Something to feast upon...

Traditional fare

When 27-year-old Rathan Naidu went for one such occasion, he was immediately drawn towards the flavours of the dishes and thought of bringing these delicacies to people on a regular basis.

That’s how Beegaru Mane came into being. Hidden on St Mark’s Road, this eatery has become a mini paradise for many non-vegetarians. “The City is filled with a variety of cuisines. But there are only a fistful of eateries that serve traditional South Indian non-vegetarian food. And most places that serve them are not the sorts where  families can sit and eat together. So I wanted to bring more to the plate than just kababs,” he says. The feast in Beegaru Mane consists of dishes like Kheema Masala, Liver Fry, Thalemamsa Curry, Boti and Mutton Chops.

Confused what to pick? Then the combo meals are a perfect pick as one gets to try out a good combination of dishes. Already a favourite in the place, the Natti Meal, includes three non-vegetarian dishes which can be teamed with either ragi mudde or chappathis and biryani rice. Also bringing in the Mangalorean touch are dishes like mallige idili and fish curry. Another dish that one cannot leave the place without trying is the Donne Biryani.

“This is a flavourful biryani which is traditionally cooked over firewood to bring out the flavours of the spices in the food,” says Rathan. More than spicy food, the dishes go strong on the flavours, says the head chef, KK Reddy, who is from Mandya. A majority of the dishes have the natti masala which is a mixture of spices like jeera, pepper, garlic etc. “The Beegaruoota is not complete without the mutton soaked in these strong flavours and that is what we try to bring out here. While the office crowd that comes here likes less spice, we do cook separately for those who want the authentic spice,” he adds.

Taking the rustic flavour even to the interiors, one cannot miss Beegaru Mane's brick and stone seating which gives a warm invite to any hungry soul. And the feast sure does not disappoint because even the prices are well within one’s budget.

“None of the items here exceed Rs 100. Many people have told me that I am crazy
to have priced it that low but I remember when I was in college, non-vegetarian food meant a grand affair. That’s why I wanted to give my customers the quality and keep it affordable for all,” he explains. While the place is generally open for lunch and dinner, on Sundays, it’s open even for breakfast. And yes, this too is a non-vegetarian fare with Kal soup (trotters) added to the meals.