Santé Spa Cuisine Bengaluru’s menu is an ode to good food that is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and healthy. By Bindu Gopal Rao
Located in an erstwhile bungalow, Santé Spa Cuisine in Bengaluru is a delight from the minute you enter. The cosy space is done up in pristine white with dashes of green. The two-storied space is all about great food in a homely ambience. The restaurant has French windows that overlook vertical gardens and the cutlery here is ceramic, wood and copper. The first floor has a kid’s play area with toys and a mini library stocked with books and a board that says, ‘pick up and read’. A balcony space with two tables is one of the most coveted spots of the restaurant that’s surrounded by greenery.
I am met by Pallavii Gupta, the partner, who shows me around. She says, “We try to incorporate traditional and local ingredients in our menu, which has been designed keeping all age groups in mind. It is a global cuisine menu that has influences of Asian, Italian and Indian with a focus on using what is locally available. The preconceived notion that healthy food is boring is what we have tried to address and we use a lot of seasonal produce. Recently we have started using hemp as part of the new menu as it is a great source of plant-based protein and fibre, and it makes for a great addition to soups, salads and smoothies.”
The menu is extensive and the choices are numerous; you will need to come here many times to experience the entire spread. I started my meal with a wholesome spinach mungo hemp chowder, a protein-filled soup that was light and creamy, courtesy the tofu that’s part of the dish.
I also sampled the Ibiza-style avocado salad that was bursting with fresh vegetables, topped with microgreens that were crunchy and wholesome.
They also have several drinks on the menu including vegan coffees, Kombuchas and energetic beverages like the ‘Rejuvenating’ drink that combines spinach, spearmint, bottle gourd and pomegranate that makes for the perfect accompaniment to the food.
A must-try is the beetroot and spinach hummus served with multi-grain khakhra chips made in-house that are vegan as well as the black and white Moroccan hummus, that is made without garlic and hence, is Jain friendly.
Also, try the homemade nachos with stir-fry vegetables; it’s made with ragi khakhra served with melted cheddar, baked red beans and spicy salsa.
Among the appetisers, the chlorophyll dimsums on red curry is made with steamed broccoli, bok choy, baby spinach, and basil ensconced in tapioca served with a spicy sauce.
The pan-seared zucchini kebabs and galouti of black beans served with bite-sized khakras are great choices too.
For the main course, I sampled the piri piri-crusted cottage steak — a protein-rich ratatouille served on a bed of broccoli sauce that is wholesome and comes together beautifully.
The zucchini zoodles with hemp pesto is a must-try — think crunchy spiralised yellow zucchini tossed in olive oil with spinach and cashew cheese sauce that is gluten-free and keto-friendly; it packs a punch with its simple flavours.
I ended my meal with the drool-worthy, melt-in-your-mouth salted caramel mud cake that is made with whole wheat flour, jaggery caramel and pink Himalayan salt. I also had a pure coconut and palm jaggery ice-cream with bits of coconut that added the perfect zing to the dish.
A meal at Santé Spa Cuisine is an eye-opener that healthy food can be the tastiest, and is a must-try.
Price: Approximately INR 1,500 including taxes for a meal for two
Time: 08:00 am to 11:00 pm
Address: #151, 2nd stage, 2nd cross, Domlur, Indiranagar, Bengaluru – 560071
Contact for Reservation: 080 4370 0932
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