Kryptos by Willii, Chennai

Greece is a destination that is on my "I dream to visit" list. I dont know if I ever will, but I do dream of it often enough. And so being here, at the 1st Greek restaurant to hit Chennai, Kryptos is always a memorable one.. The restaurant has been serving up a range of good food for years now. They have a salad bar that puts all others to shame and the salad bar is completely veg, ranging from different kinds of olives, it has just about everything you can think of and some more. I have been to this restaurant quite a few times and enjoyed meals with friends and family.  [Read earlier reviews here] 

Today, we were looking forward to something different. We were not going to go towards the Salad bar, but were instead going to try a few dishes from the select menu. For us vegetarians, the meal began with a nice big bowl of Soup of Asparagus which was yumm.. Loved the texture and the flavours. 

Following that, we had a Mezze platter that consisted of 4 different kinds of starter items- one with mushroom filling, another with pumpkin, and then there was the traditional Falafal. All this served alongside a spoon of traditional deep fried aubergines with cream sauce. Similarly, the non veg eaters had a mezze platter that held fish, chicken, calamari and beef.. 

 Amidst fun conversations and good food, before we knew it, our plates were filled with interesting looking dishes. One was the spinach and feta pie [made with a base and wall of phyllo pastry that was crunchy and buttery], we also got to sample the Colour bell peppers stuffed with rice and pine nuts and Paneer on skewers. Not to forget the bowl of absolutely delicious potato wedges. 

We were fairly stuffed and done for the evening, but wait, the piece de resistance was on its way. It was time for desserts, and there we saw plates of the infamous Panna cotta and baklava make its way to our places. The panna cotta had Apricot jam with pieces on it and it was yumm.. The Baklava was sweet and filled with dry fruits with sheets of phyllo pastry on top and bottom. While many ordered tea and coffee, it was time for me to head home and so I made a silent exit. As I made my way up the stairs towards the exit, I could hear the conversations continue.... 

Price: A meal for two should cost close to Rs 1000... 

Timing: 12:30–3:30 pm, 6:30–11:30 pm

Kryptos by Willi

#24, Khader nawaz khan road
Nungambakkam
Chennai- 600006
Ph: 044 4503 8001

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Katti Kebab Company, Egmore, Chennai

First came Tic Tac where the current Ispahani Center stands that served up the Katti rolls, then came TIbbs, followed by Frankie which is found outside Nilgiris and near Fruit Shop on Greams road. And then I visited the Katti roll shop on RK Salai, near Tandoori Tadakka and finally this new one that has come in Wellington Plaza, Egmore [ the complex with Milky way and Donut House].  

Called "Katti Kebab Company" owned by Mr Arjan Mahtani. It is located right at the end of the complex, behind Ponnuswamy Hotel and other places. A fairly large place, there isnt much ambiance. But as Mr Mahtani says, the food speaks for itself. When I was chatting with him, I learnt that he has lived nearly 20 yrs in New York and started this place about a month ago. He mentioned he has brought down guys from Calcutta when he set up this outlet. Another interesting trivia about him is that he also owns the Mainland China on Cenotaph road and is involved in Quiznos which is managed by his brother.

The place is air-conditioned and there are a few chairs and a row of sofas to sit in. There is a small kitchen atop the small flight of stairs and that is where the rolls are created.  There is also a fridge with aerated drinks and water and a bubble top as well. Simple ambiance, but when you pick up the menu card you are in for a surprise. It is quite extensive, there are over 30 kinds of Katti rolls here, and quite a few options for Vegetarians as well and there is an entire section for Eggatarians. 

The 1st roll i opted for was the Paneer with Egg roll, it was delicious. Made with maida parotta, the filling was good, and it had a lovely touch of Black salt. The masala was not over the top and the heat factor was just right. You can choose low, medium or very spicy. Similarly, when you order a katti roll, you can choose either Maida or Wheat [Additional Rs10], and for egg, you can opt for egg white only[Additional Rs15].

The other thing I was totally fascinated by was that the rolls were NOT OILY at all.. There was no oozing oil, or that weird feeling in your mouth. Big Thumbs Up!! 

During the few hours we were there, I did try few other veg options- Plain aloo [ yummy], wheat roll with mix vegetables and egg, wheat roll with potato and channa [yumm], and palak paneer in maida parotta [ quite good, it had a strong aroma of lemon, but it wasnt strong in the filling] .. 

A good place to grab lunch or maybe pick up few rolls if you are headed on a drive, or for a movie!! 

The price starts at Rs90 and goes on up to Rs150.. Neatly wrapped in white paper, these rolls are good even after a few minutes, it dint become chewy or dry. 

  

Address:

GF 16, Wellington Estate, 

Opposite Ethiraj College, Behind Ponnusamy hotel

Egmore, Chennai

Ph- 044 60501230, 044 60501232

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Dessert Safari, Chennai

We were just done watching a Malayalam Movie - Arikil Oraal and were now headed towards Eldams road to check out Dessert Safari.. 

Desserts instantly ring a bell that says "sweets sweets pastries and all related stuff" and then the word Safari is almost always associated with "animals, wild, forest, jungle, night rides".. And so when we entered Dessert Safari we were in for quite a surprise.  We saw a swanky looking place done up very elegantly but empty. We wondered if maybe the rains were the reason for that. But that night was quite a night.. We tried quite a few desserts alright and it was one safari ride.. With the food, the friends for company and the rains that seemed to never stop. And how can I forget, we rang in my birthday right there.. What an evening it turned out to be :-))

After spending a few minutes exploring the lower level, we made our way up the winding staircase to the seating area there. There were 3 tables with chairs and a very Victorian style table in the corner.

We waited around for a while and then noticed a staff walking up the stairs with a plate. It had the starter made with Phyllo pastry topped with mushroom in a cream sauce. It was alright, the dish lacked crispness and felt dense. And then there were a string of non veg starters that came our way. The top level was a tad dark and gloomy and so we got back downstairs and made ourselves comfortable in the 3 tables that were there. Here is a visual treat of all the veg dishes and the desserts that we had..

Mushroom Wrap 

Cottage Cheese Steak 

Veg Caserella [similar to a quesadilla ]

Now, without waiting long, here are the desserts--

Baklava 

 Blueberry Cheese cake with ice cream and fresh cream

 Litchi parfait

 Vatalappam 

Mango Cheesecake

And even though we were done with the food, the night was far from over. We were there at the venue till past midnight..... Surrounded by a group of dear friends, a chocolate cake with a cute candle and loads of "Happy birthday" wishes...

Quite a memorable evening!

Address:

107, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai

Ph: 044 33824444

Directions- Dessert safari is down the road from Samco on the left [if you are coming from Alwarpet]

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Tuscanala Thali irukku theriyumo nokku...

Well, if you are wondering what "Tuscanala Thali irukku theriyumo nokku... " means, then let me clarify that before proceeding.. "Tuscana has Thali now did you know?"

Tuscana  for us is synonymous with Italian, 

It is synonymous with thin crust pizza

it is where we tasted the 1st Gluten free pizza

It is where we tasted Tiramisu and Panna cotta first..

It is a place that has done a lot of firsts in Chennai.. 

Here is a brief glimpse into a few of the dishes served there. Pizza, Pasta, bell peppers& Mozzarella and then there was the Zucchini Mozzarella  fritters as well.  

Their extensive dessert section houses the infamous Panna cotta, lemon cheese cake, Tiramisu and a pizza with chocolate sauce, nutella and bananas as well. 

But the one thing you dont think of when I say "Tuscana" is Thali concept or Jain food. 

And that is something they have newly introduced!! 

The obvious questions that arise are 

"Really?"

"What is a Thali doing in an Italian restaurant?"

"Why are they serving Jain food?

"Will it work?"

There is just one answer to these questions!! Just go there and try it out,  you will see it actually works and makes sense. 

I walk into Tuscana and as always this guy greets me at the entrance. Walking up the winding staircase, we make our way to the table reserved upstairs in a cosy room [ideal for small groups or a private dinner]. And then we are presented with a menu that has not one but 5 Thali options in it. 2 for veg and 3 for non veg . And they offer quite a variety. 

A Thali is an Indian concept, where the entire meal is placed in one plate in small cups/bowls. You would have everything from the starter to main course to the dessert in that one plate. It is another name for a set meal :-) In some places it is bottomless thali [where you get unlimited servings of all the dishes] and in other places it is a set quantity [and in these places the portion sizes are good enough, you wont even think about going for a 2nd helping]

While I opted for the 2nd Veg Thali, another fellow vegetarian chose the 1st one and another friend opted for the Non veg Thali with chicken as the main dish .

All the Thalis have a soup, a salad, a few slices of garlic bread [w/wo cheese], a main course, and a dessert. The Thali I chose had Tomato soup, Garlic bread, a fresh crunchy salad with slices of pears and the main course was Eggless crepes filled with baby corn, mushroom  and parmesan and finally, the dessert [which was the reason I chose this thali]- Apple pie with vanilla sauce.

Priced around Rs600 = tax, these thalis make for a good sumptious lunch on a day when you are slogging away and suddenly realise you are hungry.  I must hand it to the Restaurant, they do come up with innovative concepts!!

If you still dont believe me about the Thali, check out the ad they released to announce the same..

[Image courtesy - http://chennaifoodguide.in/deal/view?id=76]

Address:

Tuscana Chamiers

No. 89, Chamiers Road, Opposite IN Gate of Park Sheraton,  Nandanam, Chennai-600065

To Book a Reservation - Contact : 044-45000008

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-) 

Idli and Beer Festival at Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai

Sitting in Chennai, the only thing I do is read about the Oktoberfest in Germany and wonder if ever I would get to witness this fest.. And then came an email announcing the "Idly and Beer Festival at Courtyard by Marriott.. I was curious, I was intrigued to say the least. Above all, I am someone who is not really fond of idlis, I need some serious motivation to eat those white discs. Give me a dosa and I will be happy as a new born puppy :-) 

                                                      [Image courtesy: Courtyard by Marriott]

I do know of quite a few who love Idlis and have a few friends who love Beer and Fried idlis, but most times the combo is ordered at one of the city clubs. 

Anyways, I set aside my apprehensions and made my way to Courtyard by Marriott in Teynampet [ did take me a while to figure out the way to the hotel, not because I dont know the place, but because of all the metro rail work going on in the city]. I reached the Hotel and chose to dine at Rhapsody, the swanky restaurant with dark interiors and vintage light fixtures. 

I was told there were two options, the Veg Platter and the Non veg platter. When I dug further, I discovered the Veg platter had four varieties of idlis – Kanchipuram Idli, Fried Idli, Podi Idli and Karvaipilai Idli along with a frothy pitcher of beer. On the other hand, the Non Veg Platter had - Kozhi Koththamali Idli, Muttai Karvapilai Idli, Sea Food Idli and Kaima Ellu Idli along with a pitcher ofbeer. 

Being a vegetarian, I chose the Veg Platter and requested for the beer to be served a glass at a time and not a whole pitcher. The Veg Platter + 1 Pitcher of Beer is priced at Rs. 550 + taxes while the Non-Veg Platter + 1 Pitcher of Beer works to Rs. 650 + taxes. 

  

The veg platter with the glass of beer.. 

The Non veg platter

The platter arrived and so did my beer. It looked interesting. There were the 4 different kinds of idlis [there wwere 4-5 pieces in each kind]  and was served alongside the yummy White coconut chutney and red spicy chutney. The idlis had subtle flavours, the karuvepilai idli is not overpowered by curry leaf flavour nor are there a zillion curry leaves to deal with. The chef mentioned that the filling/spices have all been blended into the batter and then the idlis are made. I was also shown a sample Non veg platter, which looked good. Again, here too the meat and egg is blended with the batter, so there are no big chunky pieces of idli. 

While I was initially skeptical about this whole concept, I must say I walked out with a smile. Infact, I did send out messages to quite a few friends who I know will enjoy this deal. 

If you love beer.. If you love fried idli or idli of any kind- Do visit.. 

When? The festival is on till Oct 30th, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm 

Where?  Paprika & Rhapsody, 

Courtyard by Marriott Chennai, [Opp Ramee Mall/Hyatt Regency]

#564, Anna Salai, Teynampet, 

Chennai. 

Ph No: 6676 4000

How much?- The Veg Platter [16 idlis] + 1 Pitcher of Beer is priced at Rs. 550 + taxes while the Non-Veg Platter [16 idlis] + 1 Pitcher of Beer works to Rs. 650 + taxes. 

Food storage in refrigerator...

Came upon this on the net and thought it was worthy of share... Here goes-- How long everything stays good in your fridge AFTER the expiration date..

Source: http://visual.ly/

Mast Kalandar, Chennai

Duma Dam Mast Kalandar

Ali Da Pehla Number

Dama Dam Mast Kalandar

Sakhi Shabaaz Kalandar

O..Laal Meri Pat Rakhiyo Bala Jhoole

Laalan

Laal Meri Pat Rakhiyo Bhala Jhoole

Laalan

Sindhdi Da, Sewar Da

Sakhi Shabaaz Kalandar

Duma Dam Mast Kalandar

Is the song that comes to my mind every time I hear the name Mast Kalandar... The Mast Kalandar am referring to here is the restaurant. Keeping in sync with the times, they have now launched a Festive menu.. I have eaten a couple of times in their outlets in Bangalore, but this was my 1st time in their Chennai outlet.. 

[Image courtesy: Mast Kalandar FB Page]

They have created a menu that works for those who are fasting and for those who are looking for a grand feast!  The menu is quite extensive and has been blended in with their regular menu. As we settled in, we were greeted with a drink- either chaas or shikanjvi. I chose the shikanjvi and then later had some chaas as well.. Both were good and refreshing! Moving on, we were treated to quite a spread of starters and main courses. Each dish looked different, was of a different texture and had a unique taste as well. 

First came the kachori, then came a small sweet of sorts [similar to our south indian Badhusha, but diff]., and there was also papdi chaat and another dish which resembled small bondas floating in teeka water. [I know I am bad, cant remember names of dishes].. All these were served with 2 kinds of chutneys- One was green apple ginger chutney, other was carrot chutney and then there was the katori with lightly roasted green chillies [which made my eyes water just at the mere sight] :-) The apple and carrot chutneys were amazing. Subsequently we also got to try what i would describe as the best bhel puri ever- it had loads of veggies- beans, peas, carrots, and so much more.. loved it..  Such a healthy snack!! 

We chatted, we nibbled, we drank, we laughed, we sang along to the songs playing in the background and before we knew it more food landed on our plates. There were 2 colour puris and 3 bowls with side dishes in them, and a boondi raita as well. 

Dum Aloo, paneer butter masala, peas curry were the gravies and the Aloo dish was the best of the lot. Am kinda saturated with paneer, and the peas dish was not so impressive. But then, if you are a paneer fan, then you should try the paneer gravy..  Following close on the heels of these dishes came the bowl of mix veg rice, which was alright. [Am not a rice fan, so just tried a spoonful of this and passed it on]..  And to finish the meal, there was the divine Gulab jamun dessert. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth.. 

[Image courtesy: Mast Kalandar FB Page]

The restaurant is quite large, can seat close to 70 covers if I am right. They also have quite a few combo options for lunch which are total value for money!! Apart from the food, they also retail some of their masalas and powders...  

Address:

1st Floor  33, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Vannanthurai, Adyar, Chennai, TN 600020

044 4201 8382

Directions: If you are near Murugan Idli, go straight down the road, away from beach, past Karaikudi and head down about a km and you will find Mast Kalandar on your right. 

Sukh Sagar- Pure veg restaurant, Kilpauk, chennai

The journey began in 2012, October to be exact when Vishnu & Vinay came together and decided to open Sukh Sagar in Kilpauk. Today, Sukh Sagar is found all over the world, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, DUbao, KSA and Qatar as well. That is how popular this all veg chain restaurant is! After the restaurant in Anna nagar shut, there was a brief gap of 2 years which is when they did all the ground work necessary to open their 1^st Sukh Sagar in the city of Chennai. Vinay comes from an IT background, while Vishnu is quite familiar with the food industry, having worked as an Intern at Cream center.

Now they are the proud owners of the outlet that can do 72 covers in the 1^st floor Fine dining area, 60-70 people can stand and eat in the ground floor restaurant and then there is the Party/Banquet Hall that they let out for birthday parties and family gatherings.

During the conversation we learnt that the place is packed to the brim on Saturday and Sunday [it was mostly Families that came regularly]. The entire Sukh Sagar brand is owned by Mr Suresh Poojani, who the duo knew through a common friend.

The place where Sukh Sagar stands today is an old house, that was empty and that which presented the duo an opportunity to revolutionize the eating scene in that part of the city. Aside from the location, what worked to their benefit was the staff that came in from the Anna nagar outlet. They now have Chefs, 80 staff members who do double shift and who give them the confidence to do outdoor catering for upto 1000 people. The place is also let out for corporate functions and events, only condition being “veg food only”.

For now, they serve a range of North Indian & South Indian dishes, and might soon be making a few changes in their menu. They are also looking to introduce combo meals on a regular basis. And with that we settled in for the evening and looked forward to a good time..

The evening opened with soup- The Lung fung soup which was good, filled with flavour and tad spicy, perfect if you have a cold. Following that we had a chance to sample their chaat- Bhel puri and Raj Kachori both of which were absolutely smashing. Then came the starters- mushroom Chilli and the mixed veg platter that consisted of Corn seek kebab, Tandoori gobi, paneer tikka and hara bara kebab. Loved the gobi and seek kebab, others were good, but nothing wow!

Between the conversations, we noticed the staff walk over to our table with plates of food, making us catch our breath. There was an assortment of Indian breads- Roti, butter naan,  butter roti and plain naan. Even after a few minutes, the roti remained soft and beautiful. We also tried their kashmiri naan which was wow… The side dishes that followed suit were Paneer labadbar and dal makhani.. They were both perfect, not over the top masala filled or oily.  While we were sampling the dishes, we felt thirsty and asked the guys to recco a drink. They promptly ordered Blossom for us, watermelon flavoured this drink is in a league of its own. You should try it the next time you are here to experience the beauty.

And finally, we were nearly done!! Yayy. It was dessert time. We were quite full and so passed up on the Rice. For dessert, we got to taste the Sukh Sagar Special, Malai Kulfi Falooda, royal Falooda and Gadbad ice cream. Each of these will have you grinning like a small child, and digging in happily with not a care in the world. Apart from these, they also have the regular kulfi and an assortment of ice cream sundaes.

If you are looking for a place to have a quiet dinner, where food does all the talking, this is where you should head to.

Wish them a very Happy 1^st birthday and many more years to come!!

You can read my earlier review here

Address:

No 1a, Harleys Road [near Bain School], 
Kilpauk, 
Chennai - 600010 
Ph: 9940192886, 9790899430 
(044) 45500306

Disclaimer:

The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-) 

Lloyds Tea House, Gopalapuram, Chennai

If you are hungry and are looking for a good decent yet interesting place to go to, then head to Lloyds Tea House

If you have just walked out after a bleh movie and nothing can get your mood up, but a slice of Tiramisu or maybe a nice filling sandwich, then just go down the road towards DAV school, and voila, you will see this Tea house tucked amidst the row of houses. 

And for those who have been to Bangalore, and visited Infinitea, you will have hunted around Chennai for a similar place. Well, your search ends right here!! 

How was Lloyds born? Well, Vandana, a home baker was the one who took it upon herself to bring the idea of a Tea house to Chennai. And then came Pavan, an  investment advisor followed by Rashmi, a jewellery designer, Sunny who happens to be the in-house tea connoisseur and finally Rajesh, the one who took hold of the reigns and who also owns a car parts store down the road. And thus was born Lloyds tea House. Why the name? Well, the place is located on Lloyds Road, simple!  The interiors and decor is very English, the tables and chairs very casual and comfortable, and a small garden around the place. 

I have been there more times than I remember, and have had quite a few fond moments as well. Work related meetings, meeting friends for a casual chit chat session, and food meets as well. The place is small, but big enough to seat more than 20 people, they have a nice TV screen that is placed in front of a few sofas, a book shelf with an eclectic collection of books, and shelves lined with tea boxes neatly labelled. Oh and how can I forget the wall to wall shelves at the far end of the room with interesting curio pieces, some of which are interesting looking tea pots. 

As you settle into the chair, you will see two menus placed in front of you. One is an extensive tea menu while other is the food menu. If you are lost or confused, just ask one of the staff members to help you decide! Their choice is good and you will end up having a lovely time. 

They started with about 20-35 varieties of tea and have now gone up to nearly 60 kinds. Oh and what is more, they now retail tea as well. Some of their interesting teas have been the Blueberry Cheesecake tea, the monkey banana tea and several others. But my all time favorite is the Franconian Peppermint tea. It is just divine, especially HOT... 

Wait, I have to tell you about the interesting contraption they have that brews your tea. A container is brought to the table with tea leaves sitting at the bottom. And then, the staff pours hot water into it and you see the tea come alive. A timer is then placed on the table, and you are told how long the tea needs before it is ready to be poured. The very 1st time I saw this, I wondered how to pour the tea, but then I came to know it dint need to be poured. But infact, it had to be placed on the mug and voila, like magic tea fills in the mug. :-) 

On the food front, they have quite a range of Sandwiches, pasta, pizza, risotto, finger food such as the Rosti platter, BBQ Chicken, Vol au vents, Roasted vegetable crostini and so much more.  The Vol au vents is quite a nice dish- light fluffly puff pastry with mushroom & cheese on the top.  The Rosti platter on the other hand are discs of hash brown with loads of cheese and a nice bite to it.  Among the main dishes, I love their cottage cheese pesto sandwich, and their range of vegetarian pastas. The Creamy fusilli with mushroom is a personal favorite. They are sweet enough to custom make pasta on order. 

The Margharitta pizza that was served was beautiful. Thin crust base with healthy portions of tomatoes and cheese on top. But if you are not a tomato lover or like something different, just take your pick from their menu. They also have a few burgers, Chicken Cheese burger and a very Cheesy Cheese burger which is simply amazing. 

We also tried their Thai Basil Cottage Cheese with Rice and Penne Arrabiata Pasta. Both of these had unique flavours, filled with vegetables and were quite filling. The pasta was quite spicy, a tad too much for my taste buds but I washed it down with some peppermint tea..

And just when you think you are done for the day,   you notice the dessert counter with the delectable cakes staring at you with inviting glances.  Opt for the almond chocolate sticks or the Tiramisu, you are in for a treat. On that high note is how you end a perfect evening!! 

Lloyds as I have mentioned above, is a perfect place for a quiet evening with friends, or with a book and also an ideal place to have a business meeting in. And if you have been here few times, the staff know you and will bring your order without a word exchanged! 

You can read my earlier review here

Address:

#179, Lloyds Road, 

Gopalapuram, Chennai - 600086

Ph : 044 45524231

Pasta Bar Veneto rolls out new dishes..

When you think of something or someone, it is true that you end up seeing them often or that thing everywhere you go. Similarly, I haven’t been to Pasta Bar Veneto in ages, the 1^st visit was years ago and in Alsa Mall. And then a brief visit to their outlet in Pondy. 2 weeks got the opportunity to visit the outlet in Burkitt Road. Who would have thought I would be back there once again. Yes it happened last evening!

Unlike earlier, these days I don’t mind going anywhere. Most places are a hop skip or jump away. It took me just about 12 mins to reach Burkitt Road from home and I was there before 7.30pm. Spotted the gang, said Hi hello, and everything else and we took a booth on the right side of the restaurant. We were greeted and shown the menu, including the new dishes that had been recently included. An interesting thing about the menu card here is that all the dishes have a code next to them.  Such a blessing, as it makes it easy for people who have difficulty in pronouncing the names to order. I shall take the G9 or E17 and your dish arrives with no confusion!!

We started the evening by ordering a few beverages. Hot chocolate, fresh lime soda salt [my standard order] and Green apple mojito. The hot chocolate came in the most gorgeous mugs and looked yumm.. I slurped my lime soda with glee and the mojito was also good [tad sweet for my liking]. With a little one to keep us smiling, we started the evening on a high note. While we flipped through the menu, our eyes locked at the Zuppa section [Soups]especially the Zuppa di Arachidi Zucca [pumpkin soup] [C3], and the other option was Zuppa di pollo [chicken soup] [C5]. I loved the pumpkin soup, but felt it was a tad salty [probably cos of the herbs that were sprinkled on top which had a bit of salt in them]..

Moving on, for starters we were served a crostini platter- two kinds- one with peas & potato[A4] and other had mushrooms & cheese[A5]. The former was a tad mushy and bland while later was good. We also tried their other mushroom starter- Funghi Saltati con pesto [ mushrooms tossed in garlic and cooked with pesto]-[A8], the pesto was very subtle in this, but being a mushroom freak, I loved it.

And then came the plates filled with more starters, 2 non veg and one more veg.. The veg was Brocolli and cheese grill [A9] which was yumm, the broccoli had been cooked just right. The non veg eaters had fish fingers[A14], pigs in a blanket except here it was chicken[A12]  and prawns batter fried. Amidst the food, we also chatted with the manager about the new dishes and asked him for recco for the main course. After much deliberation, we decided to go with 4 different dishes..

I chose the Macaroni & Corn bake  [D4], which was served alongside a slice of bread and it was quite good. It is quite a large portion and filled with corn and spinach as well, a tinge of red chilli that added to the flavours. The others went for non veg dishes- Panna con prosccuitto di pollo e piselli  [Cavatappi pasta[longer twisted version of macaroni] cooked with chicken ham and chicken sausages in white sauce], Salsa rosso con pollo  e funghi[E19]- grilled chicken, red paprika and mushroom that had been tossed in peri peri spicy sauce which was ordered with fettucini pasta and finally, the Involtini di pollo ripieno [F3] which was stuffed chicken breast on a thick tomato creamy sauce served with a side of grilled veggies. The main dishes were good….

Before we knew it, time had flown by and it was nearly 9.30. We quickly ordered desserts-   I chose the Apple Strudel with vanilla cream [I14], the others chosen were Mud pie [I6], Pizza dolce [ fruit pizza] [I2] and Poached pear in berry soup [I5]. Loved mine and the poached pear the best. The pizza was alright, dint like the texture and thickness of the sweet focaccia bread and the mud pie was confusing.

And with that the evening was done!! We had a  good time needless to say- good company, good ambiance, amazing music [yes i knew most of the songs J] and good food..

I would definitely recommend the Pumpkin soup and poached pear to anyone who is curious about Pasta Bar Veneto.  J

Address:

OLD No 59,New No #32,, Burkit Road,T.Nagar  Burkit Rd, Parthasarathy Puram, Thiyagaraya Nagar, Chennai, TN 600017

Ph- 044 4212 6680

Website: http://www.thepastabarveneto.com

Directions: Get into Venkatnarayana road, and go all the way down, and take the last but one right. Within 200yards you will find Pasta Bar Veneto on your right, adj to Canara bank 

Psst- the numbers in the bracket are the code for the dishes!! :D 

Disclaimer:

The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)