Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Eating out in Chennai



Chennaiites have taken to eating out and as a result there are many new eateries cropping up all over town. If the food's good then the business is good. The restaurants, after sometime, become personal choices and are frequented by families, couples, friends, regularly. Take,' Karaikudi' on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, for instance. It is a hot favorite for the residents of Chennai. The food is typical Chettinad style - vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Most customers of Karaikudi are non-vegetarians. 'Kara kozhambu' and 'idiyappam with stew' and different types of varuval are popular choices. Cutlery and crockery are in Chettinad style, to go with the setting of the restaurant.
Just above 'Karaikudi' is 'Dhaba' with great Tandoori food. Whether it is paneer butter masala, palak mutter or just dal, the dishes are delicious. Rumali roti, Methi paratha, butter nan, aloo paratha are among the available Indian breads. There is also jeera pulao, vegetable pulao and peas pulao in rice varieties. The menu is regular tandoori and the fare mouth watering. This is just the place for people of the 50s and the 60s, as it brings back memories with huge B&W photographs of famous Hindi film stars. There is a Tandoori joint, on Pantheon road, called 'Sanjha Choolha'. The ambience is that of a dhaba. The furniture and the décor are in good taste. The menu is similar to that of the 'Dhaba' and equally good. Try the basundi or gajar ka halwa for dessert. This restaurant has regular customers from in and around Nungambakkam and Mount Road.
Just outside of Chennai, is 'Tanjore', a restaurant in Neelankarai. The food available is idli, dosai, vadai and other tiffin types that are favourites of South Indians. The ambience is authentic Tanjorean style, lots of 'choppu (toys)' as decoration. For Chennaiites getting away to the Mahabs or other resorts, a stop over at 'Tanjore' for a bite is becoming a routine.

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