Specialising in Andhra cuisine, Hotel Moti Mahal is an iconic eatery in the city. Running successfully for over 45 years now, the hotel has not compromised on the taste and service. The place is popularly known for its budget stay and even today, travellers prefer to dine and reside.
Late N Sriramareddy was the founding member of this hotel. The family hails from a village called Neelakantapuram in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Presently, it is managed by his grandson Ajay Krishna Yadav along with the latter’s cousins, under the guidance of his son N Jagadish.
During Sriramareddy’s visit to Japan, he happened to see a multi-storeyed building there. With a desire to replicate that, he built the 7-storeyed hotel building. It stood out as a landmark as it was the only tall building in Gandhi Nagar.
Best known for its lunch (served from 12.30 to 3.30 pm) and dinner (from 8 to 11 pm), the vegetarian ‘thali’ consists of ‘rotis’, ‘Andhra style dal’, ‘sambhar’, ‘rasam’, curd, a vegetable preparation, ‘korma’ along with ‘jeera rice’ and vegetable fried rice. The non-vegetarian dishes include chicken, mutton and fish gravies served with plain rice or flavoured rice. The specialities include ‘chicken biryani’, ‘chilli chicken’, and ‘mutton biryani’. Venkatesh, a regular customer since recent times, says, “I enjoy coming here. The enticing food reminds me of Andhra Pradesh. With a ‘lemony’ tinge and spices, it is definitely worth the money.”
The place is well-ventilated, with old floors which signify that the hotel has stood the test of time. People continue to go for the convenient basement parking as it is one of the busiest lanes in Bengaluru. Ajay highlights, “Although we haven’t experimented with our food, we have managed to maintain loyal patrons. People from all walks of life come here to have a satisfying meal.” Back in the day, an average meal cost Rs 2 and now it cost Rs 200. The quantity is good as well. Gangadhar, a customer since the 1980s, shares, “I have been consistently coming here as I enjoy the hospitality and courteousness. I personally relish the spicy chilli chicken they prepare.” This hotel is also known for hosting celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and late Sanjeev Kumar who came here while shooting for ‘Sholay’. Stars like Rajnikanth, A R Rahman, and Sridevi used to book rooms at the start of their careers, informs Ajay.
With nearly 200 customers visiting daily, they handle the crowd with efficiency. Ajay expresses, “My grandfather once told me that being a restaurateur, the first thing to do is to taste the food everyday. I follow that diligently.” This, he says, helps him ensure the freshness. Their biggest challenge happens to be the method of taking bookings over phone and they are not technologically savvy. Ajay says that he plans to revamp the place with modern features in due course of time but they are happy with how things have shaped up till now.
Hotel Moti Mahal is located at 5th main, W H Hanumanthappa Road, Gandhi Nagar. For details, call 22267950.