Sri Sagar CTR
What to look out for –
best south Indian breakfast, pocket friendly bills, lots of butter and happiness.
Cost –
₹200 for two
Contact –
080 23317531
Address –
7th Cross Margosa Road, opposite Malleshwaram grounds, Malleshwaram, Bangalore.
Vegetarian only
There might be many rulers fighting for the iron throne, but when it comes to the throne of “the best Dosa in Bangalore” there are only two strong contestants. The MTR and the CTR. While I am a true blood MTRian, my husband just loves CTR. So, I am dragged to the place quite often. I am not complaining because I do love their Masala Dosa.
CTR is an acronym for central tiffin room. This humble hotel was started in the 1920s by Y.V. Subramanyam and brothers. When the then Maharaja of Mysore visited the place, Y.V. Subramanyam served breakfast in a traditional attire and impressed the king. Subramanyam is also the founder president of the Bangalore Hoteliers Association. Today, the hotel is owned by someone else, but the simple building, its mere interiors, a vintage wall clock and modest rosewood furniture still have the essence of the old Bangalore that we all so badly miss.
After the Y.V. brothers sold the hotel, it acquired the name Shri Sagar in 1950. And finally, in 1992, the place was acquired by Sanjeeva Poojari who named it as Central Tiffin Room. When a place has so much history, you will have to visit it, just to inhale air in there and feel the positive vibes.
The hotel is very simple, you would have not bothered to enter if it was not for its popularity. But, I love simple places that are popular. Because, when you see a hotel with such plain ambience, you are sure that the food will shine. CTR in appearance is just like any normal, economic hotel. Plain walls, simple tables and no fancy menu cards. For people who visit the place, the menu is by heart. We just order the benne (butter) Masala Dosa. This is the daddy of all dishes here. Golden brown, glazy and perfectly smooth like the Italian marble toppings of the tables we are eating on, these Dosas are to die for. They are majorly crisp, slightly puffy and melt in the mouth kind of Dosa that you can find nowhere else.
Other dishes like the idli, rava idli, kesari bath, poori and khara bath are simply good. They cannot be tagged as outstanding. The major player in this place is the Masala dosa and that is what everyone who comes here orders. Service is swift and courteous.
After the food is done, you will have to drink their coffee. Not drinking coffee after tiffin here is like a big taboo. At least for coffee lovers. Because, the coffee of CTR is so good, it can give any star bucks a run for their money any day. And the best part is that all this comes in such less money. This is one place where the value for money is ten times ten on a scale of ten.
CTR is a well-known place and every now and then you can spot a celebrity indulging in a hot, ghee laden masala dosa. From Deepika Padukone to our own Ramya, many stars pay a visit to CTR once in a while. That’s the good thing about food, it treats everyone equally. For this amazing food, and the amazing conversations I have had here with my hubby, I give this place a 4.5 on 5 stars.
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