A hot and sultry Sunday afternoon found me at Coconut Grove on Church Street, looking for some relief from the unrelenting sun. My friend and I entered a little timorously, not sure whether to go up or head towards the ground floor section on the right. The first floor looked more enticing with palm trees and bamboos shading the tables.
We climbed up and headed towards a table in the corner shaded by bamboos. Ensconced in our corner with a gentle breeze fanning our faces, the rustle of the bamboos whispering promises of gourmet delights in our ears, it was difficult to imagine that we were sitting on the busy Church Street just a few meters away from the noisy M.G.Road!
As we waited to place the order, the waiter came and placed two copper-plated glasses on the table. The entire meal was served in traditional utensils and the staff was also dressed in traditional attire adding to the over-all ambiance. Not very hungry, but craving something warm, we started by ordering a Kozhi Nalikeram Rasam, a chicken soup with a base of coconut milk, spiced generously with turmeric, cinnamon, clove and pepper.
The soup arrived with a wonderful aroma of fresh spices and coconut milk. Delighted with the soup, we ordered a Chicken Stew with Appams for the main course. Though slightly bland in comparison to the soup, the stew too was delicious and the appams were warm.
I kept looking curiously all around and the dishes that seemed to be going to the other tables all seemed very enticing. Stuffed, but yet feeling greedy, I couldn’t help but order one portion of Semiya Payasam. Served warm, it was the perfect end to a delightful meal!
The afternoon ended on a wonderful note, as satiated and satisfied with the delicious meal, we sauntered down Church Street and entered Blossoms for an indulgent hour of book shopping!
My verdict? Coconut Grove, though not light on the pocket is definitely worth a visit. I, for one, am looking forward to my next visit, this time with a bigger appetite and more people so I can order more than one thing for the main course!
Location : No. 86, Spencers Building, Church Street, M.G. Road, Bangalore
My rating : 4.5 out of 5 (I was a little disappointed in the chicken stew, having tasted and made better stew myself!)
PlainGeets 
Hmmm : new career opening up for Corporate Mademoiselle ?
Hehehe for the moment, I’m just sharing my experiences. But who has seen the future? 🙂