India, Sept. 6 -- There is something special about smaller cities. The relaxed pace, (loosely put) nicer people, excellent hospitality, and of course, terrific food. On a road trip to Sakleshpura, I had the opportunity to stop at Hassan. Named after Haasanamba, it was the seat of the Hoysala dynasty. Hassan has its share of legendary places. HVR or Hassan Veg Refreshments, is one of my personal favourites, be it the OG location at Hassan or the one in Seshadripuram. Another such place is a small idli hotel located behind the old bus stand.

The lane is too small for a car to fit in, but somehow we managed to not only enter the lane but also to find a small spot to park towards the end of it. The name board is in Kannada only. It is a whit...