Chennai Express

Recent addition to Chennai food scene is the rail themed restaurant named "Chennai Express" located in the campus of rail museum at villivakkam. It is actually a LHB coach converted into a restaurant with fascinating interior, vibrates at regular intervals to create train travel effect.

Ordered Paneer Tikka as starter. Hard and spicy... certainly not worth for what we paid (260₹).
Non-spicy Hyderabadi chicken dum biriyani(175₹) was delightful. Punjabi lassi was yummy(130₹).
If it's a visit with kids, it is better to spend some time at the rail museum with a joy train ride.

Address: Next to ICF Furnishing Division, New Avadi Road, Villivakkam, Chennai

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Haunted Restaurant

Kids(including the kid in me) want a theme restaurant visit for the weekend. And I am not in a mood for long drive. So, finalized "Haunted" which is pretty near, located near Kandaswamy Naidu college and few yards away from the rear of Anna nagar East metro station.

 

It is a spooky theme restaurant having few ghost-like structures in dining rooms. We were seated with no wait(that's the fun in staying at Chennai during Diwali period) at the first floor. Quite interesting to see an Ouija board as table top. Adults are not much frightened (or interested), but the kids were bit nervous and screaming whilst going room after a room.

Let us come to the main part, the food. Nizami mutton sheek, haunted special ghostly chicken kabab and banzara fish were the starters. Both sheek and kabab were abnormally spicy. Banzara was a flat-style fish fingers...mostly crispy...lacked meat. Would not mind them on next visit.

Next came the mains...dindigul mutton biriyani, cheese kulcha, butter naan and butter chicken masala. Biriyani was seeraga samba rice based...perfect for us as most of us don't prefer spicy basmati. It had medium sized mutton pieces with bones. Certainly worth to order in future visits.
Couldn't find any difference between cheese kulcha and butter naan apart from the price. Both tasted good when eaten with butter chicken masala.

Lunch set us back by 2217₹ for 4 Adults and 2 kids. Food is not that pricey considering the location. However, it may not be interesting on further visits for adults. But what can we do if kids want to go again ;)

Address: Block F, F-13, 2nd Main Rd, Block F, Annanagar East, Chennai.

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Adikalathu Original Nei Mittai Kadai

"Madurai" may remind one of various eateries like Amma mess or Kumar mess serving non-veg food delicacies. However, many may not know this town also got some of the region's best sweet and savoury shops selling from halwa to mixture varieties. Many who visit this town don't forget to buy the famous prema vilas halwa near railway station. But there are equally good sweet stalls famous among locals for the wider varieties of short-eats.

During a recent visit, happened to stop by "Adikalathu Original Nei Mitai Kadai" at East Avani Moola Veedi(means "street") near Meenakshi Amman temple. There are two shops with the same name. My inlaw guided me to the original shop which comes first on the right whilst walking from the nandi statue. It has a bright red name board on the front. I was told that they sell solid wheat halwa which can stay intact for upto 45 days. Immediately after asking for the price details, I was handed over with samples of halwa, kara sev and mixture on mandarai leaf topped on a paper. Initial bites tickled my taste buds increasing my curiosity. Halwa was pretty yummy, mixture was good as usual, but the kara sev was super spicy that I had to look for water immediately.

Packed some halwa (400₹/kilo), kara sev (300₹/kilo), dry jamun(5₹ per piece) for friends back home. I was forced to have another sample of sweet boondhi and some spicy sev. Except the sweet boondhi (may be little old), every single dish was yummy and delicious. Had to refuce the samples as I was about to go home for lunch. But again forced to taste a small, but soft and crunchy murukku. Staff were so friendly and never bothered to give samples whoever shows up to buy. They even kept a brass vessel full of water on side so that people can drink after consuming the samples.

Before I thought of finalizing the bill, saw some triangular packs of potato masala(8₹/pack) packed in mantharai leaf. People use to use this to eat along with fermented rice ("palaya sadam"). Available only during lunch time, decided not to skip the experience. Bought a couple of packs for lunch at home and started walking home. Do I need to say it got empty by the time I reach home. Taste was just awesome to describe...it was a spicy blast inside the mouth with cumins and onions dancing on the sides.

This stall is located just next to one of the oldest food clubs in the town "Jayavilas Sappattu Club" that serves one of the best non-veg food in the town. Only problem is parking as it's a crowded street.

Selvi Ammal Unavagam

Yet another homely meal at pocket friendly price. Happened to visit selvi ammal unavagam for lunch today. Whilst driving from Ramapuram arasamaram junction towards nesappakkam MGR statue, turn right on the street near Ibaco ice cream shop and you will see a crowd standing in front of a house, which is the "unavagam" means an eatery in tamil. It is an ordinary self service mess type eatery.

Only women were involved in cooking. One can see the open kitchen, just before getting the meal. Just after entering the gate, saw one guy standing before the displayed nonveg delicacies like fish fry, chicken, quail, country chicken, calamari(squid), mutton chukka. Thought of buying prawns chukka, however I was not lucky as it was not made today. Bought tokens for a meal(70₹) and chicken chukka(50₹) and then got the meal plate. And then had to find an empty seat to enjoy the meal. Chicken chukka was later served on the table.

Meal contains a bowl of limited rice, appalam and following items in small cups...drumstick sambar, rasam, butter milk, cabbage kootu, scarlet gourd. Initially started with sambar and veggies. Sambar was extra ordinary in taste. Not sure how they are getting that mouth-watering flavor. Veggies were not bad. Later indulged with rice mixed with chicken chukka which was little spicy, lot of pieces, low in oil. Ended the meal with rasam and then butter milk. Rasam was just ok. But buttermilk was thick and delicious.

After coming out, saw a small kiosk selling lassi and sugarcane juice mixed with various type of fruit/herbal extracts like aloe vera, mint, lotus, lemon, ginger, gooseberry. Washed down with a sugar cane juice with added ginger + lemon for just 20₹.

Not a place to go with the family as the ambience and seating is not that comfortable(what can we expect in mess?). But good to go for a quick homely meal or to get a takeaway.

Address:
4/2, 1st Street, Karpagambal Nagar, Ramapuram

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