Someone once asked me what i would do if i did not have to work for a living and i said that i would like to be a food critic. So when i dined at The Grasshopper, on Banerghatta road in Bangalore, i promised that i would write about my experience there.
The Grasshopper is listed as one of the most romantic restaurants in Bangalore..... so, one balmy evening, in a particularly romantic mood i set out for the Grasshopper. The ride to the place is not terribly comfortable, to say the least. It seems to be situated in the wilderness, given the fact that the road leading to it is extremely dark. However, the effort of coming all the way to such a remote place pays off when you set foot inside the restaurant's compound.The view that greets you is breathtaking ........ The first thing you see is the vast expanse of trees(quite a sight in the Bangalore concrete jungle) and amidst the trees is a small island which houses the restaurant.
The hosts probably understand the awe thats strikes people when they enter their restaurant, so after being ushered to your seats, you are left alone to drink in the beauty of the place.Being a sucker for ambience, i could not help but notice how bereft the place is of the noise that is so characteristic of the city.Since you are asked your food preferences while making a reservation, there is no menu card and you are served with whatever the chef decides to delight you with.
In my opinion, the food at The Grasshopper is excellent. My reasons for saying so are twofold. Firstly, all the ingredients in the food are extremely fresh and the flavor is maintained by the delicate and minimal use of spices and seasoning, as the chef relies almost entirely on natural herbs and condiments. Secondly, the food is exactly in tune with the surroundings; vibrant and unpretentious.Imagine, eating French cuisine at a roadside dhaaba or even worse, eating greasy Butter Chicken, in a beautiful waterfront restaurant.The sumptuous meal consisted of fresh salad, warm apricots and figs stuffed with cheese, delicious seafood and chicken and some delectable cheesecake and homemade icecream.
I would suggest The Grasshopper to anyone looking for a nice, QUIET and definitely romantic place to dine at.It has a certain allure and charm that can only be felt by someone who has been there. I guess people who anticipate eating, the done to death masala food in a "fancy, pretty place" are going to be highly disappointed.
As for me, dinner at The Grasshopper is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable meals that i have had. The place has a mysterious, almost mischievous aura, like that of the early morning mist......pure, cleansing and everlasting........
