flavour is really unique and not run of the mill like your Pizza Hut and Dominos!
The omelets served are light, fluffy and of course yummy! A must try is the Spanish Omelet which is your regular omelet served with a tangy Spanish version of salsa sauce, that makes it a super hit. The baked beans on toast is also good, though at times the tomato sauce flavour is over powering.
The cold coffee and the milk shakes are refreshing. The chocolate milkshake I had was thick, frothy with just the right amount of sugar and lots of chocolate. The sundaes are sinful and the pastries, light and creamy.
The prices are very reasonable and total value for money. The pizza costs anywhere between 90 – 120 bucks, the sandwiches 25 – 45rs, the milk shakes and sundaes would set you back by 40 – 100bucks. So depending on how much you can eat, it should cost you anywhere between 100 – 200 bucks per person.
Don’t go there if you eat only panner makhani and/or fried rice because you will get disappointed for sure.
So if you just feel like walking down the memory lane of old time restaurants and enjoy their quaint charm, cozy atmosphere and great food, make sure you make that elusive trip to Lake View Milk Bar.
Maybe you will fall in love again??

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