Abid's

What to eat: Hyderabadi and Arabian Cuisine

Where: Abid's, Spurtank Rd, Chetpat

Google Map:

Verdict:  Abid's is the hottest place in town especially for "haleem" during the month of ramzan. Today we had an opportunity to dine-in for lunch before a movie.

Guys welcome Mr.Gautam, new model for my blog as well as sponsor for today's meal ;) Lucky me to have such a friend

Ordered for a Hyderabadi mutton briyani (250₹) and half tandoori chicken(200₹). Most of the items here takes atleast 10 to 15 mins. However we don't have to sit idle as they served a complementary lemon juice even before we order the food.

 

 
                                     Half tandoori chicken plate had four pieces of tender and juicy chicken. It was more enough for two. Hyderabadi mutton briyani was looking small from the looks, but it was a tough battle to finish a single plate for we two. However briyani was superb with not much oil, perfectly cooked meat. Briyani was accompanied with a bit spicy gravy and liquidized onion raita.

Gautam cursing me for taking a snap instead of tasting the falooda

Washed down the meal with a kesar falooda (155₹). When we asked about the size of the falooda, the waiter simply asked us to go for one by two if we feel too heavy. Never had a one by two falooda anywhere before. It was a wise decision. It was a not-so-sweet drink with little bit of jelly, semiya and a lot of sabja seeds. Would be better if they have reduced the sabja seeds.

Overall a nice place for lip-smacking Hyderabadi briyani in the town with friendly service if you don't mind paying 18% GST ;). Otherwise make use of your friends and colleagues like me..lol..Happy Eating.

Kalathy Rose Milk

What to drink: Rose Milk

Where: Kalathy Newspaper Shop, East Mada St, Mylapore

Google Map:

Verdict: It is heavenly to end the temple visit with chilled rose milk that costs just 15₹ at Kalathy newspaper stall. This shop was started long back in 1927 by Kalathy mudaliar. Several celebrities like late Shivaji Ganesan, Crazy Mohan were regular customers to this stall. Don't miss out the yummy drink if you hit Mylapore.

Puliyodarai at Kapaleeswarar Temple

What to eat: Puliyodarai and Sarkarai Pongal

Where: Prasadam Stall inside the campus of the Temple of Kapaleeswarar & Karpagambal, Mylapore

Verdict: After completing darshan, we were little hungry and looking for some good food inside the temple campus. And then we saw the prasadam stall selling pulisadam.

Bought few donnai full of tamarind rice and sweet pongal. Both were hot, fresh and divine in taste, costs just 10₹ per serving. Packed some more to have later.

Rayar's Mess

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin

Where: Rayar Mess, Arundel St, Mylapore

Google Map:

 

Verdict: Visit to Kapaleeswarar temple always starts from breakfast at Rayar. It is one of the oldest eateries of South Chennai located in an alley in Arundel street. This place opens only during Morning and Evening for Tiffin. Don't get disappointed by visiting for lunch or dinner.

This mess is located in an age-old house and has only 4 tables, with a seating capacity of just 16 people. Lot of takeaways were moving out as we were waiting in the narrow alley. You would get only limited items for Tiffin such as idly (20₹ per pair), pongal(35₹), Medhu vadai(10₹) during Morning. We got the same after waiting for 20 mins which is quite normal over here. I saw people standing and eating idlies.

 

Both Pongal and Idly were served hot directly out from the kitchen. Accompaniments were diluted (thanni) coconut chutney, sambar, spicy green chilli chutney. One may also get gun powder (with oil) and Ketti chutney for additional costs. Vadai was crispy on outer edges, just loved the way it was made...had to repeat the vadai. 

As usual we ended the meal with a cup of filter coffee(20₹). Definitely a not to be missed eatery for homely food without burning the wallet if you don't mind the waiting time and ambience.

Fresh Pottalam

What to eat: Chicken Rice & Parotta

Where: Fresh Pottalam, Outside DLF Main gate, Ramapuram

  

Verdict: Decided to try out the new eatery in town and that too just outside my office campus. "Fresh Pottalam" is a tiny place mostly serving take away. Just have table space for 6 people to dine-in. It is really appreciatable to manage an eatery with such a tiny space.

Got a chicken fire fried rice(110₹) and a set of parotta salna chicken (60₹) for two of us. Since its the inaugural day, we got parotta salna for free. Its a buy one get one offer just for today. Food was served in thick paper plates, main point is it has no wax coating. 

Though spicy from the looks, Chicken fried rice was a perfect one available in this locality. Parotta set had 2 pillowy parottas served with a cup of chicken salna. Got only a tiny piece of chicken :( however the salna was lip smacking, never had such one recently in Chennai. 12% GST was added on the bill.

Would we go again? Yes. Next time for the chicken meal and briyani.

Keep Eating! Stay Happy!

Cheers,

Raja

Update: 30th July 2018 - This kiosk stall was closed long back and is now replaced by a tea stall.

Hotel Paramount

What to eat: Parotta and Moghul Briyani

Where: Hotel Paramount, Ormes Road, Kilpauk

Location:

 

Verdict: Paramount is one of the oldest eateries in Madras known much for appam with paya for breakfast. We had a friend's meet for Sunday lunch. It was a non A/C restaurant...So 12% GST was added in addition to the food prices. There is an A/C resto on the first floor.

Order was simple with Chicken moghul briyani(170₹), Parotta(15₹) and Butter Chicken masala(182₹). Briyani was a regular dum briyani with grated boiled egg topping served along with a cup of gravy and onion cucumber raita. Parotta was a softy as usual was yummy paired along with creamy and sweet butter chicken masala.

Ended the meal with falooda which had lotta jellies at the bottom, otherwise it was a nice drink. Overall a decent place for nonveg food anytime of the day.

Dakshina Puram

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin

Where: Dakshina Puram, Akkarai, East Coast Road

Location:
 

Verdict: Driving back home on ECR this morning after a get-together with my ex-colleagues. As suggested by my friend, we had a stop at this restaurant located in the campus of "Delhi dabha" for breakfast. Parking the car was smooth as they had ample parking space.

Orders were quite simple like idly (35₹), dosai(75₹) , vadai(22₹) and pongal(50₹). All prices mentioned before tax. Idly was bit dried, but not bad. Dosai was crispy and crunchy. Vadai was not a big one, but just ok. There were 3 different variety of chutney kept in a small vessel on the table along with condiments like idly powder and gun powder

Only problem was the sambar was served in tiny cups. When we asked for sambar 3 cups, we were served with sambar and 3 empty cups...Yes...empty paper cups...That's what happens when you have a hindi speaking waiter serving a tamil speaking customer. But later he realized his mistake and gave us sambar filled cups. Hope he will learn tamil or english soon to survive in our tamil land. Ok let's not go into any politics.

Washed down the meal with coffee(25₹) which was just ok. Not so good and not so bad. Surprised to see the water bottle was sold at a reasonable price of 10.17₹ before tax and that was tastier and filling compared to bisleri.

Overall a decent place for breakfast in Akkarai located next to Iskon temple entrance / hot kitchen.