I just read cuchillo99 ‘s review about Pabba’s. Being a Mangalorean myself, and having grown up on Ideal’s ice creams (my mother used to treat me there every other week), I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut, and not write this review :)
Pabba’s is the latest ice-cream parlor begun by the Ideal’s group. Ideal’s was Mangalore’s second or third ice cream parlor. In my parents’ college days, there used to be just one parlor in Mangalore called `Rayan’s’, and much later I think there was `Komal’s’. However, when Ideal’s came in, it was in a different league altogether, and soon Mangaloreans were flocking over to it at the smallest excuse of a celebration.
I’ve spent many happy hours at Ideal’s. They have a long list of ice creams on their menu, and when my big cousins came down on their holidays, there was this little game they used to play. They would count the number of items on the menu, and divide it by the number of days they had in Mangalore. That would give them the number of ice creams that they had to eat per day!
Well, what is so special about Ideal’s or Pabba’s? First of all, they boast of superior quality. The kind of quality that international brands like Baskin Robbins just about come close to, and believe me, this is no exaggeration on my part. I must say here, that unlike most other ice cream parlours, the portions too have remained the same over the years!
Secondly, the ice creams are very affordable. On my last visit to Pabba’s the most expensive item on the menu (its called Pabba’s Special) cost just Rs. 50/-. A great price for 3 kinds of ice creams and toppings of your choice.
Thirdly, the taste is incredible! Even the most simple of ice creams – vanilla, has this distinct Pabba’s taste, that I’m yet to encounter in ice creams that I have eaten all over the world!
Finally, the ambience is out of this world. It is always packed, yet you always manage to find a table. There is a distinct buzz of conversation, mixed with the clanking of spoons. The waiters have this trademark quality of remembering your order perfectly, even if they are attending to a large group! It is truly amazing to hear them rattle off your order perfectly, after they have heard it just once. That too, with members in your group changing their orders several times.
Oh, and I have to mention that the ice cream name `Gadbad’ - a delicious mix of ice creams fruit, jelly, dry fruit – (if I’m not mistaken, I think Kwality Walls has it on their menu), was first coined by Ideal’s.
If you are wondering what to order, don’t! I guarantee you that every item on the menu is great! Ideals and Pabba’s are most famous for their Gadbad, Parfait, Banana split, Dilkush, to name a few. Actually, my personal fav is chickoo almond. As a child I used to love their Soda Cream. So that’s something you can order for the kids when you go there.
One more thing, if you are ever in Mangalore, don’t leave the city without visiting Pabba’s. You definitely won’t regret it!