Full stomach ahead - VIA RD2!!

#VIARD2 #ViaRD2TheFoodHub

Let me clear this up! RD2 is not the cousin of R2-D2 from Star Wars. Its infact the abbreviated form for Road No.2, Banjara Hills! And so, VIA RD2 is actually the latest addition to the list of food courts in the city, but with a difference - it is not inside any mall! Talk about food courts and the mind wanders away towards a swanky mall, as usually 99% of food courts thrive there. There are a few food courts outside as well but I haven't been quite impressed by them. VIA RD2 has come up on Rd#2 Banjara hills, on your left, next to Hazzel Ice cream, while you are travelling from the Jubilee Hills checkpost signal towards TDP office signal.

There are limited number of stalls(7-8) but really packs a punch with the variety it offers. From the outside it has an appearance of a small store, but there is decent amount of space inside, well thought and well planned. The management of Hazzel Ice Cream Cafe own this food hub, and so it is no surprise that there is a Hazzel counter inside as well!

We tried a whole range of snacks, main course and dessert dishes and I must say I was impressed by the flavors altogether. To begin with, a few vegetarian dishes were there on our table - Bhutan Veg, Veg Manchurian and a Chilli Mushroom (if I remember correctly!). The mushroom was quite delicious to me compared to the other two. And while we are munching on the veggie options, I couldn't help but notice the Vengamamba Tiffins banner. Sitting right next to it, I couldn't resist but order a masala rava dosa. You have to believe me, true to what I have heard about them, the dosa wa lip-smacking and delicious! Perfectly roasted rava batter that was by all means soft to tear up bite-sized pieces, with the masala in it complementing it all the way. And so, we went ahead and ordered a Palak Dosa which was obviously - lip-smacking again!

And we did not stop there. How can we not taste idli and vada from a South Indian tiffin place? And so these were there, basking under the glare of camera and phone flashes - well, if Idli and Vada can be heroes! But what I felt is, while the idli was superb, the vada did not impress me much. This changed during another visit of mine a couple of weeks later. Will write more of that experience after I finish off this particular experience.

Bhutan Veg

Veg Manchurian

Chilli Mushroom

Rava Masala Dosa

Monkey Confidential

Palak Dosa

Now the hungry minds wandered off towards a counter that was named Pondy Parotta. Well, for the uninitiated, Pondy is usually the short form for Pondicherry/Puducherry. The first thing that comes to our mind is Kothu Parotta and so we started off with a serving of it. Quite nicely done, the flavors indeed reminds us of Tamil cuisine. I somehow felt there was an extra tinge of turmeric which could have been avoided. Nonetheless, a good dish to try out here if you like eggs.

We eventually ordered Ceylon Parotta and Lappa Parotta, The Ceylon Parotta had paneer stuffing in it and Lappa had mutton in it. These Parottas were new to me and I had never tasted them before and so I instantly developed a liking for these. I could also draw a parallel with stuffed parathas from other parts of the country.

Kothu Parotta

Lappa Parotta

Ceylon Parotta

We also got to try out some flavored rice and I must say they have the best sambhar rice available there and I could bet on that! The tomato rice was good too, but I would stick to sambhar rice anytime I come here to have a rice meal!

Kalaki - A dish similar to omelette but softer and differently flavored

And when you are inside, you cannot miss the huge spread of organic and millet based items at Ahobilam Foods counter. They market some really good read-to-make millet based dishes. We tried Ragi Sangati (a bit liquidy in consistency) which was served with Tomato Pulusu and a Millet Pulihora that was delicious. The one thing that is etched in my memory after the Sambhar Rice, is the kheer made from millet. I know not all may like it, but if your taste-buds adapt to it then nothing like it as a sweet dish!

Ragi Sangati

Millet Pulihora

Millet Kheer

There is the very recognizable counter from Sardarji Chaat, who originally are located at Gachibowli. I would say there were a few hits and misses with their snacks, but I really liked the Dahi Puri that was served. I liked the almond praline icecream for a change from Hazzel counter. My previous experience at Hazzel Ice Creams in Gachibowli area was quite average and so this one fared better.

Chole Bhature

Dahi Puri

Aloo Paratha

Aloo Tikki Chaat

Crisp Fried Chicken (cornflakes)

Chicken Pakoda

Icrecreams from Hazzel counter

Filter Coffee

Another joint added to my list when I want to have a variety of dishes(and moreover at pocket friendly prices). They operate almost on the same lines as a quick service restaurant and so you don't have to wait quite long to get your dish served. The staff has been quite attentive(overall for my 2 visits so far).

NOTE:- I had been to this place a couple of weeks later and I had some really good Vada, a well made Schezwan Dosa and a Filter Coffee(total approx cost Rs 200). But before I went in and ordered (it was a Sunday and around 10 AM in the morning), I had a minor tiff with the lone security guard who was hell bent on me parking my bike in the farthest corner under a crevasse of a staircase. His argument - the whole parking will be full in 2-3 mins with cars and also that I shouldn't lock my bike! Strange! it being a Sunday morning, the whole parking area was actually empty. The 15 mins he wasted of my time was actually the time I needed to have my breakfast and get out. I got this to the attention of management and it was taken care of, but still left me slighted irritated. Eventually, when I left after 30 mins, the whole parking lot was as empty and barren like the Thar dessert.

DISCLAIMER: Dishes were plated for blog pictures specifically and the way they are normally served might be different in a few instances.

~ By Invite