Set in blue and white colours that could instantly transport you to the bylanes and restaurants of Santorini in Greece, House of Troy is the newest entrant in an ever-buzzing Koramangala dining scene. Starting out with a compact menu, the idea is to expand on it as the popularity of the restaurant grows. It has enough to keep both meat eaters and vegetarians happy these days. A good amount of choices upfront, but not so overwhelming that you spend 20 minutes reading through the starters page. The cocktails are well-balanced and while you may not find Ouzo just yet on the menu, the use of Sambuca does a good enough job.
Make a start with the Fasolatha – hailed as the national food of the Greeks, it is a hearty soup with white beans, vegetables and herbs. The crunch and freshness of the veggies makes this a happy start. The Orange and Fennel Salad is a good one to go with next. A touch of feta, some roasted almonds and fennel, finished with an orange vinaigrette. The Spanakopita, phyllo triangles stuffed with spinach and feta are great, with the pastry being flaky and the dip that comes with it, enhancing flavours. The Lamb Meltzanes Papoutsakia with spiced minced meat stuffed into baby aubergines and baked with cheese comes together really well in terms of flavours. The cheese does not overwhelm and the meat is subtle. The Prawn Saganaki brings together tomatoes, prawns and feta in a great sauce with a side of salad that makes for a great sharing dish.
You have some great choices among the flatbread pizzas. It’s the Gyros – Greek wraps with fries in braised chicken or roasted lamb that make for a filling meal if you are doing one of those eat-and-dash lunches on a working day.
If you have the time, among the main courses, it is the Salmon on Polenta that you will love. The salmon is done beautifully with crisp skin and it complements the well flavoured polenta (a texture usually so hard to nail). Blanched spinach completes the pretty picture on the plate, all placed in some herb feta sauce. You could also try the Wild Mushroom Risotto served with Za’atar pita crispies.
Among the cocktails, you will want to try the Butterfly Pea Kiwi Mojito with the Butterfly Pea Tea topped with Sambuca and mint. The Ouzo Cherry Twister with Lemongrass and lemon tart foam packs a punch. The Carrot and Orange Mary is a nice spicy twist to the classic and if you want a dessert drink the Chilli Chocolate Martini should be on your to-order list.
And to round off a good meal, you can choose to go with Baklava with Ice cream. This is not the classic Baklava and it’s a surprise worth experimenting with. You could also try the Loukomades, Greek Honey and Pastry cream bites if you’re looking for just a bite of sweetness. Do try to visit it in the evenings, the outdoor lighting transforms the place completely and is like an oasis of prettiness once you step in.
Where: SJR Primus, Ground Floor, Opposite Forum Mall, 7th Block, Koramangala, 20th Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560095
Contact: 080 – 49070111
Opening hours: 12 noon to 12.45 AM
Recommended dishes: Fasolatha, Lamb Meltzanes Papoutsakia, Butterfly Pea Kiwi Mojito
Price: Rs 1800++
Noise levels: Medium
Service: Efficient
Ruth Dsouza Prabhu
Ruth is an independent journalist based in Bangalore. Always in pursuit of the next story that interests her, loves her food and drink, bookworm and a sucker for sunsets and airplane journeys.
