Robot Restaurant

Happened to visit India's first Robot restaurant located in Porur for lunch today. It is located in the first floor of the building where Paradise Briyani is housed. Waiting time was about 15 mins though there was not much crowd. After the kid's photo shoot with the robots standing near the entrance, we were called in to be seated.

There are some four or five robots walking in a big circle. Tables were arranged to be on either sides of the circular line. So it was basically a conveyor belt, but engineered to look like a robot to deliver the food. Ambience was bit dark, but well lit above we each table.

This place serves majorly indianized Chinese and Thai dishes. They recently started including biriyani as well. We ordered an egg biriyani, sezhwan chicken fried rice and a dragon chicken on the tablet kept on our table. Though there were robots, the food was actually cooked by humans. So there was a little waiting time to get the food ready. As time flies, our curiosity switched over from robots to biriyani. We were looking at each and every robot that came out of kitchen to find out if it got our food.

After a wait of around 20mins, a robot came up with our egg biriyani. Eventually it stopped near our table and turned towards us. And it was just standing there as no waiter was visible near to our table. So my wife had to take the food from the tray and then pressed an exit button for the robot to continue it's march towards the kitchen.

Biriyani was good for the kid as it was little bland, less greasy. Had two boiled eggs and the usual onion raita and brinjal gravy as accompaniments. That's definitely not a bad choice. Next Schezwan chicken rice and dragon chicken were delivered by the robots. Dragon chicken was tender, little sugary, good enough for at least 3 or 4 people. Schezwan rice was good but not much spicy, quantity was large for a couple. Had to pack some leftover fried rice. Total bill was 900+. But got a 10 percent discount as I had a coupon. Should we come again? That's what my daughter wants to do. Anyhow, they have a lot of Thai dishes to try on our next visits.

 

Location:

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

Google Map:

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.

Google Map: 

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.