Avartana unveiled, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai

Deconstructed…Dehydrated….Emulsified…Smoked..

are terms that once upon a time used to go over my head.. Now I know what they mean, and I know what to expect when a dish is placed in front of me. But then there are times when I falter and assume what I see is what I get, well those are times when am in for a surprise..  It is like the dish does a one up on me, giving me a jolt and shaking things up a bit. :-) 

Tonight we were there to explore the newest restaurant in the block, Avartana. "Avartana", the name is  derived from sanskrit [means rhythm, mysticism and magic] 

As we walked along the familiar corridor at ITC Grand Chola towards the new restaurant [located near Towers Lobby],  I could not help but wonder what Chef Ajit Bagera has whipped up.    We had reached the end of the corridor and were guided towards the left, into the restaurant.  The first thing I notice is the rotary evaporator sitting there on the table. When enquired, I was told it was for rasam.. My mind was starting to wander into the world of its own where food was similar to what I have read in Willi Wonka’s Chocolate factory- fun & playful, yet true to the flavours. 

The carpet has banana leaf patterns, the walls have Kerala boat style lighting etched on them, there are glass panels all around with banana flower styled fittings on them, the lights on our table were inspired from the tender coconuts… I could go on and on. It was amazing to see the attention to detail. Oh and this is probably the only South Indian restaurant with an open kitchen.

We had the privilege of being seated in the private dining area [it can accommodate 10 pax, overall capacity of the Restaurant is 60 covers]. I see my plate, and a green blob of sorts on my knife. I wonder if it is a macaron or something else. Chef Harish Rao [ of Park Sheraton’s Dakshin] fame walks in with a grin with a “gotcha, you guys did not know I am here now didja” ..  And thus began our WOW evening.

A flower arrangement with what looked like macaroons on a stick, which turned out to be Fennel & pepper Air with Avocado Fluff [the green blob from my knife] that melted in our mouths… Tomato rasam that was poured into a French press containing herbs, tomato and poured onto martini glasses- it was filled with flavour and fun[ I would have happily had a pot of this]… 

Fluffy little idlies served with a Sweet pepper & Eggplant stuffed Ridge gourd sitting on a sesame & peanut curry.  The rice & Madurai Chutney [ a version of Kuzhi paniyaram served atop hot red chilli chutney] , Jackfruit and vegetable congee served with brinjal raita.. Butter milk noodles dish, a take on our curd rice perhaps where the sauce was poured on and it had a tiny pippet containing lemon pickle. To finish it off there was Finger millet vermicelli served with tender coconut ice cream and caramalised milk sitting pretty on a plate resembling a bird’s nest with some edible art work around it…

Along with the food there were a few interesting drinks- Mocktails & Cocktails as well. I had Mouth Road 63 [which is the address the property sits on] and Gooseberry Margharita served in one tall glass, both of which were absolutely divine. For the others there were a range of Mocktails- Nannari based, Paneer soda, raw mango drink served in a traditional Bharani, mint-coriander and many more.

The dishes were not only a treat for the eyes, but for the palate as well. During the course of the evening, Chef Bangera shared the journey behind the restaurant, and how the team has been at it for a while, working on the dishes and presentations. He was clear he did not want to reinvent South Indian food, but he was here to give it a twist and add a surprise element for the guests. Well, must say he has done exactly that.

All during the evening, I kept thinking of my granpa. He was one of those always open to new flavours and would have loved this place.  He is one of those true blue South Indians who will not tolerate any mucking about, especially with traditional dishes.  It also makes me happy to note that my city has now opened doors to such new restaurants and the fact that the restaurant is sold out the 1st few days is heart warming~ 

The restaurant is open for dinner [7pm to 11pm] and offer only tasting menus.

Prices begin at Rs. 2000 approx [per pax] for a 7 course-tasting menu.  

[All you need to do is tell the Chef if you have any allergies or don’t eat certain items.]

Address: No., 63, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032

Call 044 2220 0000 for reservations.

Website : http://www.itchotels.in/hotels/itcgrandchola.aspx

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  :-) 

The Colony, Raintree, St Mary's road

Hello. Am sure your appetite has been whetted enough by now.  If it hasn't, then scroll back all the way to the top and down again making sure to spend atlas 3-5 secs on each image.. :-)) 

Golly, was I in for a treat when I walked into Colony at The Raintree, St Mary's road that beautiful Sunday afternoon.  I had visited the hotel before, but headed straight down towards Havana for Agam concert. The other restaurants here came with rave reviews but I hadn't had a chance to experience them. So, when I heard of the new revamped coffee shop, I knew I had to visit. 

The Decor

The place has a casual yet warm feel to it. The furniture is plush and comfortable, the vessels and tableware all neat and simple. The one thing that caught my eye the minute I sat down was that the table had a small pot of plant, what looked like grass and not a single flower like most places did. Quite a refreshing element. There is a beautiful wall installation on your left, make sure to check it out. Little boxes of sorts where each piece contains a slice of Chennai. It has been put together by artist Anamika..

The story

While chatting with the Manager and the Chef I came to know that the  designer who had worked on the place was Geoffrey Wilkins who is renowned for his Southern touches[hopefully I got the name right]. The tables were all dark colour while the cushions and seating were a welcoming green. We were also given a sneak peek into the history of how Colony came about, and how the entire menu has been created with Chennai flavour to it- including the decor. The Chef went on to tell about the live stations and the one item from live station changing on a  daily basis. It was either Bajji- sundal, idiyappam-fish curry or something else.  

The Food

Moving on to the main buffet, it was a simple spread. I quite liked the fact that it wasn't overloaded with dishes and there weren't a gazillion different things laid out on the table. Situated in the centre of the restaurant, the buffet sat pretty with glass shelves overhead decorated with utensils from home kitchen and cooking pots & pans.  There was also a cutlery cupboard on sorts on one wall lined with Chettinad checks pattern and quite a few vessels arranged [ just like you would find in any home]

I opened the meal with a flavour packed sweet potato soup, following which came an array of Chennaipatnam based dishes, including a platter called "Mylapore times" [2 mini dosais, 2 vadai, 4 pod idlis, 2 milagai bajji and 2 kuzhi paniyaram served with chutneys] I also sampled the vadai with mix veg chutney and soon was waltzing away to music as it were in the colonial times.  There are quite a few south indian dishes in the buffet as well, like the Chettinad kathirikai curry which was simmering away in a lava stone pot and was just amazing & hot. 

Apart from this, I loved the veg cannelloni which was one of the dishes of the day- true to its origin, it was creamy light and had a thin cheese layer on top. Moving on to the desserts, I loved the coffee walnut cake and of course the show stopper- the Tiramisu. It was served in a jar with a lid and we could have just had a portion of this and been happy as can be.

I finished the meal with a good strong south indian filter kaapi [ they also have tea/green tea, juices, soft drinks and alcohol]. It was a lunch that left me grinning away and all I wanted was a corner to snooze in. The food, the ambiance, the service really does transport you to a different era. 

An ideal place to enjoy some good food on a lazy weekend or weekday, it is also a good spot for a business meeting or catching up with friends. Incidentally, there is a lounge just outside the restaurant where you can grab a snack or some coffee in the afternoon. 

Details- 
Dinner Buffet Rs. 1300+ tax
7 PM to 11 PM

Lunch Buffet Rs. 1200+tax
12:30 PM to 3 PM

Breakfast Buffet Rs. 650+tax
6:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Address:
The Raintree
#120, St Mary's Road,
Alwarpet [Off TTK Road]
Chennai
Website: http://www.raintreehotels.com
Phone: 044 42252525 / 24304050

Simply South at Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai

Murugakai soup, 

Milagai Bajji

Sundal

Onion pakoda

Kerala Parota

Chicken Biryani

Rava payasam

Elaneer payasam............. 

Ah, see, you are drooling at the mere mention of these dishes right? Well, all this and more is what you can expect when you visit Courtyard By Marriott over the next few days. Walk into the Hotel and enter Paprika, their coffee shop between 7pm and 11pm  before 31st March to experience all of the above and few more. 

They are currently hosting a Simply South Festival where the menu has been altered to include some local dishes from the Southern Indian region. Chef told us that they have decided to keep the dishes simple, and spread minimal but offer all that people have grown up eating. There are quite a few live counters- bajjji, pakoda, parotta, non veg tandoor and quite a few more!! 

You can enjoy a bowl of hot Murungakkai soup or chicken soup [ depending on what your preference is] and wait for the plate of piping hot bajjji to arrive at the table. There is Vazhakkai bajji [raw banana baji] bread pakoda and Milagai bajji [the big green chilli] to choose from. 

If you were to look at the menu, your head would swim and you would be left in a daze. That is how elaborate it is. What the Chef has done is retain some of the familiar dishes on the buffet while incorporating the Southern flavours as well. 

I tried the parotta with a mix veg korma that was quite good, albeit tad spicy [ black pepper spice]. What me and my friend liked was that the gravies were not overpowered with masalas and all we could taste was the zing of the black pepper!! 

When we wandered around the buffet, we noticed quite a few dishes- avial, elumichai sadam [ lime rice], chicken biryani, kovakkai curry, lamb korma, cabbage poriyal, different kinds of raitas, steamed rice, apart from which there were 3 Western dishes- The beef stroganoff, Rosemary tossed potatoes and Moroccan Stew. 

Wait, there is more- there are quite a few kinds of salads, and an entire section dedicated to desserts- black forest cake, strawberry mousse cake, sticky date pudding, ice creams and ofcourse the South Indian desserts- Rava payasam and Elaneer payasam. 

My, just writing about it has me wondering how a person can do justice to this buffet~!!  If you are already salivating about trying some of what i've mentioned, time to head out to Marriott tomorrow... 

This festival is only till the 31st March

Timing- 7pm to 11pm

Rate- Rs1250+taxes [yes, it does sound pricey, but there are a lot of dishes available] 

Address:

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

#564, Anna Salai, Teynampet, 

Chennai. 

Ph No: 6676 4000

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  :-)

Salt ,Vijaya Forum Mall

The 1st time i heard a friend mention the restaurant "Salt", immediately this Tamil proverb echoed in my head "uppilla pandam kuppaiyile [ a dish without salt belongs in the trash can]. And I was curious and looked for an opportunity to do Lunch here. 

So, few weeks ago when a friend who was moving out of Chennai buzzed asking if we could do a lunch before she left, with another friend of mine as well, I suggested Salt. None of us had been there and so it worked out perfectly. 

We reached Forum mall, and made our way towards the Escalator near the Cookie man stall at the far end of the ground floor. And up we went 2 floors which is where Salt is located. I was pleasantly surprised as the decor was very South indian- Karaikudi, and a bit of Kerala. There were tables and then there were these cool booths near the windows. Tall backrest straight from Karaikudi region and comfortable seats, it was where we sat. Within minutes, a waiter came with a bowl of these colourful fryums arrived along with the menu. 

2 of us veggies decided to try the Bento Box [a set meal/set menu] priced at Rs265 it started with a soup and then came the box that contained the entire meal. The other friend opted for rice and a prawn gravy. 

 As you can see, the Bento box was quite a meal, infact apart from these dishes there was also 1 roti and papad served with the meal . The portions are HUGE, infact one box is good for 2 [if you have a small appetite like I do]

The box contains- 1 starter+ chutney, 1 small serving of salad, 1 daal, 1 veg gravy, 1 big tandoor roti, pulao/veg biryani/rice, 1 cup curd and dessert

The dessert for that day was Gulab jamun, which was sinful, so much so that the other friend ordered a portion of just that and devoured it.  The food was hot, portions were good and service was prompt. A friend wanted chaas, and even though it wasnt there on the menu, the staff made the attempt to make it and serve it just cos we asked for it. 

 Repeat visit: I was back here this Monday with mom [after completing the passport renewal work across the road]. This time again, we went for the Bento box, and mom also ordered a Chilli potato starter, which was again a huge portion and quite yumm. 

This time the meal had different dishes and our dessert was a apple cinnamon cake with a dollop of custard on top. It was good, we even picked up some take away for my grandparents. 

Both times, the staff asked us if we had come by 2 wheeler or 4 wheeler. We said 4 wheeler since we came by car. The 1st time I dint notice what happened after he asked us, but this time I did. They deduct an hour's parking fee in the bill- Rs60/-, quite a cool concept! 

Apart from the food, I love the decor, the black boards with beautiful sketches and quirky notes, the framed photographs on the wall, the big antique box in the center of the restaurant with a few pads wit paper and coloring tools for the children. The utensils and bowls used are also quite nice! 

Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a place to eat out at in this part of the city. 

Address:
No. 213, 2nd Floor, Forum Vijaya Mall, Arcot Road, 
Vadapalani, 
Chennai - 600026, 
Ph: 044 42188600, 044 42048268 
Website: http://www.saltrestaurants.in/

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  :-)

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  :-) 

Mom's bday and Lunch party at Annalakshmi

We were at an Uncle's 60th Birthday function and that is when we realised that mom's birthday was coming up in a week's time. After a brief discussion with grandparents, decided to do a lunch party for the family on 31st, the saturday. Granpa was hell bent on GRT, but I had other plans in mind. I did not want to host a get-together at one of the same ol cliched places, but wanted something new. 

But for some strange reason, Annalakshmi landed in my head the minute we decided to host the Lunch. Except I kept it to myself and did not squeal a word. I went and checked out the place, got the details, decided on the menu and knew this was where I wanted to host the Lunch. I also had a quick word with my sister on splitting the cost, I decided it was not fair to lean on grandparents all the time, even though they offered to foot the bill. They had already spent a lot, bought mom a piece of jewellery, dad some clothes and so on.

I announced the venue and final menu details 2 days ahead of the Lunch, and requested mom & gramma to invite all at the family function on Friday. Uncle was flying down from Delhi with family, my sis was coming down and so it was going to be a super cool fun weekend.  I thought all their arrival could be a surprise, alas, they had to go share information with gramma which soon spread like forest fire!! 

Have heard of rave reviews of Annalakshmi, but none of us had visited the new outlet in Egmore. Throwing caution to wind, I prayed and hoped it would be a great afternoon! Oh, and I forgot to mention- Saturday was also parents' anniversary and another uncle's birthday! I had asked a friend if she could bake cakes, but she said she was busy.. 30th Aug night I was out with my Delhi uncle and cousin, shopping for shirts, and then we hit Cake walk around 8 pm to order cakes. We broke our heads quite a bit, and finally settled on 2 lovely cakes. One for mom/dad and other for uncle. 

They have two options for Lunch, either 12 to 1.30pm or 1.30pm to 3pm. I chose the 2nd one cos even if it gets delayed, it should not be a problem. As for the hall, I chose the Buffet hall, it was open, bright, and seemed spacious. The hall could accomodate 100, and we were expecting about 60-70, but since I did not want outsiders encroaching in, I chose to take the entire hall. 

So the morning dawned bright and early. I left for grandparents home around 11, and we were all ready and set to leave. All were piled into cars, while I hopped in the one with driver and we went picked up the cakes and reached the venue on the dot at 1.30. I noticed most family already there, piling into the hall slowly. Mom saw me with the cake and was surprised! :D 

Pretty soon, almost everyone arrived and the hall was buzzing with excitement.  So many of them, actually all of them came upto me and said "wonderful choice of location".. I was beaming!! The buffet was all laid out, and the welcome drinks were served. 

The buffet consisted of

1. Aloo bonda

2. Paani puri- which was absolutely divine, so much so that gramma had a few ..

3. Dahi papdi chaat

4. 3 kinds of Rotis- Tandoori roti, naan and kulcha

5. Paneer butter masala

6. Daal makhani

7. Carrot Rice

8. Veg Pulao

9. plain steamed rice

10. Beans usuli

11. Potato curry

12. Boondi raita

13. Curd rice with pickles

14. papads and vadams

15. Salad- tomato & cucumber

And for dessert, I chose to do something different. I opted for Jangiri and Mothi choor laddoo as against the conventional Gulab jamun. There was also Paan which I heard was amazing! 

Phew!! the food was quite good and piping hot. The volunteers at the restaurant were serving the items and it was such a pleasant morning. We must have all had quite a few pani puris and aloo bondas. They were delicious. Similarly, the daal makhani was divine, I lost count how many refills I went for. I think I gulped it down as it is, with no roti or rice. 

Finally, before people left, we got together for the cake cutting combined with a lovely surprise. My aunt who had come down from Delhi took the mike and invited all to come to the table with the cakes on it and announced that the lunch was hosted by Me & my sis.. :-)) It was later that I realised that gramma was the one who had asked her to say this... I was so touched, overwhelmed infact~!! 

The entire afternoon went off far better than I had hoped for. *touch wood* 

The meal was priced at Rs430 per pax [incl tax].  It is a place I would definitely recommend, especially for pure vegetarians! 

While talking to Mr Kumar, the man in charge, I learnt that only a few were employees and rest were all volunteers. They also had a few from the catering college, who were paid a nominal salary that helped them get off their feet. Apparently there were quite a few housewives who came over to serve during lunch and dinner! How awesome is that!

Location:

8/3 Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road (Marshalls Road)

adjacent to Raja Meyammal Hall,

Egmore, Sigapi Achi Building, Ist Floor,

Chennai

Tel : 044-28525109, 044-42141210

email : annalakshmi_chennai@yahoo.co.in

Sukh Sagar, Kilpauk, Chennai

Contrary to popular belief, veg food is quite yummy. Dont believe me? ask some of my friends who are staunch non veggies but have been enjoying the veg fare at the new line of restaurants in town. Yep, right from the horse's mouth you see. Next time I drag you to a veg joint, think twice before making a comment.. I just might let you starve while I devour some of the yumm fare. Where is this convo headed? Well, am all set to brag about one more Veg restaurant. Not new, infact they have been creating waves for quite a few years, in Chennai & Bangalore.

Infact, if you've been in Anna Nagar, or driven down the main road, you will have spotted the giant red building. That was where Sukh Sagar was. but now, they have a new address, they are on Harley's Road, Kilpauk. Woohoo, close by home, walking distance!  

Renowned for their veg fare and chaat, I was looking forward to this visit. As you walk in, there is an open floor with a kitchen on the side for the early morning hunger pangs or chaat kicks. And then you find a small stairway tucked away leading to the Fine Dining area on the 1st floor, and a floor above houses the Banquet hall. 

By the time I got to the hall, most of them troops were already there. Found a seat beside Vinay & Vishnu, the men who own the place. The evening began with a glass of chilled watermelon juice. We were told we could order what we wanted and eventually sample the main dishes.

I opted for the Veg Manchow soup, it was good, the crispy noodles on top added to the texture. What happened after the soup is a big mystery. There were plates of food that just kept arriving at the table - a wide array of starters, here goes the list [ almost reminds me of the  lyrics to We Dint start the fire by Billy Joel] lemme see if i can remember 'em all  --

Tandoori starters: Corn sheekh kebab - Small pieces of moist Kebab served alongside Mint chutney followed by the Channa se bhara khumb - These were interesting- two mushrooms stuffed with Channa flour and cooked over the tandoor. there was something sweet about this starter. I liked it, maybe cos i love mushrooms and finally the Achari Paneer tikka- amazingly soft paneer marinated with spices and cooked to perfection. 

Next up were the Chinese starters- - Veg Crispy  and Paneer Chilli- Both were good, except I couldnt tell the veggies apart in the veg crispy. Enjoyed the paneer chilli starter. 

Phew, that was a lot of food. Oh wait, we were far from done. Next up were the Chaat items, started with 
fresh Dahi Puri, we then got to sample the Pani puri and finally the Bhel puri. The chaat were all good, except I felt the Bhel was slightly soggy and not as crispy as I am used to. 

During the course of the evening, we spoke about quite a variety of topics, ranging from food to travelling to making sudden plans to drive out to Pondy that very night [ya right, I think somewhere all of us knew that wasnt going to happen, but that did not stop us from planning, plotting]

While we were busy, the staff brought out plates of South Indian eats, starting with the Idli [which I steered clear off cos I need immense motivation to eat it], but the Sambhar vada, Oh gosh, I loved it. yep! Just as I put my spoon down, a plate with a veg sandwich popped in front of me. The caramalised onions added a nice touch, and the crispy grilled layer was a pleasant surprise. 

Just when we thought "yayy, we are done" Vinay came over to tell us the main course was on its way. Jeez. We requested him to just send out teeny tiny portions and he obliged. We tried the Roti, Dal makhani, paneer butter masala and Mushroom masala. The dishes were all good, each with a unique flavour. 

Burp.. oops, pardon me! Oh no, I saw a spoonful of Vegetable Biryani land on my plate and was ready to bolt. Luckily it was a tiny mouthful and was quite nice. There was also the Pav Bhaji and Chola Batura which I passed up on [if I wanted to retain my sanity..lol]  

Bring out the drums and trumpets... it was time for the desserts and that meant we were done... yipee!! We each ordered a different dessert so we could sample them, and it worked out just fine. I chose the Gajar Ka Halwa, while others opted for the Gulab jamun, some chose different ice creams- Gadbad, sukh sagar special, choco nut sundae, kulfi  and Falooda.. Not sure if there were others.. 

To bring the evening to a close, couple of us ordered Filter Kaapi and it was A class.. The conversation about Pondy had by then wound down, we were talking a drive to marina beach and finally ended up heading home.. lol.. 

Before i forget, next time you are hungry and in & around Kilpauk, head straight to Sukh Sagar... Reasonably priced, fresh & yumm food   :-) 

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  :-)