Karimeen Polichadhu at Kumarakom

Happened to visit Kumarakom restaurant located opposite to DLF at Ramapuram for dinner with a colleague. My friend does not eat chicken. But I have destroyed several chicken farms just by eating chicken. So as a common apetizer, we have ordered a karimeen polichathu (300₹).

First impression of karimeen was a disaster. It was such a small fish, wouldn't be sufficient even for one and certainly not worth for 300 bucks. However it was well marinated with one of the best combination of spices, covered with banana leaf and tawa-fried. Do I need to say that the banana leaf was well cleaned at the end ;)

Palappams (20₹)  and egg curry (70₹) were the mains. These guys never gone wrong with appam. Egg curry had two boiled eggs with a little tangy gravy. It was well enough for we two.

If we go back, decided to order karimeen only after looking at the size of the fish. Otherwise it was a perfect supper.

AVK Fish Meal

In search of good nonveg meal, we a group of four friends rode towards Saligramam. But ended up in the same place which I have already written long back. It is AVK home meals center located behind Prasad studio on L.V. Prasad road which serves one of the best fish fries in Chennai.

There were few people standing right at the entrance waiting to get their fish meal parcel. It is a little cramped place with just four tables and four chairs on each table. Therefore only a maximum of sixteen people can sit and eat at a time. Not recommended for family visits. May be that's why lot of people gets takeaway for their family. Moreover there is no space for car parking. But one can park on the street side.

Luckily we got a table near windows with no waiting time. As usual ordered for four meals (70₹ each) and also sides such as four pieces of fried seer fish slices (140₹ each) and a plate of fried whole sardine fish (4 pieces for 100₹).

It was a limited meal with beetroot cum cabbage poriyal and spinach koothu. Also served with a big sized appalam. Seer fish slice was thick one not thin like we get in big restaurants. Sardine was a small one with lot of thread sized bones. Opted for fish gravy for first two rounds. And then the third round was steamed rice mixed with the masala topped on the seer fish fry, which was little spicy and a not-to-be-missed combo. Last round was with the pepper soup (rasam).

Washed down the meal with a cup of butter milk.They have plans to renovate the place with air-condition in few months. At the end, we had a happy tummy which is what we all needed on a Sunday afternoon.

Yanaikkal Sulthan Briyani

What to eat: Briyani and Sides

Where: Sulthan Restaurant, Yaanaikkal, Madurai

Verdict: Yet another Madurai trip. I never left this town without tasting briyani. Today my brother-in-law took me to a small eatery in north veli street located between Yaanaikkal and Simmakkal.

As per his suggestion, we ordered for half plate mutton briyani(145₹), with chicken(70₹) and mutton chukka(75₹). I was amazed at the quantity of the briyani and the price on the menu written on the wall. It is a seeraga samba rice based briyani with little fatty mutton pieces. Onion raita, dalcha with mutton bones and a spicy gravy were the accompaniments. It was too yummy with little hotness, way better than the cold briyani served in the famous Amma mess.
 

Both chicken and mutton chukka were semi-gravy with 4 or 5 pieces with bones. Finally we both shared a plain briyani (80₹) which was actually taken from mutton briyani, so it retains the flavour of meat. One has to take off the plantain leaves and throw at the garbage bin at the end of eating session.

Lunch set us back by 515₹ which is totally worth for the taste and quantity. Heard chicken majura and parotta are famous dishes here in the evening. They also have a branch opposite Mattuthavani bus stand. And also has a nearby air-conditioned restaurant. Do visit if you hit this town for lunch or dinner.