New College House

What to eat: South Indian Meals

Where: Anna Meenakshi Restaurant, College House, Town Hall Road, Madurai

Verdict: We were looking for a place for lunch after my daughter's ear piercing ceremony. I planned for Modern Restaurant, but my bro-in-law suggested for college house. As I never been there earlier, we decided for college house which is actually a hotel with 2 restaurants. We went to Anna Meenakshi Restaurant and ordered for 5 special meals.

It's an unlimited Meal with daal, sambar, vattha Kolambu, moor Kolambu, rasam and curd. Also included chappathi/kuruma and sweets payasam and gulab zamoon. It was bit heavy meal...costs 110₹ per meal.

I would recommend college house for anyone visiting Madurai for stay as well as food due to its proximity to railway station and Meenakshi Temple. During my next Madurai visit, I have plans to visit Jaya Vilas Sapatthu Club (near pudu mandabam) and Arulanandam Mess (near Vilakkuthoon).

Taj Restaurant

What to eat: Briyani

Where: Taj Restaurant, Town Hall Road, Madurai

Verdict: Bought an egg Briyani parcel for dinner from Taj restaurant, which is one of the oldest halal based non veg eatries in town hall road. Chicken and Mutton Briyani were already over by 9pm. So you need to go early for these.

Egg Briyani was yummy with 2 boiled eggs, onion raita and chicken gravy. It's a seeraga samba based Briyani (sorry to basmati lovers), not much spicy but a perfect briyani...not greasy. It costs 110₹. They also have shawarma, grills, tandoori and even octopus based dishes. A must try muslim style nonveg eatery in Madurai

Zaitoon @ Madurai

 What to eat: Barbeque chicken and Falooda

Where: Zaitoon, Anna Nagar, Madurai

Verdict: My neice was not in a mood for Madurai food for today's lunch. She wants to have something that she never had in life before. So we took her to the recently opened Zaitoon restaurant which is specialized in Arabic cuisine.

Ordered a Barbeque chicken full, Egg fried rice, Special and Royal Falooda. Bbq chicken was juicy served along with 4 kuboos. We got 2 small bowls containing hummus and thoum (?) as accompaniments. Fried rice was bland, but goes well with ketchup. Both the Faloodas' were yummy, topped with 1 scoop and 3 scoops of icecreams for royal and sp respectively...with lot of cut fruits and dry fruits.

Lunch set us back by 974₹. Overall a worthy place in Madurai for Arabic food.

Barbeque Chicken

Royal Falooda

Special Falooda