Herbs & Spice

Mixed Lettuce Salad with Figs and Boccocini

Manjit Singh has reinvented alfresco dining with his new-found location for his expanded cafe style restaurant Herbs & Spice on 80 ft Road. Gone is the black-board spelling out the changing daily fare squiggled in chalk, and instead a rotational menu that is supposed to take into account seasonality and availability has been designed to make guests feel at home. With an array of main courses including steaks, pastas, sandwiches and quiche to decadent desserts, the restaurant has added a tapas list that is unfortunately rather disappointing. Personally speaking by increasing the number of total dishes available per day, the quality of the old Herbs & Spice has suffered immensely. Several visits have left me unable to order the dish I want for lack of ingredients available - special mention to the wild mushroom ravioli (porcini, shiitake, chanterelle) that is hard to come by.

Pear and Walnut Salad with Parmesan

Chicken Sausage with Basil and Mozzarella

Grilled aubergine topped with brava sauce and cheese
Rib eye steak marinated with red wine rosemary and garlic

Beef steak stuffed with ham, cheese and spinach

~

The salads are great here, above from the one with figs and the other with walnut and pear, the grilled halloumi salad with asparagus, zucchini and arugula is wonderful.

~

The rib-eye was full of tendons, making the eat impossible to cut, so eating it was not an option. I sent it back to the kitchen and opted for the Beef steak stuffed with ham, cheese and spinach - a real winner, cooked a perfect medium-rare as I asked, and a great cut of tender steak! Bravo.

~

The chirizo pizza is another shining star here as well as the chicken breast stuffed with asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes and cheddar.

~

The most recent addition to this place is their alcohol licence, that has introduced a brief but good selection of wines. Do try the Big Banyan Shiraz which is great, lightly peppery and preferable to the Cabernet Sauvignon which is sharper and far too astringent on the palate.

~

A must try is their delicate but breath-taking walnut meringue pie. This is truly one unbelievable to-die-for dessert.

~

With reasonable prices, a good selection to offer and good, simple food served fuss free, Herbs & Spice is sure to hook you after one try, even if you have to drive to Indiranagar every time!