Sarjapur Road meets Florence’s Sant’Ambrogio at Via Milano, an azure garden oasis which soothes and scintillates in equal measure. A hidden gem nestled in the thick of Bangalore’s bustle, this chic spot melds the authenticity of Italian culinary stories, techniques and ingredients with the passion – for entertainment, for family, for wine, and for food – that India’s new generation of restaurateurs epitomizes. Settle down amidst curated hues of blue and white – lush greenery through floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, and a pool to the other – and satisfy your every Roman whim.
Start your journey with Via Milano’s signature antipasti, which infuse classic recipes with mischievous flourishes of the Orient. While vegetarians indulge in Crostini with Mediterranean vegetables or Panzerotti with spicy pesto, more carnivorously inclined guests are treated to mustard-scallion Gamberi (prawns) and Greek-inspired chicken Souvlaki. Regardless of your dietary persuasions, though, be sure not to miss out on Via Milano’s heavenly, freshly-imported burrata cheese, whether in a light salad or intertwined with blackforest ham. With your palate warmed up (perhaps with the help of one of three delectable zuppas), take on the monumental challenge of trying to choose among Via Milano’s gorgeous main dishes. Here, there is something for everyone. Pasta aficionados are spoilt for choice – think pepperoncini, alla genovese, or alla vongole featuring clams so fresh they could have been hand-sourced from the Adriatic sea seconds earlier. Pizza fans, meanwhile, are treated to a smorgasbord of wood-fired art, spanning Italian classics (think margherita or Rustica) and modern twists (try the ‘Bollywood’ or the BBQ Chicken). And for those counting their carbs or simply attracted to the spellbinding flavor plays on offer, Via Milano’s chefs have designed an enviable array of seafood and meat, too; among these, everything from bechamel sauce to martini mayonnaise to port wine is used to bring the city’s best cuts and catch to life. To finally cap things off before you succumb to a blissful food coma, spare a passing glance at Via Milano’s dolci – ranging from a featherlight blueberry panna cotta to a masterfully constructed chocolate lasagne, their dessert offerings will have even the healthiest guests abandoning their macro-counts for an extra bite or three. Naturally, no culinary journey merits undertaking without a proper accompaniment – don’t forget to ask one of Via Milano’s suave, smiley service staff for a wine pairing from within their stylish collection, or better yet, to try as many of their incredible Sangrias and cocktails as you have time for.
Via Milano may very well be developing into Bangalore’s worst-kept secret, what with them winning many prestigious food awards, but in the end, when it comes to Italian food, secrets aren’t worth keeping anyway. For recipes that would dazzle the strictest nonna italiana, and stay for live music, spectacular drinks and the chicest vibes in town. A cherished Italian proverb promises that a tavola non si invecchia; ‘at the table with good friends and family you do not become old’. Sure enough, join your loved ones for a meal at Via Milano, and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll live forever.
Where: Inside The Gran Carmen Address, Sarjapur Main Rd, Near Decathlon, Bengaluru
and 4th Floor, No-8, Opposite Sony Center, 80 Feet Main Road, Sony World Junction, 4th Block Koramangala, Bengaluru.
and
Via Milano, Jayanagar, Bengaluru.
