A paradise for fans of the Mediterranean cuisine

Mediterranean food lovers, rejoice! There’s a new restaurant in town with a delectable menu and a beautiful ambiance.

Set in the middle of the bustling IT hub in Whitefield, ‘Layla’ at The Den, was opened, amidst a lot of excitement over the weekend.
The inaugural was a neat blend of some good food and soulful music. The evening began with a Sufi performance by popular singer Lucky Ali and Eliezer Botzer from Israel. The duo set the tone for the rest of the evening with their duets that were soothing and spirited.

The menu had an interesting variety. The Malfuf-- a hot cabbage meze -- had a delicious filling of lamb, Greek yoghurt sumac and Baharat. It served as a perfect starter. What followed was the ‘The Sardines’, a shallow-fried, hot meze that kept the sea-food lovers happy. Next, in contrast, was a cold mezze platter with soft pita bread and a variety of meze- Fried zucchini, Chargrilled bell pepper, Msabbaha (Hummus, Tahini, spices and warm chickpeas) and Tabbouleh cauliflower (grated raw cauliflower, pistachio, labneh). The Tabbouleh Cauliflower stood out with its unique flavour and crunchy texture.

While the main course was awaited, the food lovers were treated to a feet-tapping performance by Bengaluru-based music band, ‘The Best Kept Secret’ (TBKS). They performed popular tracks from ‘Coldplay’, ‘Bruno Mars’ and a few others.

While we soaked in the evening, we were served Lachma Bajun, a type of Turkish pizza with minced lamb, spices and other ingredients. This was followed by Moroccan Fish and Pilaf, which gave the fish curry and pulao a unique twist.

The dessert was the perfect topping to an eventful evening. Of the wide variety on display, the Chocolate fantasy and Goat‘s Milk Panna Cotta topped the list in terms of its taste and presentation. There was also Kaffir lime, basil and orange segments with a mouthful of the Panna Cotta.

Layla’s grand opening was a confluence of Indo-Israeli culture, food and music. The food is reasonably priced. A meal for two cost up to Rs 3,200. Layla is a restaurant at ‘The Den’, at ITPL Gate, 3 and 4, ITPB Main Road, KIADB Export Promotion Industrial Area, Whitefield.