Faizee Traditional Dining

What to eat: South/North Indian Cuisine along with Nagai style Cuisine

Where: Faizee Restaurant, Opp DLF, Ramapuram, Chennai

Location:
 


Verdict: My colleague literally dragged me to the newly opened restaurant located just opposite to our office campus. We were bit surprised at the variety of food presented over here...especially the "Nagapatinam style cuisine" which is not much famous in Chennai food scene.

Ambience was pleasant and elegant. Service was better than the other places, may be because they are new to Chennai market. They never asked for bottle water and kept glasses filled with tap water which you normally never see in much places. I can feel that the tap water was better in taste.

However I see they have been struggling to get the orders places in the kitchen and also to retrieve the dishes from there. Looks like they need to have a coordinator to handle the job in a better way.

Ordered just regular rotis like wheat parotta, butter naan, pulkha, tandoori roti with special mutton masala and tandoori chicken.Nothing to rave about the rotis as they are just regular...almost most of them are made of maida except the wheat parotta.

From the looks, we thought Special Mutton Masala must be spicy. But it was just opposite to our thoughts. It was bit sweet with good amount of chopped garlic which you normally won't notice.

Tandoori chicken was perfectly done as expected. But the accompanied salad made of julian cut onion, carrot, capsicum, tomato along with a brilliant mint chutney enhanced the taste of meat to a higher level.

 

Dinner had set us back by 495₹ for 2 persons. Interesting thing we noticed was the vat and service tax was included in the price displayed in the menu, and not charged separately whilst billing. But not sure what will happen from July 1st after the implementation of GST. If you ever visit this place, don't miss out their in-house specials "5 curry combo".

Porur Paratha Kadai

What to eat: Paratha & Subji Paneer

Where: Rohini Restaurant, Vanniyar St, Porur, Chennai

Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/CvsSWeC3zKo

Verdict: Wanted to grab a quick and light dinner while driving back home at night. Thanks to my friend who guided me over the phone to this tiny eatery. This place just serves 2 mains i.e., Aloo Paratha and Phulka with sides varying from dal makni to rajma to regular subzi. You may also get lassi and gulab jamun if lucky.

Lassi was not available when I visited as it was just before closing time. So I settled down with Aloo Paratha (25₹ per piece) with mattar paneer (30₹ per cup). Paratha was made after the order was placed. It was hot as it was directly served from the tawa. It was big and thick with good amount of mashed potato. Paneer pieces were pretty soft with not-so-spicy gravy and soft peas.

If you hit this locality, don't miss out the yummy parathas.

Sree Aryass Theni

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin

Where: Sree Aryass Restaurant, Cumbum Road, Theni

Verdict: It was a simple breakfast b jiefore climbing up the western ghats in Theni. Ordered for idly (13₹), dosai (46₹), Poori set (48₹), Vadai(12₹) and coffee (19₹). Idly and dosa were served alongwith sambar, coconut chutney and tomato chutney.

Good thing about this resto is sweet kesari was served for each person with no additional cost. Dry and oily idly powder was kept in two small vessels on the table.

Overall a decent place for Tamil food. Have to try meal on another trip.

Madurai Arulanandham Hotel

What to eat: Madurai Style Non-Veg Cuisine

Where: Arulanandham Hotel, Near Vilakathoon, Madurai

Location:
 


Verdict: After some tiresome street shopping, we took some parcel from Arulanandham mess. This eatery serves non-veg cuisine only during afternoon from Monday to Saturday. Don't get disappointed by visiting for dinner or on Sunday. Packed egg biriyani(120₹), mutton biriyani(150₹) , chicken chops(120₹), mutton sukka varuval(120₹), fish fry(120₹), mutton kola urunai - a local version of mutton meat balls for 30₹ per piece.

Mutton biriyani had lot of pieces, but no egg. Egg biriyani had 2 boiled eggs. Both of them are not-so-spicy briyani made of tiny seeraga samba rice. Chicken chops was nothing but a country chicken (Nattu kozhi) leg piece on a thick creamy gravy. Fish fry was a crispy tawa fried thin slice of king fish.

Not an extraordinary food..But no qualms at all in any food item that we have tasted. Pricing was bit cheap as it's an eatery for the common man  of Madurai. No menu card, but the menu was painted on the boards placed at the entrance. Hand-written bills...Cash is a king here...they don't accept any card. This place is well known for the non-veg meal, not for biriyani. You can try if visiting Madurai and then can visit famous jigarthanda shop which is just in a walkaway distance. For Chennaites, you may try their only branch in T.Nagar, Chennai which is an A/C resto.

Jayaram Restaurant - Owned by Jayaram Bakery

What to eat: Multi Asian Cuisine

Where: Jayaram Restaurant, Theni Main Road, Kalavasal, Madurai

Location:

Verdict: Most of the people living Madurai are aware of Jayaram bakery for their delicious baked breads and cakes. However they may not be aware of the restaurant owned by the same management. They have a restaurant above their bakery near Periyar Bus stand. But the one in Kalaval is pretty big with lot of parking space and a small children's playing area.

We visited their Kalavasal branch for dinner. My wifey just opted for plain dosa, but the rest want to order for something different and new.

Here are the appetizers that we have ordered.

Vaigai Chicken (120₹) - An oil fried version of juicy Chicken Satay served along with spicy barbeque sauce. One can order Satay sticks if like to consume less oil.

Fish Fingers (150₹) - Crispy lengthy fried fishes served with mayonnaise based sweet condiment. Never to miss it in future visits.

Chicken Lollypop (140₹) - We thought it would be in chinese style, but the one served was deep oil fried. Can give it a miss on next visit.

Here are the mains

Butter Naan (35₹) - Thin and crispy. Nice to have it hot.

Butter chicken masala (130₹) - Bit sweet gravy with crispy chicken pieces. Goes well along with the naan.

Schezwan Chicken Fried Rice (130₹) - Just okay. Nothing much to say on this.

Finally washed down with jigarthanda (60₹). But it's nothing compared to the original one served at "famous jigarthanda" shop in vilakkuthoon or even murugan idly kadai.

Overall it was nice meal if not ordered for lollipop and Jigarthanda. Good part of this visit is the time kids spent in the play area which is free of cost.