The Modern Restaurant

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin items like Idly, Pondal, Dosai, Filter coffee.

Location: The Modern Restaurant, Nethaji Road, Madurai

Cost: 12 rupees a piece of idly

Verdict: Madurai is famous for veg as well as non veg eateries. The Modern Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurant in the town. It was visited by several Indian presidents, prime ministers and TN chief ministers. A visit to madurai is not complete without having tiffin in this place. I believe it was started some where around 1930's. I have seen this restaurant's kitchen on a BBC program about sambar making. Pongal and Vadai is the best combo to have in the morning and a filter coffee at the end. We had idly, dosai and chappati (not pongal as it was dinner time). Go for it without any second thoughts.






 

Anbagam Mess

What to eat: Mutton Briyani, Nattu Koli (organic chicken) chops, Mutton chukka

Location: Anbagam Mess, Keela Veli Veedi (East Veli Street), Madurai


Verdict: After spending several hours in Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, we decided to eat in a local restaurant where local peoples visit. There are 2 choices near mahal... 1) Amsavalli Bhavan 2) Anbagam Mess. My wife voted for Anbagam as the taste in Amsavalli is not like as it was before 10 years. So we all walked to Anbagam on East Veli St. It was not a famous one among tourists, but known well among the locals.

We opted for the A/C hall to dine-in. I asked for a menu card, but came to know later they never had suchone. So just ordered for mutton briyani, nattu kozhi chops, mutton chukka and neimeen varuval. Mutton Briyani was made of seera samba rice which is very flavourful. Mutton shukka comes in a small plate (but its very cheap at 115 rs for A/C rate). All were warm and tasted yummy. 

Finally bought some briyani parcel for my wife's patty and brother. Parcel rates are cheaper that dining in A/C hall (Ex, Mutton briyani is just 140rs in non A/C or parcel, whereas it is 170rs whilst dining in A/C hall). Strongly recommend this mess (mess is a local term for "restaurant" in Tamil Nadu) instead of high end ones like Amma mess (too costly for general madurai people), Chandran Mess and Kumar Mess.

King Fish Fry

Country Chicken Fry

Bill for parcel

Bill for A/C dining.

Nalapakam at Palani

What to eat: South Indian Veg Cuisine

Location: Hotel Nalapakam, Adivaram, Palani

Verdict: We were on the way to Palani Murugan temple and wanted to have some simple and tasty breakfast. As our driver suggested, we have entered this restaurant cum hotel. Later heard it was the top-notch vegetarian restaurant in Palani town. This resto has got a big parking lot adjacent to it. Settled down in our chairs and ordered pongal(45₹), idly(11₹ per piece), dosa (locals call as "roast"..costs 50₹), medu vadai(17₹), poori (43₹ per pair). Pongal was creamy and so smooth, melts like an ice cream in mouth. Dosa and Idly are as usual simple with coconut chutney and sambar. My niece had shown thumbs up after tasting poori and its accompaniment aloo masala. Finally washed down with an awesome filter coffee.Total bill was 547₹ for 5 adults and 1 kid.