Biriyani Binge - Chasing Chennai's best biriyani

Hello me hearties. Firstly, many thanks on the positive feedback and constructive criticism to my last top 5  story on the best Sambar in Chennai. I am glad you acknowledge that my lists are nothing but personal opinion coated with a layer of generalization to serve as nothing more than a guide to your gastronomic experiences.

One of the outlets we tried on
Kutchery Road, Mylapore!

Even as I was reaching the tail end of my Sambar trail, I had already decided my next top 5 list – Biriyani! Undoubtedly one of the finest representatives of Indian cooking, the biriyani occupies a special place in almost every person’s heart as a defacto selection when eating out or on a Sunday afternoon at home.

In sync with the diverse nature of our great country comes a host of schools of this iconic rice delicacy. The most popular school in Chennai is the (comparatively) light, mildly spiced Ambur variety which finds its place in street-side outlets to the fancy five-stars of the city, followed by the “real, original” Hyderabadi  Biriyani.
During this trail, I was joined by my comrades – Rohit Koliyot and Videep Vijay Kumar – both great friends and with well trained taste buds. We covered no less than 14 different options including Ajmal Biriyani, Mughal Zaikaa, Velu Military, Buhari, Dindigul Thalappakkati, Amaravathi, Sanabel, Kalyani, Anjappar, The Park’s 601, Ponnusamy, Paramount, Cosmo Club, Samco, House of Biriyani, Asif & Bros and Taj Coromandel’s Anise. The final cut presented here is a summation of our experiences weighted the closest we could come to agree upon. There was never a clear majority and that, we hope, will create a pleasant problem of plenty for all of you.

Chennai’s top 5 Biriyanis, in no particular order:

Mughal Zaikaa – Most of you must be wondering where the hell this is. But our wonderful adventure seeking the epitome of biriyani greatness culminated in this quaint little joint located behind Ega theatre, just off Vasu Street. Serving biriyani of the Ambur style, Mughal Zaikaa’s biriyani was amongst the best all-round preparations we tasted. The fragrance of each spice with the zest of saffron and perfectly cooked mutton came together to give us one of Chennai’s best biriyanis.
   
    o Try with: Chicken masala, Phirni (dessert)
    o Call: 28588902
    o Comments: No air-conditioning, No home-delivery

601 @ The Park – It’s rare for any top 5 list to include outlets from five-star hotels. Among many reasons, the food’s never really uber authentic, the price is prohibitive and at some other times, it’s just the most obvious choice. But all of that changed with the Lucknow Mutton Biriyani (LMB) at The Park’s coffee shop – 601. Easily Chennai’s best dhum biriyani, the LMB stays true to its traditional Awadhi roots and the layered style of the preparation is unmistakable, with the meat layer sandwiched between two thick layers of fine, long grain basmati rice of the highest quality. A must try when you feel like eating out towards the start of the month!

    o Try with: the Raita – its special! Carrot Halwa for afterwards.
    o Call: 42676000

Dindigul Thalappakatti Biriyani – Yes you’ve seen this place while commuting to work or during your weekend shopping. But trust us when we say that their vulgar red branding is no reflection of the Biriyani they are so famous for. Intent on creating a new school of biriyani, the Dindigul biriyani is a unique combination of fabulously cooked meat made using Seeraga Samba rice instead of the usual basmati rice. This rice is generally of shorter grain size and is just as aromatic as basmati and popular throughout Tamil Nadu.  A lot of people, including yours truly have been highly disappointed on our first visits to this outlet. I have learnt to attribute this to the hype and expectation associated with this well done up joint chain. However, with time, you realize that the mutton biriyani is addictive for its consistency in flavour and the tenderness of its meat. At Rs. 112 a portion, its definitely not for regular consumption – but then again, biriyani never really is. Save it for that special occasion, especially when with friends after a drink or two and head to their outlets at Anna Nagar (Behind Kandasamy Naidu College), T Nagar or Nungambakkam High Road (Opp The Park).

    o Try with: Chicken 65 (amongst the top 5 in the city!), Chicken Kothu Parotta (one of the best portions tasted at any restaurant in a while)
    o Call: 66321411 (Annanagar), 45506263 (T Nagar), 43090684 (Nungambakkam)

Velu Military Hotel – Yes, that little hole in the wall off Valluvar Kottam High Road. Recently redone, the iconic “Velu Military” still serves one of the best biriyanis in town. A cross between the Ambur and Hyderabadi schools, the biriyani is long grain basmati with a faint smatter of spices served at a particularly delectable temperature makes this a must-try for everyone. A must try is the King Prawn biriyani which, unlike other attempts at sea food biriyani, is actually very desirable. Pricey at Rs. 250, you get a healthy offering of 8 to 10 fairly large prawns per portion. The mutton preparation is more usually priced at Rs. 105 and is also recommended.

    o Try with: Fish Fry
    o Call: Don’t bother, just land up!
    o Comments: One of the few outlets to still retain ‘family rooms’.

Sanabel – a decrepit outlet along Annanagar’s ultra wide third avenue main road between the roundtana and the K-4 Annanagar Police Station, Sanabel has been around for over 10 years, serving the finest quality muslim biriyani in both chicken and mutton varieties. Not recommended for dine-in, a parcel is accompanied  by brinjal salna which is very well done and goes perfectly with the biriyani.
 
    o Try with: The brinjal salna it comes with
    o Call: 42057107

Special mentions –

Paramount Hotel, Kilpauk & Annanagar – For over 15 years now, they have been consistent in producing the best fish biriyani this city has to offer.

Anise, Taj Coromandel – Was hard leaving this out of the top 5 but the fact that it makes a very unique variety of biriyani – Ghilli Biriyani – is the reason it had to be left out as well as why it makes the cut! The name originates actually from a very literal hindi transliteration of “Geeli” biriyani to depict it’s molten and liquid state. With fine mutton pieces in rice soaked in a gravy of mutton stock and spices, this biriyani is definitely a must-have.

A side note to mention my childhood friend and school mate J. Giridharan who took the effort to respond to a Facebook message of mine about this artice. He sent through a good list of 10-12 places by email – thanks mate, nice touch.

The Sambar Trail - Discovering Chennai's five best Sambars

Sambar served from a mug, the traditional way at Ratna Cafe, Triplicane.
Image Courtesy: Anand Hariharan

I must admit, this has been the one story that has consumed the maximum amount of effort, time and money till date. Whether it was traveling to Sriperumbudur to sample a sambar at a small joint based on a tip off or wrestling for parking to get into Triplicane, at the end of it all, I can only say that it was entirely worth it.

I will thank right at the start, Videep Vijay Kumar, my co-author for this story - I respect his taste buds and his forthright nature with opinions. We haven't really been able to convince each other about this list but it's the best we could settle on. Many thanks also to Venky, Mansi Mehta, Rochna, Sudhir Natarajan and others who have helped me put this piece together along with the many on Facebook who threw in their opinions.

I believed for to be a significant member of Tamil Nadu's culinary palate, often not given it's due perhaps owing to its ubiquity. However, this journey has convinced us of how a good sambar can lift a south indian meal or more importantly, how a bad one can ruin it. Discover with us, Chennai's top 5 Sambars:

1. Mathura
My tryst with Mathura's sambar happened by chance. After being chased out of a near shut joint for lunch in Besant Nagar, I decided to venture into Mathura, having read about it on Facebook, amongst the many opinions expressed by people, recommended by Rakesh Gowtham. Unlike the high hopes I carried into the more illustrious Sambar across the road in Triplicane, this Sambar didnt promise much. However, my first spoon and I had decided that this had to top the charts. The most eclectic mix of the pulses, spices, coconut and a hint of ghee served at the right temperature set my taste buds rolling. Deservedly, Chennai's best Sambar.
Tried as/with: Sambar vadai, Rava Dosa
Location: Mathura, 2nd Floor, Tarapore Towers, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002

2. Ratna Cafe
Touted by most to top this chart, I personally was a little let down by my Ratna Cafe experience. Videep and me made it a point to head to the "real original" Triplicane branch and sit in the non ac section to enjoy it the way it is meant to be. However, I perhaps was a victim of over-expectation though I must attribute that to the 17 odd recommendations that came in for this sambar to be numero uno. Served hot and from a mug, this sambar is thick and works best as a tiffin sambar.
Tried as/with: Idli-Sambar, Ghee Roast
Location: Ratna Cafe, Tripline, Near Zam bazaar, Chennai

3. Mathsya
Just take our word for it - head to this Egmore icon (located within 150 metres of the Egmore station) to enjoy rich, thick udipi sambar unlike anywhere else in Chennai. It's hard to explain why this made it only to 3rd spot, but I guess it's a competitive world out there for the Sambars! Best tried after a few drinks at 1am with Mysore masala dosa.
Tried with / as: Pongal vada, Mysore masala dosa
Location: Near Egmore Railway station. Ph: 044-28191900

4. Ashoka / Palmgrove
The only "meals sambar" that made the cut, the sambar at Ashoka as well as it's cousin Palmgrove (same management) has remained uncannily consistent, more or less, over the decades (or so we hear!). Served hot, this will definitely appeal to those who prefer their sambar not-so-thick and bereft of asafoetida. It's versatility is on display when tried either with rice and ghee or with their signature ghee roast.
Tried with / as: Meals, Ghee roast, Sambar vada
Location: Ashoka - Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-8; Palmgrove - Kodambakkam high road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-34

5. Hotel Saravana Bhavan
It's really not easy to operate at the scale at which 'HSB' does and yet achieve the consistency that they've managed to sustain. And for that sheer reason, HSB's sambar manages to face-off with rival Sangeetha and iD (Sathyam Cinemas) to make the final position on this list. Try any HSB at any point of the day either as Bisi Bela Bhaath, Idli-Sambar, Meals or just with a medu vadai, you will NOT be disappointed. Strong flavoured and medium thick is how this sambar has stayed for many years now.
Tried with / as: Pongal, Sambar Vada, Mysore masala dosa, bisi bela bhaath
Location: We tried the one in Pondy Bazaar, next to Maya Plaza and on Peters Road. To view details of their 18 other outlets in South India, click here.

Special mentions - Karthik Tiffin stall (Annanagar 12th main road), iD at sathyam Cinemas, Sangeetha and Raj Bhaavan (Nungambakkam high road)
Tribute - Woodlands Drive-in, we miss you

We made a conscious effort to not include the Mysore variety of sweetened sambar as made famous by Sukh sagar in Chennai and Chalukia in Bangalore since it has an entirely different, acquired taste. Moreover, this story was to discover Chennai's best sambar.

We were very keen to include Hotel Maris (adjacent to Sheraton Chola, Dr. RK Salai) in the list but didn't manage to make it there and were running out of time to release this. We are told that their idli-sambar is unique and a definite treat. If any of you know about this, do let us know.

I am hoping this story attracts lots of opinion, brickbats, feedback and more. Look forward to the same.

Fine dining Fast food - Cream Centre on College Road

(Pic courtesy: thehindu.com)
It indeed did come as a surprise to me as I was stepping into the swanky new Cream Centre on Haddows Road that I had never had a meal at any Cream Centre across the country, especially since I have been vegetarian for the better part of the last three years. I have heard everything from ravishing praise to strong loyalty amongst pure vegetarians and others towards the franchise. As expected, I had this inkling that Cream Centre was an Indian joint. But my first glance at the menu and I was thrown off - Indian, Italian, American, Lebanese, Mexican, Continental and street food on the same menu. Not much of a fan of multi-cuisine restaurants, this degree of mix ticked me off instantly.

We went as a group of 5 + 1 kid and all of us were quite hungry. My company included a few who were regulars here and I was told that the American Corn Cheese balls came highly recommended. We ordered that along with Papdi chaat and Bambaiyya Ragda pattice. My mother and I are both suckers when it comes to good Ragda pattice, having been spoilt with it as a great evening snack when in Mumbai.

I frankly wasn't looking forward to the Cheese balls but was very impressed - they were indeed very tasty and yet didn't leave a sick dairy after taste that usually accompanies dyna bytes or cheese fritters / balls. The papdi chaat was a far cry from that at Gangotree and / or the recently opened Kailash Parbat (Harrington Road - not that I love it either, but their papdi chaat is very good) - shall not order again. The ingredients as such were good by themselves but they didn't mix very eclectically to leave me happy.

The Ragda pattice - I did have high hopes. Cream Centre is from Bombay, home to Ragda pattice. Even our friendly restaurant manager was from Ghatkopar, Mumbai and I was expecting authentic stuff. The pattice (patties I know, but this is how this is referred to as!) was hard and didn't seem to go harmoniously with the ragda (channa). It seemed a tad over fried and wrongly spiced.

Main course between us was a Pizza Siciliana, Macaroni Magic, Masala Bhatura with Channa and Methi Aloo Paratha meal. To cut a long story short, dinner was a downer. Except for the Paratha meal which was fresh, well tempered and served with a good measure of tasty raitha, the rest were just below average. The macaroni was just plain macaroni dipped in a white sauce made of cheese. The menu mentioned mushrooms and I did find one or two imposters swimming around but they were either too old or genetically modified to lend any unique taste to my pasta. There was no form of chef's seasoning - I'd have expected basil or thyme at the least if not a dash of vodka or wine - okay perhaps I am pushing it but I just demanded that my pasta have a flavour of SOMETHING. The pizza was the worst I have had at a public place. The base was stuck between crisp and soggy, cheese tasted old and the peppers on it again, seemed to have no taste.

I had read on the internet of Cream Centre being tagged as serving the "World's best bhatura" - I don't know what they were talking about. Just like a lot of other people on the internet and specifically posts on burrp on this topic, I too was quite taken aback that they served the Bathura and Channa as separate portions, costing Rs. 35 and Rs. 95 respectively. Didn't really cut any ice with me. I'd still recommend the Channa Bhatura at Ashoka or Sukh Sagar.

Desserts - Sizzling brownie, thumbs up.

I did toy with the idea of visiting the place again before writing this review but I guess the place's reputation and it's inability to satisfy me on my first visit put me off badly enough for me to write this straight away. I have been told very good things about their sizzlers and biriyani. I will try it again sometime soon though I don't expect too much since I heard the same about the macaroni and the "World's Greatest Bhatura".

Cream Centre is stuck between being a fine dining restaurant and a food court and I don't see why I'd want to pay the fancy price for something like that.

Ambience: The place is neatly done without being over the top. The first thing I registered was the bathroom door that opened outwards instead of inwards - I don't think I've seen that anywhere else in Chennai. Brightly lit interiors are always preferred by me over dim interiors and that was a good plus. Somehow, I am growing a little tired though of the brown veneer finished laminate woodwork in most public places these days. Tip off: Visit the AC section of a Saravana Bhavan these days and it'll look exactly the same as Cream Centre! But overall, comfortable seating and happy lighting = no complaints on this front.

Access: Is the biggest challenge at this location. Located on a one way road means circuititious entry and exit and very little parking compared to it's large fan base means hassled valet parking drivers, not a relaxing thought during weekends.

Staff: Most of them seem to be from Bombay, an interesting trick which hopefully works for them. The waiter tending to us didn't seem to understand what we were asking for and the moment one of us got slightly exasperated, the alert and very warm restaurant manager replaced the waiter in a jiffy. Neat touch. But overall the service was quite quick and no-nonsense. Don't expect broad smiles and lectures educating you on what you are eating. But then again, what do you teach Indians about Parathas and Channa Bathura they'd argue.

Facilities: Good clean toilets and hand wash.
Cost: Steep, not expensive. Just that it feels weird paying so much for what seems like fast food.

Date: 25th August, 2009
Place: Chennai, India
Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan

Must Order –American Corn Cheese balls & Sizzling brownie - but then again, would you travel all the way anywhere just for a starter & dessert?
Average Cost per person - Rs. 350-450 a head including a beverage (obviously non alcoholic, this is TN remember!) and dessert.

Address- 45, College Road, Chennai - 600006
Driving Directions - Enter College Road from the Good Shepherd school / Sterling Road side and you'll find it past the first bend on the left, just before the Meteorological dept office.

- Cream Centre has replaced Bombay Blue at the same location.

The Best Sambar - a Chennai city round up

Hi All - the next installment coming up from The Sharck will be a feature on the Best Sambars from across Chennai city. Be it the idli-sambar from Rathna Cafe in Triplicane or the Sambar vadai at Sangeethas, you'll find your favourites right up here, classified as the best Sambars for Tiffin or Meals.

This article will be the first co-authored, public participation post on TheSharck. So do keep your opinions flowing in.

Article expected shortly - keep checking.

Cheers.

Designer idli dosa

Strengthening their commitment to food and beverage, Sathyam Cinemas earlier this year announced their latest culinary foray - iD. Located on the first level of the multiplex (opposite the popular Magic Hat), iD abbreviates from Idli-Dosa, the name saying it all. iD has been around for about five months now. Launched as part of the line of outlets being rolled out by celebrated chef Mickael Besse, iD opened to much fanfare and full houses, much like the cinema it resides within.

While the name may conjure up a Murugan Idli competitor in our heads, boy it does compete and out-do it in certain aspects and how.

Interiors & Styling:Keeping with the standards set within the complex by the cinemas, Ecstasy and recently Blur, iD too comes with contemporary designer styling and furniture - a world apart from Murugan Idli and the best efforts of Hotel Saravana Bhavan. Set in pristine white with contrasting black linen, the snazziness of the interiors can be quite something to fathom.

The walls on either side have interesting potrayals of the solar system depicted by food shot at iD. A sequence of Idlis showcase the lunar cycle while a tight shot of a dosa seems to reflect the sun. Very quirky, shot on location by Sharad Haksar.

The incredibly expensive imported square shaped stainless steel plates (a friend of mine referred to them as prison plates!) add to the style quotient while throwing up question marks whether the company running it is interested in their bottom lines at all! To complement the plates are very designer and interestingly anguled cutlery - especially the chutney pick ups.

There's no doubting the effort and pains taken at getting the styling right for iD - the best of European furniture and tableware find their way to enhancing your idli-dosa experience.

Service Concept: Taking further the thought of a service concept, iD has interesting menu cards that are placed on each table with the waiter marking off your order on the card and using it as a base for your bill - neat and transparent, much like the rest of the place's theming.

Food: The menu is limited but sensibly at that. Instead of indulging in a hundred frivolous iterations of the unassuming dosa, the iD menu lists the following:

- Idli: Plain, Rava
- Dosa: Plain, Masala, Rava
- Vada: Medu, Keera, Masala
- Pongal: Ghee, Sweet
- Appam: with Coconut milk, Vegetable stew, Ullitheetu
- Beverages: Lassi, Buttermilk, Fresh juice, Coffee
- Dessert: Kasi Halwa, Semiya payasam, Sweet pongal

The food is very consistent. I have visited iD about 8 times in the months since it's been open and have enjoyed the same textures, spicing and temperature each time.

To be honest, none of the fare served has any character unique to itself - served in the ambience it is set in does make the food taste better than it really is. But that is not to say that the food isn't good - it's satiating for sure. Special mentions to the Keera vada and the Idlis. The sweet lassi or the buttermilk are good accompaniments.

Most of the food is accompanied by the usual suspects - Kaara (spicy) chutney, Mint chutney and Coconut chutney along with excellent sambar. While definitely not close to being amongst the best in the city (Mathsya and Ratna Cafe hold on to that crown for now atleast), this Sambar definitely has a unique spicing and taste to it and consumed at its hottest, is very tasty.

The desserts are excellent though terribly filling in themselves. Would recommend the payasam and the kasi halwa strongly.

The biggest shock of them all is the pricing, and pleasantly so. Average bill per person for an average meal is about Rs. 100! Even HSB costs you more!

Staff & Service: Clearly the achille's heel for this otherwise great experience, the service has definitely waned since iD's inception. There clearly seems to be something wrong internally since the bunch of boys have remained the same. Just that the same smiling, eager waiters are nowadays bereft of facial expression, rushed and not very forthcoming. Wait time for food too has gone up from about 3-4 minutes earlier to close to 7-10 minutes these days, well providing for crowds or their lack of, as the case may be.

Considering the variety of food brands now at their disposal and with most of the outlets not requiring knowledge of rocket science (except perhaps Ecstasy), the corporate team at Sathyam could explore rotating the staff around to ensure that the boys are always freshly challenged.

Most of us in Chennai do land up at Sathyam Cinemas every once in a while. Do plan to spend a little extra time, either before or after your next movie to experience iD - the entire experience is worth enjoying.

Facilities: Again, designer ware hand wash at the outlet itself. Toilets of the cinema are availble for use.
Cost: Cheap. There's no better way to put it. Brilliant value for money.

Date: 15th August, 2009 (last visit)
Place: Chennai, India
Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan

Must Order –Keera vada, Sweet lassi, Appam-Coconut milk, Ghee Pongal, Kasi Halwa .
Average Cost per person - Rs. 100 (group of 3 and above)

Address- Sathyam Cinemas, Thiru-vi-ka Road, Royapettah, Chennai
Driving Directions - Off Mount Road, every one in Chennai knows Sathyam theater! (If your auto chappie feigns ignorance, try Sathyam they-ter.)

Koffee at Kleio

A Guns n Roses styled dark brown coloured ‘chocolate’ rose was definitely not what I was expecting to see at Chennai’s newest cafe (am almost growing tired of this word). Christened Kleio, this snazzy one thousand sq. ft. eat out immediately conjures up positive vibes as you enter its bright, naturally lit interiors. Stylish cane furniture (needless to say, chocolate shaded) don’t look comfortable but pleasantly surprise.

Food: Impressive arrays of quick eats (sandwiches, rolls, wraps, pastas etc) complement a selection of cakes, beverages and other interesting dessert.

My first experience to the outlet was rather surprising with almost everything I tried flooring me. But I decided to go back a few times before writing this and boy, am I glad I did. Glad we left behind love-at-first-sight in school.

All the food fare sampled till date has never disappointed - the chicken mayo sandwich, the Cole slaw sandwich (innovatively shaped like a pastry), paneer wrap, veg pasta (mixed on-location). Special mentions due to the Paneer wrap which unlike most wraps around the city, was actually palatable.

The beverage menu seems strongly “inspired” from another city cafe though the concoction is anything but borrowed. The Snicker bar shake and Dream shake (Toblerone) are easily the best around town while the Oreo shake fell short of its contemporaries. The iced lemon tea was a hit as was the Cold Coffee Lite (sugarless).

It was the dessert department that interested me the most, especially thanks to the recent proliferation of dessert options in the city. The first dessert I sampled was the white chocolate muffin and I am still quite mesmerized by it – the white chocolate itself to be precise, was absolute heaven while the muffin could do with a better bake. The Nut corner was delicious, a biscuit made up of a mixture of nuts and served (on request) with ice cream, the apple pie was awry. My biggest disappointment was undoubtedly the Death by Chocolate. Along with Chocolate Truffle, any outlet that attempts to serve up the DBC will have to live with being benchmarked by these two landmark desserts. It was one of the poorer renditions of DBC I have come across, to be kind. The feedback was well received by the people in charge and they’ve set to work on getting it right.

Brand story: Kleio’s tag line, Sinfully Expressive explains the chocolate rose. “We want Kleio to be a destination where people head to express themselves. The rose is synonymous with expression and served in chocolate, it was a perfect fit” explains Rajesh. Taking forward the theme of a destination cafe, a lot of space has been left underutilized to make space for a dais of sorts. Rajesh plans to use the venue to organize Stand up comedy, karaoke sessions, activity for children, etc to help keep the crowds enthused beyond just his food – not a bad plan on paper but time will tell its success. The in-store and display branding is very refreshing for this space. Credit to their design agency, Whoa Mama.

Location:
Kleio operates from a centralized kitchen that caters to its 2 locations – opposite The Residency’s in-gate on Dr. Nair road, T. Nagar and DLF IT Park, Porur. My four visits before penning this review have all been to the T Nagar outlet. All the food is made by an in-house team with its owner, Rajesh Bysani (31) himself assuming the role of Chief Taster & QC Head.

Staff: Courteous and friendly though finer knowledge about the products are limited to the seemingly experienced.
Facilities: The toilet is usable and hygienic, for men and women alike.
Cost: Very reasonable, almost under priced. Only the special shakes are in excess of Rs. 120. All else average around Rs. 40 each.

Date: 13th August, 2009
Place: Chennai, India
Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan

Must Order – Paneer wrap, Chicken Mayonnaise sandwich, Dream Shake, White chocolate muffin.
Average Cost per person - Rs. 135

Address- Dr. Nair Road, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600017
Driving Directions -Opposite the in-gate to The (old?) Residency hotel, at the junction of GN Chetty road and TP Road.

The World's 10 Best Restaurants

Business Today's Lifestyle supplement magazine "More", issue dated July 13th carries an elaborate article on The World's 10 Best Restaurants. It obviously caught my attention and I did pick up a copy.

I will admit, I was expecting it to be a rights borrowed article from Conde Nast and the like. However, I was pleased to see that it was indeed a Business Today special with Rashmi Uday Singh traversing the world trying out the best eateries. As Chairperson, Central Asia Region of the London-based "World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy", she did have access to a list of the top restaurants as a start off but I was happy to see her visiting the various places concerned.

A quick round up:

1. elBulli
Location: Montijoi, near Barcelona, Spain
Meal: Euro 200 (Rs. 13,200)

2. Bernard Loiseau
Location: Saulieu, France
Meal: Euro 200 (Rs. 13,200)

3. Le Bernardin
Location: 155, W 51st Street, New York, USA
Meal: Three course Lunch $64 (Rs. 2,750); Four Course dinner $107 (Rs. 4,600)

4. Tetsuya's
Location: Kent Street, Sydney, Australia
Meal: $200 (Rs. 8000)

5. l' Arpege
Location: Rue de Varenne, Paris, France
Meal: $495 (Rs. 21,280)

6. Alain Ducasse
Location: Paris, France
Meal: Euro 240 (Rs. 15,840) or Euro 360 (Rs. 23,760)

7. French Laundry
Location: Yountville, California, USA
Meal: Nine Course menu $300 (Rs. 12,900)

8. Iggy's
Location: The Regent Hotel, Singapore
Meal: Lunch $115 (Rs. 3,560); Dinner $195 (Rs. 6,040)

9. Oaxen Skargardskrog
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Meal: 1,350 Kroner (Rs. 9,450)

10. Cut
Location: Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, US
Meal: $250-500 (Rs. 10,750-21,500)

A very well written story I must say. A must grab copy.

Goa, Souz-aaah Lobos!

Nestled in the silken sands of a beach popularly known as Calangute, this North Goan beach lays the perfect setting for an idyllic, laid back yet delicious dining experience called Souza Lobos. On a recent visit to this paradise, this particular joint was highly recommended by friends and locals alike along with Brittos, its other beach front apettite whetter counterpart.

Now being the Monsoon and thereby the off season in Goa, many are discouraged from visiting. However, as I recently found, this is probably the best time for Indians to be in Goa. Rock bottom room rates, easy availability of two and four wheeled self drive transport options, resturants welcoming customers all mean that its Goa served to you at half price! Yes the beaches might be off limits since it does get very very rough but the pouring rain can often be a sight to behold amidst the greenery of Goa. The best part of the rain is also the fact that it never lasts more than 10 minutes at a stretch. Now this is also that time of the year when most popular joints operate for restricted times instead of till late into the nights. Historically, Brittos as well as Souza Lobos have been shut through Monsoon. This year however, Lobos did stay open while Brittos is shut.

Saturday night and Lobos had a live performer belting out popular Goan as well as English hits and I must say, the tempo and atmosphere was quite eclectic. Coupled with the lapping of the waves of the Arabian sea, Souza Lobos is a definite must on the tour diary of any holidaying couple.

Needless to mention, like most Goan eateries, the alcohol on offer was elaborate - from the choicest of local Feni to Finlandia, Smirnoff Black, variety of Bacardi and the best of Scotland, it was all on offer. We decided to sample the local Coconut Feni and were recommended to try it with Limca! While it was quite a strong concoction, the Limca did help derive a very unique, full taste. Thoroughly enjoyable.

The food was very good. The fare included everything from Continental to Indian to authentic Goan. We sampled a little of everything and a clear thumbs up was awarded to the Grilled Prawns, Sorpotel, Pork Sausage fried rice and a sumptuous vegetarian preparation feigning to be a Mushroom Spinach pancake! That was to be the tastiest vegetarian preparation I was going to sample in Goa through my entire trip.

The service was a little indifferent but I also have to hand it to the waiters that the place was absolutely packed! Someone at the hotel told us that 10.30pm was the last order but orders and guests kept flowing till about 11.15pm and the last drinks were handed out at 11.45pm. In the peak seasons, we are told that this place knows no start time and you'll stay here so late that you'll never wake up before this place opens!

The interiors were very spartan but added to the beach shack feel that the place was trying to provide. At Rs. 400 a head including alcohol, I thought the place was quite the steal. However, another review of the place elsewhere on the internet deemed Souza Lobos to be an expensive option.

All said, I'd highly recommend Souza Lobos for the entire Goan-beach-shack-meal experience. Try and visit on a week night to soak in the best atmosphere. Reservations recommended - your hotel should be able to make the reservation for you.

Date: 27th June, 2008
Place: Calangute, Goa
Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan

Must Order - Goan Fish Curry with Rice, Sorpotel, anything Prawn, Pork Sausage Fried Rice and Mushroom Spinach Pancake
Average Cost per person - Rs. 400-500 (including alcohol)

Address & Phone - Calangute Beach front, Goa
Driving Directions - Drive up to Calangute beach and walk along the beach! You cannot miss it.

Chennai, Bombay Blues in Chennai

The much hyped launch of Bombay Blue in Chennai took place yesterday. The occasion was by invite only and yours truly was one of the lucky few thanks mainly to one of my Mother's friends - Ms. Ranjana.

The restaurant has indeed managed a plum location. Though situated on the one way side of College Road, just before the Met Dept. office, it is an area bereft of quality dining options while still being in the centre of the city. The neighbouring Subba Rao Avenue and other residential areas would finally have an interesting meal option worth "walking in to".

The interiors are bright - typically Bombay Blue - with generous use of the house colour Blue, well hued with Yellows, Oranges and Reds. The wood is dark and used quite evenly. To go with the colors, the lighting too is quite bright and all in all, presented a happy picture.

A major irritant through the evening was the music - which restaurant today plays Air Supply of everything!!!!! After having lived through 40 mins of Russel Hitchcock and fellow artists, the damn CD just repeated itself! In addition to this was the freezing air conditioning with a direct blast on to the guest seats. The restaurant has preferred going in for individual split units which cool alright but aren't tactically and ergonomically, the most suited.

The staff were courteous but seemed a little jaded and under prepared for the launch. Quite a few items ordered were not served (one was forgotten, another had run out in the kitchen, etc) and over all, service was a tad slow. But then again, being the inaugural, I did have my hard hat on.I was willing to work with the boys :-)

The menu is quite elaborate. It has everything from:

* Bombay's famous road side chats to
* Pasta and Pizzas
* American Junk
* Mexican finger food
* Salads & Sandwiches and
* Decently long Sizzler list.

Being a group of ten (very hungry) people, we ordered quite a bit.

Appetizers:
* Cheese Amigos
* Bombay Blue falafel
* Corn & Cheese Balls
* Onion Rings
* Chicken & Mushroom Croquettes
* Chicken Fingers Remoulade
* Cheesy Fish Fingers
* Reshmi Tikka
* Puerto Rican Chicken Tikka (!!)
* Kodi Vepudu (An Andhra speciality fried chicken)

Yes! We did order every single item on the Non Veg side of the appetizer menu!

Entree / Main Course
* Hearty Meat Sizzler with the option of Noodles or Rice (seemed a favourite on every table)
* Paneer and Vegetable Shashlik
* Mutton Biriyani
* Goan Fish Curry with White rice (which we were told after the others had finished, was unavailable)
* Pav Bhaji (was mine, HAD to try it!)
* Three Cheese Pasta (Penne)

Most of the food was good. The sizzlers were both appetizing while the mutton biriyani might not find favour with the Chennai palate since its more the flavoured rice variety. The Pav Bhaji is highly recommended and is not your usual rich, overflowing with butter and spices style Bhaji.
All the appetizers except the onion rings were a treat.

The 2 most popular desserts on every table that evening were the Nut Fudge Crunch with Ice Cream (might have got the name wrong) and the Sizzling Brownie. I did try the latter and the brownie was quite nice - not too soft, slightly gooey (as it should be!).

I was quite impressed with the pricing, though we didn't need to pay! - it seems to have slotted itself somewhere in between fine dining and fast food and created a category which probably could be referred to as casual dining. An average meal per head here should cost Rs. 250 - 300/-. Alcohol is not served.

It's now left to see how Chennaiites lap up the fare from this latest addition to Chennai's growing eatery scene. One thing's for sure, the options are definitely opening up.

Bombay Blue is a brand of Blue Foods which has given Chennai Copper Chimney and Cream Centre till date. More details of their other brands are available on their website.

I was handed a menu at the time of leaving which purported to be a Home Delivery Menu. I just checked it to post a phone number and cannot believe that they have a menu without a number on it! They have numbers for all the other cities that Bombay Blue is present in but don't have Chennai in it! Relax - Home Delivery is not yet open for Chennai. I will post up the details once it is open. Scanned version of the menu coming soon.

Price per head- Rs. 300/-
Website - www.blue-foods.com
Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 20th June, 2008

Address & Phone - Bombay Blue, College Road, Chennai - 600006. Ph: NA
Driving Directions - Turn in to College Road from the traffic flow side (Good Shepherd school end) and travel down 200 metres. It falls on the left side, just after the left hand bend in the road after the school.

Chennai, First Day Blues at Bombay Blues

Blue Foods launched its flagship brand, Bombay Blue in Chennai today. Yours truly was indeed there and savoured the moments.

Review coming shortly!

Bangalore, Vaayu - Setting new standards in the Lounge scene

I was having one of my best breaks in a very long time. Not more than a total of 40 hours, this break was one where I got to spend a significant amount of time with myself and cut off from the rest of the world, thereby giving me a great break.

Saturday night and we were advised to visit the new lounge in town - Vaayu. Located in the Croma building on Brigade Road (next to HM Tower), the Vaayu is a Sky Lounge located on the 5th level with a clear view of Bangalore city on 2 sides. The view is quite surreal and unexpected.
The place as such had a very urban appeal and ambience - the music being played was a combination of Hindi and English popular but never really got to us - it was there. Period.

Vaayu does indeed have some very talented mixers - the drinks dished out were of a very very high quality and did indeed push some of us to drink more than we normally would have. It was impressive to note the array of Vodka on stock which included my all time favourite Finlandia as well as a rare Russian vodka. I personally did a large shot of the latter and loved how smooth it tasted. Most of us ordered Vodka based drinks and they were all a major hit. Pricing was normal for a Lounge.

We ordered a Veg platter and it was quite elaborate and the food was enjoyable.

Although most of Bangalore shuts by 11pm, for some strange reason (and we were NOT complaining), Vayu was open even while we were leaving which was just before midnight. Probably because it was Saturday.

Weekends attract a cover charge per couple and entry is strictly for men with women.

A definite must visit whenever in Bangalore.

Weekend Entry Fee - Rs. 1000 per couple (Full cover included)
Average Cost per person (only drinks) - Rs. 1000
Website: http://bjngroup.in/restaurants/vaayu.html
Address & Phone: Eva Mall, Level 5, No. 60, Brigade Road, Bangalore - 560001, Ph: 080 - 41118477

Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 14th June 2008

Chennai, Copper Point - A shocker!

I had reviewed Copper Point at the GRT Grand earlier this year in March after it had gone through a face lift and had come back quite satisfied, as expressed in my Blog. Needless to mention, the satisfaction was fresh enough in my memory for me to go back there about a month later.

I was shocked. The place had again changed its menu and this time with it, its prices. Atleast to my recknoning, it was priced rather steep. In order to see if anything else had changed (dramatically enough), we decided to order the same that we did the last time, the only additions being one non veg chicken preparation.

I will not say much. I will let the following speak for itself:

1. Butter Naan / Masala Kulcha - Rs. 135/- each
2. Plain naan / Tandoori Roti - Rs. 105/- each
3. Vegetarian platter (sufficient for 2) - Rs. 910/-

The food had not changed. The saving grace was the Dal Makhni which if you remember had managed to make it to position 2 in my War of the Dals from earlier this year. Else, there really was nothing to talk about.

I doubt I'll be heading that way anytime soon.

Foot notes remain the same as before

Chennai, The Great Kabab Factory - Waning Royalty

Sunday afternoon family meal and the destination of choice was to be The Great Kabab Factory at the GRT Radisson. For the uninitiated, the Kabab Factory is the undisputed standard when it comes to 5 star dining Frontier cuisine. Many years to now, it has been first choice of both locals as well as foreign tourists for the ultimate "Kebab" experience.

I am sorry to say, this love story is over.

Sunday, 06th April, 2008 - Lunch

Chennai's GRT Radisson Great Kabab Factory is one of the best examples of destinations resting on past glory. For starters, the interiors beg a facelift and seem so dated that it turns your (now critical) focus straight towards the food - straightaway raising the bar. Add to this the jacked up prices (Rs. 750/- per head for Non veg and Rs. 650/- for a vegetarian meal) and you really are looking forward to a culinary delight, as always.

The Non Veg fare started convincingly with the consistent Mutton Galouti Kabab drawing praise from all the meat eaters on the table. Remarks on the softness of the meat and how it "melts in the mouth" were to be heard. The parade that followed thereafter led to probably one of the greatest disappointments of recent times. Barring a Seekh kabab which was succulent and tasty, on offer was a Murgh Kooty Mirch and a Murgh Tikka Malai, both of which were tagged as "nothing special", a salt-less Ajwaini Murgh Tikka and Macchi Patiyala which while being innovative, was a let down since it was rather bland and lacked flavor. Further, the people serving the food and throwing their recommendations urged us to try the fish with a yoghurt dip. The bengali dominated table conveyed their sense of disapproval of this combination and suggested mustard to have been the perfect accompaniment for this style of fish preparation.

The Vegetarian fare (usually considered a right royal waste of money at the Kabab Factory) was again, a let down. The Veg Galouti kabab was as usual - excellent. Failing to live up to expectations created by the Galouti were Bhuna Paneer (ordinary - almost tasteless), Aloo Tikka Hara Dhaniya (was a shocker! Felt microwaved), an off beat Mutter Palak ki Shammi (promising in preparation but not appealing over all to the palate) and a very forgettable Subz ki Seekh. This seekh and the Aloo Tikka seemed positively microwaved for the occasion. Unbelievable. Last on this menu was Achari Baby corn which does not even deserve a mention. It was just had too strong a yoghurt base and nothing else.

The support crew:

* The paratha served as an accompaniment to the kababs was really interesting and nice. I failed to catch its name but it was sweet, flavoured with saffron and thick. However, the other variety of bread served was fennel flavoured and stuffed with nuts - however, one bite and one felt stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey! Hmm, I wonder how and why..

* Beverages - The Badam Milk was not thick and not at all chilled. The Lassi however was very nice and flavoured with jeera. We ordered for Fresh Lime Soda which was served to us warm!

* Among the dips and accompaniments, the Tamarind Chutney deserved special praise. It really left a lasting impression on the taste buds.

Now if you felt that I was reaching the end of my review, you'd be mistaken because among every other dish offer, the one I was most eagerly awaiting was the Kali Dal. Now one of my most popular posts till date has been the War of the Dals where a lot of readers actually wanted Kabab factory's Kali dal to be accommodated in the list of Top 5 for Chennai. On first taste, the dal was surprisingly watery with a less than appealing sprinkling of lentils. Overall, there really was not anything in the dal to warrant a place in the Top 5 of Chennai. Sorry readers - its the only reason the Dal continued to stay out of the list.

Desserts - all of them impressed. Be it the Kesari Gulab Jamun, the Kulfi, Steamed Apricot, Papaya Halwa or the Coconut flavoured Payesh (Kheer), they were off beat as well as very tasty. Full marks here.

At the end of it all, none of us on the table felt that we had got value for our money. However, the experience was most soured right at the end when the over zealous waiters virtually shoved us out of the restaurant since it was 15 minutes past their kitchen's closing time. Definitely not what one expects at a 5 star restaurant, especially one with such a cult brand status.

It'll be exciting to see what the Radisson Group does to revive the past glory of their premium frontier cuisine brand. I know for a fact that it carries too much equity for the chain to ignore it. I hope to visit the place again in the month of July and will write back then.

Non Vegetarian Meal - Rs. 750/- per head
Vegetarian Meal - Rs. 650/- per head
Website: http://www.grthotels.com/radisson/restaurant.htm
Address & Phone: GRT Radisson, 531, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai - 600 016, Ph: 22310101

Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 06th April 2008

Chennai, Zaras Tapas Bar - Re-fuel!

I've heard so much about the lunch at Zaras but have never really got a chance to sample it. I had also heard that 10 Downing had a pretty decent set lunch menu and I did sample it about 5 months back - pity I wasn't blogging then.

So anyway, this 1st of April, we decided to do lunch at Zaras. Again, I was in the company of a vegetarian friend and actually, credit goes to her for insisting on Zaras. I had also heard that Zaras now had a new menu.

With both of us having to go back to work after our lunch, we were quite wary of over eating. As a result, I decided to get the Lunch Combo while my friend got herself an appetizer. We both stayed away from the included free glass of beer though she substituted it with a Lemon Iced tea.

I asked for a Cottage Cheese tossed in Hot Chilly from the starter menu while she ordered herself a Salt & Pepper Baby corn (not a part of the set menu options). The set lunch menu has quite a few interesting options and is definitely worth sampling.

Both the baby corn and the cottage cheese were absolutely smashing. The baby corn was an all time special from the kitchen and nothing seemed to have changed - if we were to start getting very critical, it was probably a little more spicy than normal. However, the corn was really crisp and well done. The new cottage cheese preparation amazed me with how smooth it was in taste and texture. It was one of those servings that you wished would just never end.

I then got myself "Grilled Cottage Cheese slices layered with creamed spinach and melted cheese". A very very interesting innovation, it comes with cole slaw and lovely in house baked garlic bread. The whole cheese + paneer + cream combination did look quite imposing on the menu but I was very impressed with how they had managed a symphony of all the 3 without making me feel like I'd just consumed a slab of lead. It was not spicy, yet had a zing to it which I guess should be attributed to the hint of spicing in the paneer marinade.

I didn't really get a chance to sample too many items between us, but I do promise to go back there soon enough to get some more insights into their newly drafted menu. As of now, I'd still rate it as a "Must Try".

Special Lunch Deal - Pick any one Starter, Filler, Dessert and a mocktail or a glass of beer.
Veg - Rs. 225/-
Non Veg - Rs. 245/-

A La carte prices - as per attached menu

Website: NA
Address & Phone: 74, Hotel Oriental Inn, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai - 600 086. Ph: 28111462

Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 01st April 08

Chennai - War of the Dals

Its been over 1 year today since I bade farewell to the carnivorous side of my appetite. As a mark of the same, I thought I should list down the 5 best destinations for the one dish that has kept me good company as my staple restaurant pick for the past 1 year - Dal Makhni / Kali Dal / Black Dal, call it what you like! Enjoyed best with any form of roti or Jeera Pulav.

Following is the order of restaurants in Chennai which get my "pulse" racing:

1. Sigree
By far the best dal in the city - sometimes a little excess on the butter but always thick, rich and a never miss!

Address & Phone: #144/145, Hotel Quality Inn Aruna, 5th Floor, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600034. Ph:42664222

2. Copper Point (read full review)
A brand new entrant into the list and how! I was pleasantly surprised at how the medium thick, not-so-rich Dal Makhni stirred up such a rage on my last visit to this recently made over restaurant.

Address & Phone: GRT Grand, 120, Sir Thyagaraya Road, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. Ph: 28150500 / 28155500

3. Peshawri
An all time Chennai favourite, was clearly the best destination for kali dal for over 10 years till the younger challengers came about. Still manages to retain its unique flavor and taste thanks to certain special cooking techniques.

Address & Phone: Hotel Chola Sheraton, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai - 600086. Ph: 28110101

4. Copper Chimney
The only multi grain dal to make it to this list, despite multi grains not winning much favor with me, the Copper Chimney kali dal has always been a mouth watering accompaniment to their excellent array of Indian breads.

Address & Phone: 74, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai - 600086. Ph: 28115770

5. Kabul
While the restaurant itself has gone through its highs and lows with the Chennai crowd, Kabul's 'Dal Kabul' has consistent, for over the 15 years that its been in business now.

Address & Phone: 35, TTK Road, Chennai 600018. Ph: 24996761

Chennai, Copper Point - Old wine in a new bottle

GRT Grand's Indian restaurant Copper Point sports a completely new look and is now open for business.

Now more than the crazy ads all over town (old nannies dressed in traditional indian wear sporting chef's hats, masquerading to remind your of your grandma's cooking, urgh..), it was the buzz that I was hearing amongst friends that led me to Copper Point.

I visited the restaurant with a friend for dinner on a Thursday and was surprised to see the restaurant quite full for a week night. I was glad to see that the 2 level seating format had been retained (it has a charm of its own) though we were seated on the only 2 seater on the mezzanine level and it was rather uncomfortable. The others seats we were told were "reserved". As expected, no one showed up on those tables till we were about to leave. Anyway.

We ordered for a glass of red wine each and were happy to see that the Sula Sartori variety was open and being served. It was as usual, smooth. A good start. We then went on to order some starters. Now its been a while since I visited and I don't remember the exact names as on the menu but will refer to them in their most common parlance. We asked for the ubiquitous Paneer Tikka which impressed while our Tandoori Gobi was a huge disappointment - to the extent that we had to get the kitchen to change it for us. Tandoori Aloo came instead and was quite decent.

We decided to keep the main course light - 1 tandoori (kadak) roti, 1 garlic naan with Dal Makhni was all we ventured into. I have always let the Dal Makhni at a restaurant decide whether I like the place or not. Seriously, if the kitchen can get that right and somewhat different from that served in other eateries, they've done a pretty decent job. To say the least, I was amazed at how good the Dal Makhni turned out to be. Don't forget to catch my Dal Makhni special coming up in a few days. The rotis were excellent and made exactly how we wanted it - for once, we didn't have to send back the tandoori roti for want of it being "kadak" enough.

Desserts were given a miss as we were quite stuffed with our quick meal.

Copper Point definitely did not disappoint. I hope to go back soon enough with my carnivorous friends to write more about the non vegetarian fare. The live Indian music still stays to add to the warm ambience and actually sets the tone for a nice, cozy evening.

Women and kids will love the presence of in-house palmists and a caricaturist.

Meal for 2: Rs. 1000/- (without alcohol)
Meal for 2: Rs. 1800/- (with alcohol)
Website: http://www.grtgrand.com/grand/restaurant.htm
Address & Phone: GRT Grand, 120, Sir Thyagaraya Road, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600 017, Ph: 28150500 / 28155500

Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 06th March 2008

Chennai, Barbeque Nation - Indulge your Indulgence

Hotel Sree Devi Park - little known 2 star hotel in congested T. Nagar, Chennai plays unlikely host to Chennai's version of Barbeque Nation (BBQN) - a unique format family dining restaurant serving speciality grilled recipes, right at your table!

More than the food, patrons are likely to be impressed by the concept at first. Pre-existing overseas, BBQN is definitely a first for India in Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and now Chennai!

Brightly lit, warm, balmy interiors are a welcome change from the usually dimly lit interiors thrown at us by most restaurants in the city today (Agreed - the trend is changing with Peppers, etc). A duo belting out hits from the 70s & 80s weren't really obtrusive though sitting in the section in front of where they perform could perhaps eventually get to you. Minimalist decor and Tables in configurations of 4 & 8 provide very comfortable seating for the rather extended dining session. Yes, meals at BBQN can take longer than your usual meal out. Certain wall decor were simply put, inexplicable.

The food was excellent - yet to ensure that I was not carried away by an occasional show of brilliance, I decided to visit BBQN a second time to get a true sense of their quality and service. The first visit was on a weekday which also saw the place fill up its tables quite easily. For the next, I chose Easter Sunday and the hoardes at the restaurant had to be seen to be believed. I would safely say that BBQN is satisfactorily equipped to handle both extremes. I was quite concerned that on a relatively less crowded day, we might get swamped by service and that's never a good thing either. BBQN did not disappoint (with a fair degree of tolerance exercised Easter Sunday). The staff were cordial and friendly and the Managers did do their fair bit to keep the dining crowd content as well as the long waiting list, calm.

BBQN does many things first and right - each table is fitted with a provision for a charcoal grill to be placed within the table.

The format is simple - choose from a Non Veg or Veg spread (both priced at a uniform Rs. 400/- per head). 5 veg and 5 non veg specialities from a range of cuisines including Lebanese, Mediterranean, Continental, Oriental and Indian are served on your table grill with the Chinese fare being the only non skewered starter. Cook them yourself to suit your palate. Have it lightly cooked or well done, smear it with a dressing of Lemon and Mustard, Oriental or Crust pepper with Olive oil or choose to accompany your grill with a variety of dips, the Garlic mayonnaise deserving a special mention. Skewers are served repeatedly as long as your "flag" remains raised - yes another innovative concept which places a brass flag on your table with a smartly designed hinge to lower it (with dignity) once done with your stomach-full of starters. It's then time for the elaborate buffet with an impressive array on offer. I personally recommend that on your first visit, give the spread a miss and feast on the starters.

The choice of location (within a hotel) is with obvious benefits - the alcohol range is quite elaborate with an interesting outlay of cocktails - we tried the Sweet Lime and Tamarind Martini and were quite disappointed. I was reminded of the Kingfisher beer ad with the crazy man dressed in a Chinese outfit singing out his menu to the guests on the table and trust me, I can really vouch that there is nothing quite like a pint of Kingfisher (Rs. 120) to go with good food. Corona was also listed on the menu but was unavailable on both days.

Chef Anwar and team do manage to stir out an interesting assortment of eatery. Non Vegetarians felt they really got their money's worth while vegetarians, while not too enthused, were definitely not disappointed. I should mention the Lychee souffle from dessert spread which I thought was lip-smacking good!

BBQN is definitely a breath of fresh air in what was becoming a rather morose set of options for the dining out public of Chennai. One thing's for sure - forget about a table without a reservation - the wait can be painful. Reservations are only for 2 sessions - 7.30pm and 9.30pm.

As a last word, the BBQN experience is well worth the money spent - go on, call together a bunch of friends or huddle your family together and hit this joint at 1, Hanumantha Street, T. Nagar.

Sample Spread on Day 2 -

Starters - Paneer Poshida, Thai Mushroom, Cajun Spicy Potato, Veg Hariyali Seekh, Assorted Oriental Grill (peppers), Ajwaini Fish Tikka, Mutton Gilafi Seekh, Dhaniya Prawns, Murgh Sahzani Boti, Lebanese Chicken with Onion Mushroom.

Buffet Spread - Tanka Beans Soup, Chicken Clear Soup, Pasta in Pazok Sauce, Vegetable Fricasse, Aloo Gobi Mutter masala, Paneer Manchowrian, Veg Biriyani, Plain rice, Dal Makhni, Curd Rice, Kasuree Mutton, Kolahpoori Chicken, Fish Finger in Hot Garlic Sauce, Crab in Black B Sauce, Mutton Dum Biriyani.

Dessert Outlay - Baked Pineapple Strudel, Coconut Souffle, White Forest Pastry, Yakudi, Butterscotch Ice Cream, Fresh cut fruits and Angoori Gulab Jamoon.

Price per head- Rs. 400/-
Website - www.barbeque-nation.com (disfunctional at the time of posting)
Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 13th & 23rd March, 2008

Address & Phone - Barbeque Nation, 1, Hanumantha Street, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600017. Ph: 42694481, 42694482
Driving Directions - Travel down on Bazullah road till just before you reach North Usman road. Take the left just before North Usman Road and head straight about 200m till you reach Hotel Sree Devi Park. Another useful landmark is that this place is behind Prashanth Real Gold Tower.

Chennai, La Boulangerie - Typically French Dessert..

A touch of calm and tranquil midst the madness of everyday life. That for you is La Boulangerie, the new bakery at Anna nagar. Located at 15th main road, this bakery run by a curry crazy French lady, offers an idyllic setting and serves up a fairly wide fare of french breads, quick eats (anything but!), beverages and desserts.

Barely a month old, La Boulangerie (which translates to 'the bakery' from french) is good for business meetings or quiet, laid back catch ups. This is definitely not for the quick cuppa nor a barista/coffee day replacement.

We ordered a sample of all the desserts on display and came away quite disappointed though. The choclate based desserts were just too stale and gooey while the custard filled desserts (a french favourite) smelt probably a bit too much of egg to work with the herbivorous populace. We didn't get a chance to sample the breads but they looked attractive enough as did the range of speciality baguette sandwiches. The Hot Chocolate definitely was a stand out and is highly recommended.

The seating deck is tastefully lined with cactii plant on one side and wood and stone furniture providing the seating. We visited around 4pm but are confident the place will paint a pretty picture dusk onwards.

The service is typically french - laid back and 'leisurely'. One of my friends (coincidentally just back from France himself) commented on the interiors as being very very french - pretty to look at yet brilliantly disfunctional! (Flimsy stone table tops and uncomfortable chairs leading to this)

All in all, worth one visit to soak in the atmosphere. There after its upto what you order which'll decide whether you go back there again or not.

Typical Prices:
Dessert - Rs. 35 per piece.
Beverage - Rs. 40 per serving
Breads - Rs. 65 per 350 gm

Website: www.laboulangerieindia.com

Reviewed by: Harish Anand Thilakan
Date: 9th March 2008