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

Google Map:

Kovai Savitri Mess

Lonely and looking for a homely meal around Virugambakkam area late afternoon. Initially planned for Karuppiah mess, but later changed mind as it was little pricey. Drove straight towards kovai savitri mess located just next to passport office, near bharani studio. They have parking space just for 2 cars and few bikes. But I parked my car at the street side as it is a Sunday with no crowd on the street. On weekdays, one can park at the paid parking area at the next gate.

Opted for a fish meal(limited meals) that comes along with a big ayila fish fry. At first a big banana leaf was laid out, and then came a bowl full of fish curry. Cabbage poriyal(who needs it when there is a fish?), Paruppu payasam, rasam, buttermilk were served in small bowls. Payasam was heavenly. A medium size plate full of boiled rice and an appalam was served. Took some rice with fish curry and had it with cabbage. Fish gravy was optimum spiced, just like a home-made, with lot of shallots. Found a small and a medium sized fish on the gravy. Initially looked like matti, but had less bones. Meat was soft and delicious. Later heard it was kilichal fish(never heard that before).

Finally came the star ... fried fish(ayila). It was so big and yummy, and was lasting even after rice was over. Not much oil, not a spicy one, exactly what I was longing for. Yeah, I was fed up with oily and spicy chicken and mutton briyani.

Had some rice mixed with rasam at the end. And then had few fish left out, took some time to eat them all. Finally gulped the butter milk and successfully ended the meal. Surprising factor was the bill, it was just 150₹ for the meal with 3 fishes. Certainly a pocket friendly eatery.

They are open for breakfast and dinner as well, serving idly and dosa combos. If you're looking for grill or tandoori, then this is not a right place. But a perfect place for traditional and homely meal. Try out if you drive through Arcot road.

Address: Kovai Savitri Mess, Bhanumati Ramakrishna Road, Saligramam, Chennai

Google Map: