Snacks At Geetha Cafe

What to eat: Bonda with Coffee

Where: Geetha Cafe, Mount Road, Chennai

Verdict: Geetha Cafe is one of the oldest eateries of Madras. Decades back we used to have tiffin at this eatery. Today after completing little shopping at Ritchie street, me and my friend had evening snacks at this cafe.

Just got a plate of bonda(45₹) with filter coffee(23₹). Bonda was four in a plate, miniature in size, but a good one with 3 varieties of chutney and sambar

Filter coffee was awesome as usual. The price in the menu excludes 12% GST. Definitely one of the best places for vegetarian south indian meal at Mount Road.

Buhari Restaurant

What to eat: Briyani with Chicken 90

Where: Buhari Restaurant, Mount Road

Verdict: It is another oldest eatery of Madras that serves yummy briyani since 1951. There is a board stating chicken 65 was founded here. Funny thing is in one of the episodes of "Kaun banega crorepati" Amitabh used to ask this question to one of the participants. However I prefer to have chicken 90 which is a boneless version. Their mutton samosa and "bun butter jam" are quite famous things among the locals.

After completing some business with my friend in Mount Road, bought couple of egg briyani(180₹) and chicken 90(235₹) for takeaway. Egg briyani was quite large in quantity with 2 boiled eggs, onion raita and a pineapple dessert. Chicken 90 was a brilliantly fried pieces of well marinated chicken pieces. Only complaint is no brinjal chutney (thokku) was served here which is their main branch.

However they serve it in their other branches. Though the briyani is not amazing, it's a decent place in Mount Road for NonVeg delicacies like wheat parotta, campbell chicken, paya,...

Lunch At Welcome Hotel

What to eat: Mini meals and Masala Dosai

Where: Welcome Hotel, Purasawakkam

Verdict: Regular Sunday outing combined with Diwali shopping at Purasawakkam always ends with meal at the legendary Welcome Hotel. I still remember the days in early 1990's when my mom used to take me to Madarsha for shopping and then buys me masala dosa in Welcome hotel. I did the same with my little one today.

Parking was not a problem as we did it in Madarsha before shopping. Limited parking space available for two-wheelers, but none for cars. Welcome hotel is just 200 meters away from Madarsha. So had a little walk to my favourite eatery and got a corner table as usual.

Order was simple...Just a mini meal, masala dosai and semiya payasam.Mini meal plate had a mini chapatti, kuruma, karuveppilai rice, sambar rice, curd rice, beetroot poriyal, appalam and a small cup of payasam. I just tasted the curry leaves rice which was just "wow". Wife was happy with the taste of the meal.

Masala dosai was perfectly cooked with crispy edges with enough amount of potato masala and served with coconut and cilantro chutney and sambar. Semiya payasam was not bad. Used my sodexo meal card to pay (just to save some tax) the final bill amount 160₹.

If you hit this place for tiffin, just make sure you don't miss the sambar idly which sells out very quickly

Shaan-e-punjab @ DLF

What to eat: Roti with Chicken

Where: Shaan-e-punjab, Food Court, DLF, Ramapuram

Verdict: When your schoolmate calls you for snacks, you can't say no. That's how I landed today evening at DLF food court. We were initially looking for some snacks, but God had other plans for us. Attracted towards the recently opened punjabi food stall named "Shaan-e-punjab".

Ordered for a combo of afghani chicken + roti (costs 175rs) for each of us. It was not looking big initially, but a stuffy meal for dinner. It was funny to look at the big tawa rotating below an electric(?) grill (an indian version of kitchen equipment similar to the one at dominos and quiznos).

Combo meal had 3 big fresh rotis, a fire roasted afghani chicken piece, mint chutney, dal, gulab jamun. Roti was freshly prepared after the order was taken. As we complained it was not spicy to have roti with dal, they served us some spicy gravy as well.

Absolutely no qualms on food. It's a boon to have meal with a friend who's having less appetite as he shared half of his food to me. So I am double happy.

Sree Raghavendra Bakery

What to eat: Kara Paniyaram and Mini Samosa

Where: Sree Raghavendra Bakery, Mount Poonamallee High Rd, Chennai

Verdict: It was another evening tea break. And this time, we have decided to try kara paniyaram at a bakery located near to DLF. It was an ordinary bakery from outer looks, but they make unique spicy paniyarams at evening.

Initially bought a plate of kara paniyaram (4 for 20rs). Paniyaram was fresh and pretty big served along with onion chutney. However there is no "wow" factor. It is just a simple snack. My friend thought of getting some boli, but changed his mind as it was bit cold. 

Ended up munching few crispy mini samosas (3 for 10rs) and a ginger tea (12rs). Mini samosa was too yummy...deep fried dishes always gets a lot of taste, but decided not to get into to it in future visits.

Ginger tea was top-class in flavor and also was much thicker. Everything we had was value for money. If you look for a place for evening snacks near DLF, then this place is very much recommended.

Nathan's Wheat Halwa

What to eat: Wheat Halwa

Where: Available with Mr.Nathan who stands opposite to DLF, Ramapuram in Evening.

Verdict: My colleagues introduced this halwa stall to me after an evening tea walk. Bought 100gms (300rs per kilo) initially, but later bought a half kilo. Halwa was little hot as it was just made few hours back at their home.

 

 

Definitely far better in taste and freshness compared to A2B or any sweets shops in the city. We must support such small businesses instead of paying high in well established places where the quality is diminished. Happy thing is there is no GST added.

Soundaram's Cheetinad Sweets and Snacks

Where: Soundaram's Chettinad Sweets & Snacks, Soodamanipuram, Karaikudi


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Verdict:
Doesn't make sense of visiting Karaikudi if not tasted chettinad style snacks. That's why we were at Soundaram's Chettinad Snacks located few yards away from karaikudi new bus stand.
Interested to see a man doing just kai murukkus.

Bought few கை முறுக்கு, தேன் குழல், சீடை, தட்டை, அதிரசம்,...for friends and colleagues back home. Even my friends who earlier said they want nothing, but bought a lot after entering the place. Never miss out when you hit this tiny town.

Desotta Bakery

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Verdict:
Had a visit to Desotta, one of the finest bakeries in Chettinad region as suggested by a local friend. Packed some macaroons (1200₹ per kg) for the little one.

Sample given was a tastier one. Happy to see one of the old time favourite cream puff. My friend packed some ajwain biscuit sticks and baby biscuits. By this, we call it a day for our Karaikudi trip.