Bengaluru’s Museum of Art and Photography has a new bistro. Does the culinary experience match the curation?

It is the first bite of my sesame udon noodles at Bistro Cameo that wins me over.

A museum date is the perfect way to beat the Bengaluru heat right now. That is what we decide as we head to Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) on Kasturba Road. After an afternoon of art gazing, and whetted appetites, we head upstairs to the museum’s new offering, Bistro Cameo, an all-day dining restaurant that turns into a bar at night.

Cold sesame udon noodles
| Photo Credit:
Samhita Ayyagari

The bistro is cool and welcoming, with giant fiddle-leaf fig plants, rattan furniture and shades of deep browns and reds. The sculptural light fixture in the centre brings it all together. There is a short and concise menu which I always appreciate. The staff are attentive but not overbearing.

Let’s talk food

Bistro Cameo is cuisine agnostic. There are comforting Asian dishes, open sandwiches, and some classic Italian options. We order a few appetisers, which have some hits and some misses. The thick and chewy sesame udon noodles are my favourite. Coated with a peanut and sesame dressing, the fried onions on top makes it a delight. The potato hasselback is more like a baked jacket potato, topped with sour cream and chimichurri. The spud is relatively bland, and we end up not finishing most of it.

The earl grey pear salad is a hit on the table. Poached pears, lettuce, and crunchy granola bits make up the dish. The flavours are on point, you can even taste the earl grey coming through, however I prefer my pears to be crunchier and with a bite.

The chips and dip are mezze themed here. So the crispy potato, beetroot and carrot chips are served with labneh and chilli crisp. You cannot really go wrong with chips, can you?

Earl grey pear salad
| Photo Credit:
Samhita Ayyagari

Something a little different is the prawn aglio olio. A substantial dish even though it is a small plate, this one has a bed of saffron couscous and chilli garlic stir fried prawns tossed through it. The prawns are fresh and flavouful, the overall combination is so-so.

The beverage menu has coffees and wines, and cocktails in the PM. We opt for coffees, the jaggery oat latte is creamy and perfect for the summer. The hazelnut latte is nutty and not too sweet.

We share a main, the gochujang eggplant don. A portion of rice is served with small cubes of eggplant, edamame and a Korean-style sauce. The sauce is delicious, but the amount of sauce is not enough for the dish. The eggplant bites are moreish and even win over the eggplant skeptic on the table (there is always one isn’t there?). We have our eyes on the Hainanese chicken rice and the fish laksa, and might return to try those.

Carrot cake
| Photo Credit:
Samhita Ayyagari

We end with a slice of carrot cake. Spiced, and fruity this is reminiscent of a Christmas cake. The sharp cream cheese frosting and the carrot chips on top give it a contrast.

We pay arounund ₹5000 for a meal of three. The atmosphere, location and vibe impress us. Being centrally located is always a plus, but the lack of parking is something to keep in mind.

₹2,000 for two. At MAP, Kasturba Road. Closed on Mondays. For more details, call 7411399943