Salt @ Forum

What to eat: Grills, Briyani and Lassi

Where: Salt Restaurant, Forum Mall, Vadapalani

Google Maps:
 

Verdict: It was collegemates meetup happened after several years. Planned for lunch before a movie at Forum. Despite the fact that its pricy, we choose "Salt" as it's a fine dining place with elegant ambience where one can spend quality time with friends and family before a movie in Palazzo. No urgency, just order, eat, talk, talk, talk more without anyone waiting for the table behind us.

Crispies were served before we order. Ordered for grills like saffron Chicken Malai tikka(365₹), Lamb Sheek kebab(385₹). Chicken mikka was brilliant when you have it as hot. But Sheek kebab was spicy with too many spices.

My friend didn't had Lassi for years as he was out of country. So got a paan Lassi(155₹) for him to savour.Both regular naan(75₹) and garlic naan(85₹) went well with the creamy butter chicken(385₹).

Mains were the mutton Briyani(395₹) and Chicken Briyani(365₹) accompanied with creamy onion raita. Both were perfect with lot of meat and served hot in a pot. Single Briyani is enough for two.

Service charge, Service tax and VAT were added later in the bill. One can better try their buffet on Wednesday-Friday which is cheaper and value for money compared to la carte on weekends.

Food Stall at Srirangam Train Station

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin

Where: Food Stall at Srirangam Railway Station

Verdict: I know veg food is tasty and cheap in Trichy. But never thought it would be so yummy without burning a hole in your wallet.

 Whilst we wait for the train, bought few packs of idly (6Rs per piece), vadai (8Rs per piece) and poori with potato masala (15 Rs per set) from the food stall located in the train station. Idly was soft like a pillow. Combining it with the thick poosani (gourd) sambar and ketti chutney enhances the taste to top level. 

Poori with aloo masala was not so special, but definitely worth for what we paid. After the tiffin, we conclude our Srirangam trip as we have to take the morning train to Chennai. Don't miss if you ever take a train from this train station

Banana Leaf Trichy

What to eat: Tamilnadu style Non Vegetarian cuisine

Where: Banana Leaf Restaurant, Near Theppakulam, Trichy

Location:
 


Verdict: literally craving for briyani after 2 days of temple hopping. Visited Banana Leaf for lunch on Sunday afternoon with a big hope and a large appetite. Had to wait for 20mins before getting to our table.

Orders were placed in a matter of seconds. Here is a short review from our order.

Nattu Kozhi Soup (95 Rs) - more like a rasam, but a lovely gulps.

Mutton Biryani (190 Rs) - Dindigul style seeraga samba based biryani. Perfectly spiced with enough amount meat with bones. Accompanied dalcha was brilliant along with the regular onion raita. If I come again, then certainly order this one.

Quail 65 (135 Rs) - A whole Nassau(quail) was deep fried and served along with cut lemon and onion slice. Just a regular one, Not so special.

Eragudi Chicken (170 Rs) - It was suggested by the order taker. Not so spicy, but succulent version of chicken 65. Worthy one.

You won't find many non-veg restaurants in Trichirapalli.And this is one among the best in Trichy region. Just make sure to have enough time to wait if you visit on a Sunday.

Mani's Cafe - Second Visit

What to eat: Idly, Dosai and Vadai

Where: Mani's cafe, South gate, Srirangam

Location:
 

Verdict: This is my second visit to Mani's cafe on this trip. After an early morning darshan at Ranganathar temple, all were starving and looking for a traditional eatery. Initial plan was to visit Venkatesa bhavan. As the shop was closed, we had gone to Mani's cafe for breakfast.

Interesting to look at their price list as on the year 1983. This eatery was established in 1982 and the invitation was preserved and displayed on the wall.

An old lady served our table with a big smile. Had few of idly (15rs per pair), dosai (30rs) and some sambhar vadai (15rs). Mains were served with sambar, coconut and a tangy tomato/chilli chutney. Total family loved the food. If you have only 2 of idlis, then it would cost 20rs. Definitely a not-to-be-missed restaurant on every Srirangam trip

Mani's Cafe - First Visit

What to eat: Akkarai Vadisal and Vellayappam

Where: Mani's cafe, South gate, Srirangam

Location:
 

Verdict: It is a well known cafe situated near Ranganathar temple and famous for the herbal dosai's they serve. Ambience was nothing to say as this place is a mess(colloquial term used for eateries). People come here to taste the traditional food and not for a meeting or party. If you mind the ambience, then you are gonna be a loser. Their tagline is only people having patience are allowed here. If you're in hurry, this one is not recommended as most of the staff are old people who work in their own speed. To be frank, it is far better here to eat in a relaxed way.

Had gone there for evening snacks, but was quite surprised to see akkarai vadisal(25rs per serving) , a dessert made out of rice and moong dal. It was yummy and sticky like halwa.

Ended the meal with a pair of vellayappam (20rs per pair) combined with some freshly made coconut chutney. Washed down with a filter coffee (15rs) as usual. Bill was shown to us with the numbers written on a slate.

Michael's Ice cream

What to eat: Just Ice cream

Where: Michael's Ice cream, Thiruvanaikaval, Trichy

Verdict: Michael's is the most famous ice cream joint where most of the trichians have tasted ice creams for years. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the price list as all the ice cream varieties cost just 10 to 15rs only. It was like going 2 decades back.

Got a chance to taste a scoop of fruit salad vanilla ice cream (10rs) and black current (15rs). Fruit salad with vanilla was pretty yummy compared to black current which was more like crushed ice. Wish they open a branch in Chennai

Sree Madapalli

What to eat: Srirangam style Vegetarian Cuisine

Where: Sree Madapalli, South Chittirai St, Srirangam

Location:
 


Verdict: Planned for a Srirangam trip for a several years. Finally it started today with my first eating experience at Sree Madapalli which serves one of the best pure veg food. Srirangam is a foodies haven especially for herbivores.

Got a Rava dosai for the price (40rs) that will get you just a plain dosa in places like Chennai. It was a thin crepe with crispy edges, soft inner with good amount of cilantro, curry leaves and peppercorns. Accompanied Sambar was thick with not much irritants and also got fresh coconut and a little spicy tomato chutney...all of them were perfectly paired with the crepe.

A must visit eatery for value for money iyengar style meal.