What do you do after your chic cocktail bar wins all the awards and charts on the list of best bars? Well, you open a vegetarian restaurant in South Bengaluru, of course. Avinash Kapoli and Sombir Choudhary, the duo behind Soka in Indiranagar, take a new direction with their latest venture.

Kalpaney, meaning imagination, in JP Nagar is a global vegetarian restaurant that has inspiring interiors. Bengaluru is lacking elevated vegetarian restaurants with only a handful of names, so this is a welcome addition. As Avinash says, “What if vegetarian food could feel comforting and yet completely new?” 

The Kalamkari design elements at Kalpaney
| Photo Credit:
Anagha Maareesha

The space

The 90-seater restaurant is designed to look like a South Indian home. An ornately carved wooden door welcomes you into the space, and the theme carries on inside with a dark wood colour scheme. Zari sari borders on the panels, a wooden boat, and brass lamps complete the look. The Kalamkari-inspired wall art and cutlery are my favourites touches. Kalpaney is designed by Bengaluru-based Studio Camarada.

Thai Mala dumplings reimagined
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

The menu

The menu is extensive, spanning Indian, Asian, and European dishes. Kalpaney does not serve alcohol but has a mocktail menu that borrows from childhood favourite drinks. I try School Days, a pink guava drink with chilli-salt dust and lime, a nostalgic number. For something fizzy and refreshing try the Khatta Sharbat, a mosambi, orange and peach mocktail. The most unique drink I try is the Carrot Milk, made with carrot juice and condensed milk. Have it if you love carrot halwa.

We begin with a number of starters. Sombir is known for his appetisers at his other establishments like Jamming Goat and Soka. And a lot of attention has gone into that part of the menu. The highlights were the avocado papdi chaat, a mix of creamy avo and crunchy papdi, and the Thai mala dumpling, that has a veggie filling and is wrapped in threads of deep-fried pastry. There is also vegetarian sushi on the menu; which while innovative, I would skip for some of their other dishes.

Garlic truffle khichdi
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

For the main course, we decide to keep it simple. A narangi paneer mahkni, and a buttery garlic naan. The gravy is rich and creamy, and the soft naan is the perfect combination. Also on the menu are pastas, Asian noodles and gravies, and curries from across the country.

I wrap up my meal with the carrot soft serve. Soft serve is the latest trend in Bengaluru restaurants, but carrot is not my favourite. Instead, I prefer the Kalpaney chocolate mousse; the chocolate sauce it is served with is divine.

₹1,600 for two. At JP Nagar. For more details, call 9380667830