Shri Gujarati Mandal

George Town is the center of Chennai city, quite famous for the various wholesale markets. Foodies like me know this place for the food varieties available here. Especially the north Indian vegetarian cuisine like Rajasthani and Gujarati are pretty well known. Me and My friend went there to buy some tools in broadway. Before going there, we already decided to have our meal at "Shri Gujarati Mandal".

Located at the junction of Philips street and Broadway at the ground floor of a building called "Gunavti Bhavan". It is a no frills place serving only gujarati vegetarian meal (costs 120₹ on a Sunday & 110₹ on rest of the days) managed by gujratis. Luckily we were seated without any wait. Such a limited space, you can't even shake your head as it might hit the head of the person sitting behind. No worries as we came here only for food, not for any ambience.

A big plate was kept for each of us with small bowls of potato masala, chana masala, curd, rolled pappad, brinjal yam sabji, sambar. There was a separate bowl for mango pickle, mint chutney, fried chillies and cabbage cucumber salad for self serving. After a while, a sweet dhokla and snake gourd halwa was served. Both of them were new to us. No complaints. A gujarati guy sitting before us was asking for additional dhokla which was served with no questions. But we were happy with the single one. We both could not finish gourd halwa as it was too sweet. 

And then one guy came and served 2 soft rotis on our plates. It was a perfect combo with aloo subji, chana, brinjal and all. Roti guy came again and served another 2 rotis without we asking for. And then we finished it. Again he appeared with rotis. My friend was very upset and he was not sure how to stop with endless loop. It seems like the roti guy didn't understand our Tamil or English. Then I decided to use my little hindi knowledge to put an end to roti. Had to tell him "roti bus baiyya. chawal chahiye". My friend was super cool asking me how I know gujarati ;)

 

Later chawal AKA boiled rice was served, which was put into the guts by mixing with sambar. Both roti and chawal are unlimited here. My friend asked for rasam which I never expected in a gujrati eatery. However, it was a perfect one. One guy appeared with bowls of basundi and aamras (each 30₹). My friend was curious to see aamras as we never had that earlier in our life. Got each a cup shared by we two. Basundi was okay. Aamras was a yummy thick mango pulp. My friend loved it much, so he had another cup of it. Finally paid 330₹ for 2 thali and 3 desserts. One may buy gujarati sweets and snacks at the snacks stall outside the dining hall.

It may bring a little discomfort if you visit for lunch in summer like we do, as there is on air-conditioner over here. But if you are a north indian or a gujarati who wants to have pillow-soft roti and subji, then this is one of the best place in the city. If you can spend more, then you may visit "Agarwal Bhojnalaya" which is even better for Rajasthani and Gujarati thali.

Google Map:

Location:

116, Prakasham Road, Broadway, George Town, Parry's, Chennai 

Bombay Lassi

"Bombay Lassi" is one of the oldest snack stall in Chennai, located exactly in front of the back date of Devi Theater. In 80's, people flock this shop to have some samosa or kachori after taking movie ticket in Devi. I remember going there as a child with my dad to pack some samosa to eat during interval before watching a South African movie called "Gods Must be crazy". But due to commercial reasons, Devi theater management had decided to close the back gate and open it only at the end of every show. So it is not possible to go via the theater to get into this shop. So we had to take the other route via Mount Road/Ellis Road.

After some electronics purchase at Ritchie street, my friend diverted the bike towards this little shop. After entering Ellis road (from Mount Road), we had to take a right into an alley just next to a mosque and at the end take left to see the crowded stall at the corner. Don't ever try to come in a car as the alleys are too narrow and you won't find space to park.

Initially bought a piping hot samosa (12₹) each. Potato masala stuffed samosa was served with mint chutney and tamarind sauce on a bio-degradable leaf. It must have been taken from the frying pot only few minutes back, steam was coming out when we opened the outer layer. It seems like they have reduced the size nowadays as it used to even bigger when I had last time before 5 years. Anyhow it was super delicious as usual.

And then we got a plastic glass full of special lassi (50₹). It is nothing but lassi mixed with basundi, served with a topping of thick curd and some sprinkled sugar. It can't be compared to the lassi one get in Sowcarpet, but it was cold and quite filling, very much needed for this summer season.

At the end, packed a quarter kilo of basundi(100₹) for home (as my wife and daughter might have read the post before I reach home).

Google Map:
 
Location: 7, Barbar Agan Street, Ellis Road, Near Mount Road, Behind Devi Theatre, Triplicane, Chennai

Fish Fry at Elliot's Beach

Craving for some local flavour, but no plans to visit any high-end restaurant. We were at Elliot beach for Sunday evening fun. My memories reminded me of jenifer fish stall at this end of the city. After comparing both the stalls, we went for Rasika fish stall located quite opposite to Jenifer stall.

It was just a shack on the beach sands, with chairs placed outside. Saw various varieties of fishes along with prawns, sand crab and regular crab. We chose the seer fish fry(120₹).

After good amount of toss on a hot tawa, a slice of fish fry was served with spicy powder topping and some onion slices on a banana leaf layered plastic plate. Freshness and right level of spices were the main ingredients. It was really better than we initially thought of, as it was not deep oil frying, but tawa fried keeping its softness intact. Moreover I don't find any artificial coloring added on, or it may be of ignorable level.

It is after 3 or 4 years we are visiting Elliot beach. Never seen these many food stalls in earlier trips. There is even a food truck parked near the private kids park. Finally I got a reason to visit this beach in future.

Location:

Chennai Royal Kitchen

Last evening I was literally forced by my co-workers to visit the newly opened "Chennai Royal Kitchen" restaurant located near Porur signal for dinner. Heard from a friend about the multiple varieties of briyani available over here. After parking our vehicles, the first thing we saw was a big board explaining about the biriyani varieties.

Filled with curiosity, we entered in and found most of the place was empty. Settled on our chairs and ordered for a mutton double joint biriyani and a hyderabadi chicken biriyani. After few minutes, we were told mutton pieces were finished on the biriyani, and they offered to provide chilly mutton pieces mixed in the same biriyani rice. We all agreed for it. But wondering how come mutton pieces on briyani sells out so fast when it was just 8pm, not a weekend, no crowd at all. Later heard from the neighboring table that the other family was waiting for almost 40 minutes for a dish after ordering. Definitely service needs to be improved.

After a while, we were served with a pretty big bowl of the so called mutton biriyani. Curiously digged thru the rice to see mostly capsicum. There was just 3 or 4 small mutton pieces which were also not that good. Biriyani was like just cooked basmati rice mixed with biriyani masala, missing the basic elements like aroma and flavour. However, it was not bad. It also had 2 boiled eggs. Logically it should be named as capsicum biriyani as capsicum was the main ingredient compared to mutton. To be frank, it was not worth for 350₹. We are not paying that much just for capsicum rice.

Next came the chicken biriyani with the same base of basmati plus a large super soft chicken piece(quite unnatural softness for me). It seems like they use the same briyani rice for both chicken or mutton biriyani Or they have not cooked mutton biriyani, just serving rice from chicken biriyani with some mutton pieces on top of it. All good with the accompanied gravy and raita.

When the bill was handed-over, my friend was looking for the sweet saunf, but it was missing. Thought of getting some at the billing counter, but saw only empty bowls over there. It was like an experience of having dinner when a restaurant was closing down late in the night.
Paid 525₹ for the meal and left the place with no intention of coming back.

Location: I don't find any need to put the location as capsicum rice is available in a regular vegetarian restaurants for better rate and quality.

Absolute Barbeque

Happened to visit chennai's one of the best bbq place for a farewell dinner. Luckily 'absolute bbq' has opened their branch recently near to dlf, otherwise we had to travel to Vadapalani or T.Nagar.

We had to book our tables couple of days ahead just to make sure things go as planned. Turn up without advanced booking, especially on weekend may end up with disappointment as it is always super packed with people. Ambience was great. Sometimes it gets noisy as few people were having birthday celebrations. Service was mostly quick, lagging in some places.

A live grill was placed in the center of our table before the commencement of eating session. It was meant only for the starters. Fish, prawns, chicken, pineapple, watermelon, mushroom, paneer were placed on our grill. Mutton sheek kebab, ajmeri veg kebabs were served on plates. There was a separate big teppayanki style grill on the other side where a guy was preparing exotic meat like rabbit, shark, bbq chicken, quail, emu, duck. You can select the spice level, sauce type, meat type and other ingredients like olives, capsicum,etc... before preparation. Sampled few just for tasting.

After this, we dived into main course like chicken biriyani, veg noodles, egg fried rice,... and desserts like gulab jamoon, cheese cake, jelly, chocolate delight, pastry, rasa malai. Finally ended with paan ice cream which was made on the cold stone. It was good initially, but could not finish due to strong paan flavour. Would be better if they have reduced the amount of paan going into the icecream. It was absolutely delight to have such a feast. None of us had any complaint, but only happy tummies.

Let the pictures speak the rest.

It was "come as 10, pay for 9" offer. So one person count was reduced on the bill. Dinner set my sponsor-friend back by 10,613₹ for 14 carnivores and 2 herbivores.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/CW9RceTcJK12