MTR for the uninitiated

Tell me about one travel article to Bangalore that does not mention MTR (Mavalli Tiffin room) as THE place to go for authentic South Indian meal in Bangalore. The ambiance is ahem! unique and believe me, all of Bangalore wants to eat here on any given day.

Everyone tells you to go there but no one tells you what to do once you reach. Therefore, in this post, I help by letting you know how to have a satisfactory breakfast experience at MTR. Here follows some tips from me. If you continue to the end of the post, there’s also a surprise waiting!

1) If you’re not a morning person like me, the best time to visit MTR is around 10.15 am – Breakfast closes at 11 am and the doors shut after around 10.45 am. No one’s allowed in after that. Why 10.15 then you ask? Well, many people just like you wanted to have breakfast at MTR and many people just like you, are not morning people.

2) Put your name down with the chap who calls out for tables as they become free. Well, this part is not difficult. But be sure to hang around him. I suggest a you maintain not more than 2 feet distance between the chap and you at any moment. Why? Sometimes the guy’s prone to calling out names in such a soft voice that you may not hear. He does not believe in second chances and right in front of your eyes, you may see the family with the kid carrying balloons bought from Lalbagh trooping in instead of you.

Now we come to the most delicate part of the operation:

3) When your names are called out, spring up from your seat and follow instructions to you table but AT THE SAME TIME, make a sweep of the entire room and check what’s on everyone’s table. If you’re Sherlock Holmes that no problem. Else, like me, you’ll need to practice about 2-3 times. Why you ask? Well, there are no menu’s in MTR. When the waiter blesses you with his presence, don’t annoy him by asking what’s there. Else, he’ll annoy you back by giving rattling out the entire menu in 5 seconds flat. Ever seen someone do speed reading aloud? That’s a necessary qualification to be an MTR waiter

4) So now that you’ve observed what’s on everyone’s tables, you can get ordering. But wait! There’s still the dosa aspect to mention. Of course you’ve gone all the way to MTR and the reward is perhaps a nice Ghee Masala Dosa. The waiter will tell you there’s no dosa, ALWAYS. Then, he’ll let tell you “maybe I can manage the last few dosas for you”. Then he’ll scold you and let you know these are the last possible dosas and he’ll send you to eternal hell if you ask for one more later on. You’ll meekly agree. Here in MTR, he tell YOU what to do. Its his way or the highway. Oh yes, you can note this charade going on in the tables round you as well. Once the artificial scarcity is created, I see that everyone orders dosas.

5) Refer to point four. The dosas have been ordered. Now, look desperately around for the waiter again to place the rest of your order. Or yes, if you are less than 4 people, expect to share your table with the boy carrying balloons from Lalbagh.

6) Once the food arrives, save for some minor irritants (you have to BEG for a second serving of chutney etc) the experience is excellent. I refer here only to the food.

All right so here’s the bonus I promised for reading the entire post. Below is MTR’s breakfast menu from my Sherlock Holmes’ing’.

Masala Dosa – Order first. It comes from the black market.

Rava Idly

Khara Bath – Not always available

Bisi Bele Bath – Yummy

Badam Halwa

Gulab Jamoon – so so

Badam milk

And the piece de resistance:

The Fruit Custard – From the second you put your eyes to it, you WANT it.

All breakfast items come with a generous helping of ghee.

You’re welcome!