Getting a decent steak in this country isn’t easy. In the north, the taboo
against beef restricts serving of beef to only the five-star hotels. Thankfully,
in the south, we’re not so conservative and in Bangalore especially, there are
plenty of restaurants serving beef.
But while there are plenty of restaurants serving steak, there aren’t too
many that serve good steak. In India, you don’t get a choice between different
cuts of meat like you do in the West. If you want a porterhouse or a t-bone,
good luck. The beef you get in India comes in two basic forms: a) the stuff that
takes 2 hours to cook and b) the stuff that cooks in 3 minutes. There’s nothing
in between.
Moreover, most of the mid-range restaurants in town don’t know the first
thing about cooking the steak right. Some typical abuses are:
a) Not cooking at a high enough temperature because of which the meat
"leaks" and gets very dry
b) Overcooking it to death – giving you extra well done and turning it into
leather in the process
c) Liberally slathering it with some gooey sauce so you can’t taste any of
the meat flavour
d) Totally disregarding your instructions on the doneness of the meat –
giving you well done when you ask for medium
So, dear reader, given that you cannot go into a restaurant kitchen and make
the steak yourself (or call me to do it), here are some tips for you to get the
best out of your steak dining experience in Bangalore:
- Do not get it on a damn sizzler. It splatters shit all over your
clothes and makes a mockery of cooking time. Anything you get on a sizzler
is always extra well-done. You want the steak, not the sizzle! - Ask for a medium or medium-well steak and tell the waiter you want it
cooked for exactly 3 minutes on each side. - If the steak is flavoured, ask for the sauce on the side and not spread
like mayonnaise all over your steak or else there goes the meat flavour. 🙁 - When it arrives all hot, don’t cut it open immediately. Let it sit for
about a minute. This gives it the "resting" period that the
kitchen hasn’t given it. You’ll have a better steak after that because it
allows the juices to be distributed properly. - Don’t let it go cold.
Bon appetit!
PS: If you want to try something different from steak, try Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine, my restaurant on CMH Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore. We serve food from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
MadMan,
I refuse to even call it a steak unless it has those wonderful cross patterns on it.
Interesting pointers.. I loved the Steaks at The Only Place.. the old one.. After that.. the goodness of tender steak I remember was in Kobe’s in Mumbai. 🙂
Here in Bangalore.. I am yet to find a place who serves good steaks..
tried Lazzio’s, Charoals, etc etc but yet to sample a good one.
Here its enough if you get a tender steak. Forget about asking for well done and medium well done..
Interesting pointers.. I loved the Steaks at The Only Place.. the old one.. After that.. the goodness of tender steak I remember was in Kobe’s in Mumbai. 🙂
Here in Bangalore.. I am yet to find a place who serves good steaks..
tried Lazzio’s, Charoals, etc etc but yet to sample a good one.
Here its enough if you get a tender steak. Forget about asking for well done and medium well done..
Uhh this has nothing to do with the B’lore steaks.
Just wanted to say that I really like your blog, your style is simple and flowing and free from all the sarcasm n self opinionated stuff going around. (Sadly I m one of them at times.)
Nice…
thats some… tell me.. what do you mean “Not cooking at a high enough temperature” my steaks/sausages always always leak and does get dirty.. at home.. do i do a 3 min on each side on full heat?
Jhanvi, thanks.
I have tons of sarcasm still left in me, however. 🙂
Arun, a steak should be “seared” so that the juices are trapped inside. This means that the moment it hits the hot pan, it should be sealed. Otherwise, the juices escape and evaporate, giving you a chewy steak. Then it won’t be grilled, it will be stewed.
I guess I’ll have to write an entry on how to cook a proper steak now.
The Only Place still exists, but in a different location. It’s moved to Museum Road, I think. I thought the steak there was just ok, nothing great.
The Only Place – there used to be a place by that name in Upper Coonoor, near Ooty.
I love a good steak, and I have never had one in India. The best ones are the “Argentian steaks” I’ve had in Cologne.
Here, if I get something that’s not stringy, I think I’d be happy. I soothe myself with some mashed potatoes most of the time.
I like sizzlers, not for the meat, but the sauce, veggies and the sizzling hiss.
Hi MadMan,
The Only Place on Museum Road has some real good steaks. One more place for decent steaks is Juke Box in Koramangala I guess. 🙂
You know, you should seriously consider moving to a better blogging system — one that offers threaded comments.
Oh, and if you want beef, Kerala is the place to be!
Madman, I would really like it if you do post an entry on how to cook a steak. I’ve been trying to learn how for an embarrassingly long time. I can cook a large variety of [mostly Chinese] dishes with relative success but I cannot panfry a steak.
Kimi
Take it from an old ex-hotelier …steaks (specially rare-done) are best at The Only Place on Museum Road !
The best steak I have ever ahd was at a place called Alps near cafe Mondegar in Fort, Bombay. Do take this with a pinch of salt as I am not an expert (and I do like sizzlers) and the beer was good too:).
Only Place serves the best steaks in south india.Take it from me i have been all over the place and the Only Place On Museum Road,Bangalore serves the best steaks .right from the cuts to everything. the steaks and lasagnas rock.No Place can match the Only Place in Bangalore.Almost everybody loves the food at The Only Place and believe me thats the place to be for a steak.
Brijwhiz, I’ve been to Alps, and I’d give it’s steak at best a 3/10. The meat is stringy, overdone and the sauce is very pedestrian.
The beer is cheap though!
Try Miller’s 46, on Millers Road, which is off Cunningham Road, in Bangalore. Another place which serve good Steaks is 1912, which is near Koshy’s.
Yes, Have to agree The Only Place truly is THE ONLY PLACE! Here the steaks are consistent, tender and tasty.
Millers and The Juke Box are ok, can be a bit inconsistent and tough at times but hey, it’s beef in Bangalore so who cares!