Posted by Swetha Sivagurunathan on May 26, 2007 in
Chennai If you like to combine good food with a nice long ride along the ECR aka East Coast Road, then West Park is the place. It is between Neelangarai and Vettuvankani with a huge sign board that is really hard to miss.
West Park has got these semi secluded seatings under a canopy like roof of red tiles on the garden. Alternatively, you could opt for sitting indoors, but then the ambiance is lost. It is pretty pleasant during the day but the best time to go especially this summer would probabyly be for dinner.
They serve continental, chinese and tandoori, however, I’m yet to venture into the continental section. The vegetarian food there is tastes good but I have heard from my friends that the non vegetarian food is equally good too. One of the good things about this place is the egg fried rice which smells delicious, so good that it is highly addictive! The only thing lacking is the choice of desserts – apart from an endless list of a number of permutations and combinations of icecreams, there is nothing else.
I think it is the kind of place where you could bring your friends along for a treat or have a get together. I have also heard that they arrange buffets on request, not very sure though.
The prices are pretty nominal and a meal for two would be say between Rs. 350 and Rs. 450. So go ahead and enjoy the food and a long drive!
Posted by Narayanan Hariharan on May 19, 2007 in
Chennai If you ever get to see the Chennai Central (no, it is definitely not a hangout, it is the main railway station in Chennai aka Madras, India) this empty, then you are definitely lucky!
Click on the above pic to view a bigger sized image. It is definitely your lucky day if you happen to see Chennai Central like this. 
Interesting Trivia: The building of the railway station, one of the landmarks of Chennai (Madras in the olden days) was designed by the famous architect, Henry Irwin. Irwin’s other work include the Madras High Court, State Bank of Madras Building (Now called State Bank of India), Ambas Vilas – The Mysore Palace, Viceregal Lodge, Shimla etc. You can find out more about his work here.
Posted by Anush Srivatsan on May 18, 2007 in
Chennai When it comes to the best chaat in Chennai, there are very very few places to rival Gangotree. But for those of you who aren’t too fussy about the authentic north Indian taste, Suriya Chaat Corner is an ideal destination.
The choice of items that you get here are quite staggering, considering the size of the chaat shop.
For starters (in a chaat shop! Really?) the choice is from French Fries, Potato Wedges, Veg Nuggets and Smileys (Rs 24 each). You can also choose from among 4 salad varieties (each Rs 16).
You get the regular selections of pizzas (Yes! Even Gangotree doesn’t offer these!) – From Margherita (Rs 30) to Paneer Temptation (Rs 40) to Spicy Potato Pizzas (Rs 50). To be honest i think some of these taste far better than what you get at Domino’s! Sigh! If only someone else could perfect their garlic breadsticks with cheese-jalapeno dip 
Sandwiches and burgers include everything from the Plain Coleslow Sandwich (Rs 15) to the impossible-to-eat-without-spoiling-your-shirt Double layer burger (Rs 45).
Coffee addicts can choose from among the Capuchillo (Rs 25), Mocochillo (Rs 30), Frappe (Rs 30), Himalayan Heights (Coffee+Vanilla+Honey!!!, Rs 30) and Almond Frappe (Rs 35).
You even get veg hotdogs (??) – The paneer hot dog (Rs 35) is quite delectable. The remaining options leave a lot to be desired.
Now the CHAT items- you get the whole lot. From Pani Puri (Rs 17) to Samosa Chenna (Rs 18) to Dahi Poori (Rs 20) to Pav Masala (Rs 26). All the stuff you get here is fresh. Even the Dahi.
There’s even a nice range of sweets, ice creams and fresh juices to choose from. You get the softest gulab jamun in all of chennai here, i kid you not!
All in all, this is THE place to go if you are short on cash and have that craving for quality chaat but can’t go all the way to Gopalapuram!
And lest i forget, the BIGGEST plus point here – The parking. You can drive a Semi here and still have enough place to park. Err…well.. another semi… and another!
Suriya Chat Corner is at 54/9 Greenways Road, Chennai 28. (Near Govt. Music College)
Posted by Aparna Natarajan on May 17, 2007 in
Chennai Introducing the concept of a diner in Madras, Sparky’s boasts of delivering the all American experience.
The first thing that hits you about this place is its friendly bunch of waiters, who welcome you with their loud, enthusiastic smiles, down the stairs of the basement where it is located. Next, to get overwhelmed with the interiors of the place- 1000s of number plates fill up the walls! (Later we were told that those number plates where brought in all the way from USA!!)
We were lead to a cozy table, and it was time to order. The International menu has everything from Hawaiian, to Mexican to Italian to Cajun to the authentic American burger, steak and fries meal (fries that are covered with mozzarella cheese!).
We had ordered soup, and they were ready to serve their noodle soup without the noodles in it (some thing that very few places would agree to do!) Their salad meals are very healthy and filling too as their portion sizes are quite big. The mustard and honey dressing was yummy. If you are a barbecue fan, you can have a whale of time! Most items in the menu come with a vegetarian substitute for the PETA community The chocolate fudge brownie sundae, the dessert that was recommended lived up to expectations.
Back to the ambiance, the place gives you an overall flavor of the Wild Wild West. Even the bathrooms with their brick red and green combination suggest “American”! Also true to the diner tradition, was the chef Mr. Thom Petty, who drops in for a chat with you while you are dining.
Sparky’s gets a 10 for hospitality, as the customers are made to feel like they are buddies with the owners, and start missing it if you don’t pay them a regular visit to say hey! (ditto for the people there, who even enquire if we were on travel, if you were missing in action for long).
Posted by Aparna Natarajan on May 12, 2007 in
Chennai This Spanish bar, is the only place in Chennai that serves Tapas (a variety of Spanish short eats… and quite a variety it was!). The ambiance is typically Spanish, which reflects on everything from the flooring, to walls and the furniture. The music definitely picks up after 9 pm; they play a mix of music catering to the tastes of the diverse cultural mix of the people who come there.
The cocktails menu certainly isn’t very imaginative, with the usual cosmopolitans, pinacoladas, the martinis and the like. However, if you are in luck, you can order your favorite drink, and have it served for you on request! The shooters are well priced at Rs.125. I strongly recommend the pepper vodka shooter with tomato juice
Of the short eats, favorites are a taco called Croquettas De Esinacas (Spinach Roll) and the baked corn and spinach salad- all served in stylish square plates. They also have a wholesome lunch menu too and I’ve heard from many that the cheese quesadilla here is to die for!
There is no entry charge. However, Lads, please remember to put on your shoes, as they are compulsory for entry and the ladies, do dab on that extra bit of lip gloss, and get geared to have a good time 
Posted by Niveditha Ramaswamy on May 7, 2007 in
Chennai Given the size and the weird location of Aangan, its so very easy to miss this place. Let alone miss it, the odds are that you may never have even heard of it. But consider yourself lucky, that you know about it now. Once u step in and taste their North Indian food that is served ultra quickly, its very likely that you will want to give it a visit it again very soon.
Inside the place, its got only about 6 tables and all of them are big 6 seaters. So even if you are just 2, you end up occupying a huge table. Not a very romantic setting, but if food is why you are really there, then there is no reason to regret. Its small simple setup is great for a family outing or some fun over lunch or dinner with your friends.
Coming to the delicious food varieties from the North, they are irresistible both taste and price wise. Their menu is pretty much what you would find at any other similar restaurant, starting from soups, appetizers, tandoori and rice variations and some milkshakes and ice creams.
I love the masala papad served with chutney. The starters include temptations like gobi 65, paneer tikka and many more. Yummy! (Wow! Just thinking about them, makes me want to go there now). You’ll find rotis and naans with a long list of lip smacking side dishes which are complemented by biryanis and pulao. The vegetable biriyani is another of my favorites. You might as well skip dessert (not worth mentioning over here) and fill up that space with some more of the main course dishes.
Anything you order here comes within a jiffy. I don’t think I’ve ever waited for more than 5 to 10 mins for some super hot stuff straight from the kitchen. And the best part is, for all the great food and the really quick service its very light on your pocket. A fully satisfying meal for 2 people, works out to just about Rs. 250.
So it’s a great place to have a meal and really enjoy your food, without any worries at all. If you haven’t already checked it out, you must. Almost all the people to whom I recommended this place loved it. What you waiting for?
You can find Aangan just behind Gangotree, just off Cathedral Road on the first floor. Its on your right as soon as you go into the lane adjacent to Gangotree opposite to Stella Maris.
Posted by Navin Ganesh on May 3, 2007 in
Chennai If you have been missing authentic north Indian cuisine, then its time you paid Bay Leaf a visit. Its located in the heart of the city and is easily accessible. The board outside welcomes you saying, “Authentic Lucknowi, Bengali, Frontier, Punjabi Cuisine”. So it pretty much covers the popular variety of cuisines we get from Punjab in the West to Bengal in the East.
Once you get inside, you tend to feel relaxed. I think it because of the lighting which is neither too bright nor dark and the place overall is very decent. As its off the main road, not too many people know about this place, so you end up getting a nice quite place to dine in. There are about 8 tables which is more than enough for the crowd this place gets.
Ok. I think i’ve described the place enough. So lets get to the food. You’ve got quite a long menu card. Most of the items here are Non-vegetarian which is understandable considering it’s purely a North Indian place. But there are enough items to try out for a pure vegetarian to go and enjoy a nice filling meal.
Firstly, I have to warn you about this starter called Paneer Potli. I hated it so much, that it’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about bayleaf. I ordered it with great expectations, but it turned out to be big let down. Maybe the dish by itself is supposed to be like that, but the cardamom in it, just made me hate it. Anyway, moving on, the tomato soup was watery but quite tasty. The Biriyanis are just amazing. The one I had was called Lucknowi Vegetable Biriyani. If you do end up going thereDon’t miss out on having the Biriyani. They also have tandoori items such as roti, naan, etc. and a range of side dishes. The ones I had were all pretty good, so its worth checking out. The quantity of each portion of any dish is also quite huge.
Apart from the standalone dishes, you also have meals which work out pretty cheap. There is one meal at Rs. 55. Me being a vegetarian I have to say, my experience of Bayleaf was pretty limited. But for all you non-veggies out there, you must check it out and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. As a place to dine out, its great to relax over the weekend or even take someone out on a date. But before you do take out someone, make sure they like this kind of cuisine. An average meal for 2, works out to somewhere between Rs. 300 and Rs. 400.
So go ahead and relive your north Indian food craze at Bayleaf which is located at Gopalpuram. It is off cathedral road, and on the street that goes in next to Gangotree and opposite to Stella Maris.
Posted by Narayanan Hariharan on May 2, 2007 in
Chennai I couldn’t name it any better because this shop doesn’t really have a name. Or probably, it has a name but without a board. Anyways, who cares? I’m talking about the roadside sandwich shops in front of Alsa Mall, which was once upon a time one of the most happening places in Chennai.
There are three to four such sandwich shops in the same row and all of them are pretty similar. All of them are around four feet by four feet, made out of wood and there is place for only one person to stand inside who prepares various types of sandwiches and toasts and another person standing outside who makes wonderful omelettes. Surprisingly enough, they have power supply and what’s more, there is a menu card too!
The sandwich shop that I am referring to in this post is the one on the right corner when you are facing Alsa Mall. This is the only shop from where I have eaten and hence I will recommend only this one and not the others.
Like I mentioned earlier, they have a menu card, well laminated and lists all their offerings like Veg Sandwich, Egg Omelette, Cheese Toast, Chilly Cheese Toast, Mixed Veg Toast, Aaloo Toast, Bread Omelette etc. All of these are reasonably priced, ranging from Rs. 8 for the Veg Sandwich to Rs. 13 for most of the toasts. I’m not sure about the egg varieties as I’ve never tried them. All the toasts are served hot and that makes them even more tasty. My favorite off the lot is Chilly Cheese Toast. It is probably the best Chilly Cheese Toast I’ve had ever. Damn tasty, trust me. The cheese melts in your mouth and the Lays tagline really suits it, i.e. ‘No one can eat just one!’ Anyone who goes there must definitely try out the Chilly Cheese Toast; otherwise you are definitely missing something in life.
Now, you may be thinking in your mind, “you say it is a roadside shop, in front of a mall, you haven’t mentioned any seating arrangements, where the hell will I sit or stand?” You can sit on the steps of Alsa Mall for eternity and no one is going to disturb you. As you wait for your order to be ready, you are given ‘Time Pass’. Time pass is nothing but cucumber pieces with Chaat Masala sprinkled over it. And here is the best part, the so called ‘Time Pass’ is on the house!
I clearly remember the first time I went there. My friends and I were debating on where to hangout. We were all short of money and therefore couldn’t go to Coffee Day, Planet Yumm etc. That’s when one of my friends mentioned about a certain ‘Sandwich Shop in Alsa Mall’. Since the others hadn’t been there, we all decided to check out that place. That visit led to further frequent visits and we used to spend close to 5 hours every time we went.
I’ve been going to this place for close to 5 years now and not only have I have enjoyed eating there every single time, but everyone who has been to that place have a similar experience to share.
The shop is open from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M. There is no address as such and it is very easy to locate. Just ask for Alsa Mall once you near Egmore and once you are there, just look for a really small shop with a huge crowd around it on the right and you’ve got it.
Posted by Anush Srivatsan on May 1, 2007 in
Chennai These days there is no shortage of high quality pure-veg eatouts in Chennai and Sandeepha’s new branch on TTK road just adds to the list. Though this doesn’t exactly qualify as a “hangout”, if you wanna hangout with your parents or grandparents, why not give this place a shot.
The first thing you’re most likely to notice about this place is the HUGE menu. And I’m not kidding. They have practically every vegetarian dish you could ever hope for! For starters you can choose from the usual stuff… Chinese/Tandoori (Rs 40 – Rs 60). Rice varities (Rs 50 – Rs 60) include everything from plain jeera rice, pulav, masala pulav to mushroom and paneer fried rice. Noodles fall under the same price range too.
One starter there that i like a lot was the Paneer Balle (It even sounds different). The dhal varieties don’t have anything extraordinary that is worth mentioning. You can choose from thadka dhals, tomato thadka, makhni and the list goes on. The kumb malai palak (Rs. 60) is one of my favorites. I really don’t know whats there in it (apart from malai and spinach) so I can’t really tell you why its so tasty.
Sandeepha primarily specializes in south indian dishes. You get everything from the boring Idlis and Vadas to Stuffed dosas (which includes a paneer stuffed dosa!) There are 23 (yes Twenty Three) varities of dosas to choose from. The dosa that stands out there is the Masala Paper Dosa (Rs. 90).
For older folks, there is the tried and trusted “meals combo” available. They range from lunch meals (Rs. 35), Andhra meals, Tamil Nadu meals to North Indian combos (Rs. 70). Plus you also get the boring sambar rice, lemon rice etc etc (yuck!).
Finally, to finish it all off, they offer a choice of exotic mocktails and icecreams (I don’t remember much here, but the dessert menu went on for a good 3 pages).
A word of caution – Under no circumstances should you ever order the Malai Kofta at this place. Trust me, it SUCKS!
Sandeepha is located on TTK Road, right opposite Narada Gana Sabha. It is open between 8am and 11pm on all days.
Posted by Navin Ganesh on Apr 30, 2007 in
Chennai Today is the first time I actually entered Food Village on the ECR (East Coast Road) though I had been planning to do so for a few years. It just never happened. Anyway, I’m glad I finally did.
Entering the place, you could mistake it for anything but a restaurant. It looks like a park, has a lawn and some ducks and turkeys moving around the place. Anyway, now coming to how it does as a restaurant.
They have a number of wooden huts. Each of these are separated from the others, so its more like sitting in separate rooms. There is one hut, which has 2 levels. These huts are surrounded by trees on all sides and lots of greenery. So even if you go there for lunch, chennai’s heat doesn’t get to you. Also, each hut also features a fan. Lol.
I know there might be some of you (like me, ) who just can’t stand the heat anyway. So for the likes of us, they have got an A/C facility, but then you don’t get to be one with nature inside the artificially cooled room. On the other hand, this place would be worth checking out for a relaxed dinner and then followed by a lazy drive back into the city.
Now to the food, the average meal for 2, works out to about Rs. 500 and that includes everything from soup and starters to your final dessert. The tomato soup that I ordered was pretty good. For the main course, some usual North Indian dishes along with some Shezwan Noodles. I must say, while the North Indian stuff were pretty good, having the Shezwan Noodles was kind of let down.
Finally, here is how I’ll put it. If you are just looking for a place to suppress your hunger then you will be better of going elsewhere. Food Village is a good option, for those wanting to spend some time outside the high paced life of the city and relax along the beaches of the ECR. A good plan would be to, go there as a group and after lunch take a ride along the ECR to one of the amusement parks or some beach.
Food Village is located on the ECR at Injambakkam, immediately after Prarthana Drive-In Theatre. They’ve got big boards put up, so its difficult to miss. You will find it on your left, if you are driving away from Chennai.
