Black Orchid - The Bustling Black Beauty!

Black, beauty and buzz are perhaps the 3 keywords adorning this place. The color black infuses royalty and a svelte like class about it that exhibits beauty in all it's aura and the buzz it creates is a sparkling spectacle. Black Orchid is a fine dining cum resto-bar restaurant located in a sprawling constructed property in R A Puram.

The place is abuzz with flashy decor, blooming lights and crafty woodwork. It's a three tiered massive structure with the basement allocated as a party hall, the ground portion consisting of a fine styling restaurant cum bar and the upper stair case portion leads you to a permit room where you can eat and drink to your heart's content with easing lounge style music.

We were here on a weekday evening and the place instantly spiraled it's atmosphere as set foot inside. It is more of a casual dining outlet but they have brought in some interesting features to differentiate itself from the crowd. It brings Japanese cuisine such as Sushis and Tepanayaki which gives itself a unique signature and apart from that you also have portions comprising of North Indian cuisine, a bit of continental and also Italian.

The appetizers form a major part of the menu and overall the food was very well curated and we had a ball of a time. We began our foray with a mixed veggies Tepanyaki. This one was grilled well with a variety of veggies giving us a crunchy beginning to our proceedings. The grilled panneer with peppers served in the form of skewers were amazingly flavorful and went very well with a barbecue sauce which had a mild sweet tinge to it. The lotus stem starter was perhaps the best of the lot as it had everything going for it on the taste angle and it was jocularly good to polish them with the creamy mayo and soya accompaniment that came along with it. The cassawa rolls which resemble sweet potatoes also was very good with the chilli dip enhancing the flavors all the more. We also had to try a sushi considering it's their specialty and hence we attempted the Greenland Maki one. It was dressed up royally in yellow consisting of veggies interspersed inset.

On to the main course, the corn and pepper bake was excellent. It was extremely cheesy and coated up with a smoked baked dressing. It was overflowing with goodness and ended up being such a toothsome delight. The vegetables in curry with saffron pilaf also turned out to be a sure shot winner. The curry made in coconut cream was esculent and the saffron flavored rice complemented it really well. Apart from this we also tried a bit of Indian with Tawa Paratha and Panneer Mutter Masala. The gravy was rich and creamy and it was nice to consume with the Indian breads.

The dessert section saw us having a crack at the Black Orchid cheesecake. It came with a fleck of gold foil and was very mushy and mellow consisting of a dense chocolate taste. It felt more like a rich mousse cake as cheesecake is normally associated with a biscuity crumb holding it which was missing in this case. The chocolate in a jar rum was also had and this concoction worked really well with the taste of rum being evident in each spoonful and the combo of rum & chocolate did indeed prove to be magical. Another thing to note here is they have some really unique but limited ice cream choices. We went for the lemon grass and enjoyed every smack of it. The slithery hint of lemon grass was felt in every bite.

The service was fast paced and we got all our items in quick intervals of time. The staff were also friendly and provided some valuable suggestions helping us order the right stuff. The prices seem up market but competitive considering they are setting the bar high.

All in all, Black Orchid happens to be a fascinating new addition to both the restaurant as well as the pub scene. The ambiance is serene and the atmosphere is electrifying. There is a lot you can indulge here apart from taking a bunch of happy memories. Can easily be classified as a fantastic option for food & drink.

When Fitness tees off with Food - LoCal by Dumbbell

Fitness and food seem poles apart and they don't generally seem to go in a like for like fashion. But Lo Cal by Dumbbell addresses this issue very well by curating a menu dedicated for the health conscious and also ensuring that foodies continue to have a feast.

It is quite novel in it's approach with the items dished out in such a way that the calories are well and truly in check. They have a large stacked up menu and in a way also prove that healthy food can also end up being quite delicious to eat unlike how it's normally perceived. Another interesting feature is that the items give a count of the proteins, fat and carbohydrate content in each of the dishes.

They are located in a compound off Nungambakkam. The ambiance showcases fitness related stuff like climbing bars, jars of whey proteins, cycle pedals, dumbbells and a whole lot more. They also have these attractive cardio cycles where you can do your exercise and also consume lo food calories at the same time.

We tried a number of items off the attic with first the soup both the broccoli based one as well as the roasted tomato with basil one being quite delectable. It was more thick than creamy but the flavours were evident. To munch we had a lovely zucchini wrap stuffed with veggies made up in a slurpy mixed brown sauce. The sandwich in the form of pesto boconcini open sandwich was really nicely stacked up with burrito and cherries but however felt the bread could have been softer as it was a little too crusty for the liking. The multi grain rainbow brochette was also loaded with interesting toppings. The broccoli grilled fritters was well plated and presented really colourful. The deviled eggs with a slather of guacamole was comforting.

In the main course, the show stealer was well and truly the whole wheat beetroot penne pasta. It had all the ammunition going for it and every bite on the taste buds gave the cravings wholesome enjoyment. We loved it so much that we had a second shot at it. From the texture to the creaminess to the taste everything seemed on point. We also tried another veggie based pasta which was quite nice as well. We also tried a Mexican bowl with panneer. This one was quite decent but felt a little too bland. An addition of a fee ingredients or sprucing up the rice could have made quite a difference to the overall dish.

We tried a couple of desserts too. The sweet potato brownie was a nicely made brownie but however I must admit the sweet potato essence didn't come out very strong. Nevertheless the taste of the brownie was wonderful. Some apple based caramel desserts were also had which we relished. Apart from that you always have customary shakes with milk of your choice with whey protein added in giving it a slightly mild taste.

All in all it was a refreshing experience. The prices seem competitive enough and fits in with the quantity served. The service was quick paced with not really too much waiting time. This is a good initiative bringing out a balance between food and fitness and hope they are able to sustain it in the long run by adhering to the requirements.

Mayflower - A melange of Multi-cuisine

Mayflower is a restaurant constructed out of an olden day house bungalow. It retains a lot of old world heritage and tradition and that seemed pretty appealing about the place. It is pretty spacious and you even have a compound space stacked up with books comprising the autobiographies of interesting personalities. The white pastel shades and the plants in the background give it an vibrant touch.

The restaurant is largely multi-cuisine tapering into a broad way of cuisines ranging from Continental, European, American, Italian, Asian, Mediterranean and many more. It doesn't stick to one particular nook and handling a finer variety of fare didn't seem to be hampering on the quality in any way.

We started our coarse with a broccoli soup. It was green and thick with laces of cheese stringed in. It had a rich taste and came well served up in a mug. On the appetizers section the dim sums comprising inset water chestnut, corn & broccoli were minced well and went really well with the range of dips. The crispy American corn as well as the lotus stems as the name suggested were crispy and well cooked. We also tried a Jamaican Panneer skewers which were a tad disappointing. The pieces were a bit hard and the taste didn't come out apparently.

The real show sealers were however on the main course section where virtually each of the items we encountered fought for bragging rights to be the best of the lot. The seven cheese pizza was marvelous. It was insanely cheesy with different variants and it was a joy pulling and playing with the pizza not to mention the delectable taste. We also tried an exotica pizza in addition as half and half along with another seven cheese version and this too was yum loaded with a mix of veggies and was also really cheesy. The one which smeared the aroma and roused the taste buds were however the khow-suey. It had a fantastic smattering taste with the Burmese aroma being really rich with a fine essence of coconut cream and this was insanely enjoyable. We also got to slurp a creamy pasta.This was a make your own version where we went with cream sauce, penne and a tinge of veggies. It was really cheesy with the contents floating dangling and dancing around and tasted fantastic.

In the desserts section, their stock is limited with just two specialized items namely the Orange Darsan Flambe and the Death by Chocolate. The former was quite nice with the orange essence over the crisp noodly pieces giving a lovely fine taste. The latter was decent but nothing much to rave about. I believe very soon there will be a few more specific stuff added to the attic. The drinks, beverage and shakes however are considerable in number. Among the ones tried, the Kit Kat shake easily stood out.

The service was friendly and suggestive. The pace of time taken to bring the items could be improved marginally as we had to encounter some waiting time. They are competitively priced and for the quality which you get as output seems justifiable. On the whole,a restaurant that specializes on a lot of stuff and also succeeds. Definitely worthy of giving a shot.

The Cycle Gap - Instantly Buzzing!

Adyar has a lot going for it but one striking missing link was that it was devoid of a hep and happening resto-bar. The Cycle Gap however fills the void with it's grand opening in a big complex right in the middle of LB road. The place instantly ignites a buzz feel about it with lot of local swag and designs with the color yellow coming out rather predominantly.

The music is hard hitting and it gives quite a fizz about the atmosphere. It just invokes the feel that will be enjoyed by youngsters who can congregate and drink to their hearts content with plenty of food by the side. The music also rekindled the good ol growing up days of 90's and it was a lovely little experience going back in time hearing the vintage classics which one has grown up and been associated with.

Their drinks menu is stacked up pretty well and they have a bar right at the center which is where all the action happens. The seats are all laid out particularly for large sets of groups to come in. They have lots of imported based stuff also on the attic which adds to the proceedings. We were here to thulp and see how their liquor fares out and overall it was more than impressive. The drinks had really interesting Chennai based local names and a number of them had interesting concoctions intertwined in them.

On the food side of things, we had some crispy and crunchy corn minced with chinese spices to begin our foray. The chinese tinge continued with a succulently delivered spicy panneer. To add some sweetness we also tried the Panneer tikka with slices of pineapple laid in between. The Hara Bara Veg kebab were decent and the Vol-au-vents which are basically puff pastries intermingled with cheese & mushroom were delightful to consume. One of the stand out appetizers happened to be the Chilli Bhajji which looked as local as ever but bulky in size and inset containing a delicious layer of potatoes and cheese and along with the red chutney it was simply jaw dropping in taste.

In the main course, I quite enjoyed the pizza's. They are all made in house and both the plain margarita as well as the one topped with veggies set our taste buds tingling. We also had a try at an Idiappam Parotha which was well made but the sterling stealer of the show was the beautifully made Vegetable Pie. A circle of cheese swarmed over the dish and as we unleashed the layer, the juicy cheesy vegetables were indeed spectacular. The desserts were also interesting and the fusion of mixing traditional Indian sweets with ice cream worked wonders.

The service was friendly and ever willing to help. The rates seem par for the course. On a holistic view, they've got the drinks side of it quite well in place with truckload of varieties and really interesting options. The food also is taking up shape with lot of interesting options muddled in.  On the whole, The Cycle Gap has all what it takes to attract. Though it's still very early days, one can well and truly expect them to see a surge in customer base very soon.

P.S : Review of Anna Nagar Outlet
Anna Nagar is flooded with cafes, restaurant's and eateries but one major missing link was not having a good resto bar. Cycle Gap however fills the void with it's presence in the by lanes of the Anna Nagar main road. Its situated in a complex and occupies the upper floor. The place instantly has a buzz feel about it with lot of local swag and designs with the colour yellow coming out rather predominantly.

The music is hard hitting and it gives quite a fizz about the atmosphere. It just invokes the feel that will be enjoyed by youngsters who can congregate and drink to their hearts content with plenty of food by the side.

Their drinks menu is stacked up pretty well and they have a bar right at the center point which is where all the action happens. The seats are all laid out particularly for large sets of groups to come in. They have lots of imported based stuff also on the attic which adds to the favours.

We were here as a big gang to thulp down and see how their liquor fares out and overall we were quite impressed. The drinks had really interesting chennai slang based names and a number of them had interesting concoctions intertwined in them. Even the beers were not your usual KF's and Brititsh empire but they also possessed Corona, Hoegarden etc which was a plus one.

On the food side, I just felt they were little short on few of the items. Their menu is still being designed and worked out but the vegetarian side of things didn't really brim upto expectations. They had aloo tikki, onion rings, sauteed baby corn, potato wedges, panneer tikka, veg tempura, veg nachos, veg tempura, creamy cheesy brocolli et al. Though no real complaints, they were a drift away from being extraordinary. The best of the lot was easily the cheesy cauliflower & brocolli. I wish they come out with interesting signature starters of their own than the usual run off the mill items.

On the main course, I quite enjoyed the white sauce pasta. It had the necessary ammunition to hit the bulls eye. However exact opposite was the curried pizza which was a complete damp squib. It lacked any sort of flavours whatsoever and came across as bland. The curried hot balls and rice were passable. We didn't try much of desserts.

We ended our sojourn on a high note with shots of baileys and tequila. This was the star piece of the whole afternoon and it was a euphoric way to finish proceedings. The service was amiable and ever willing to help. The rates seem par for the course. On a holistic view, they've got the drinks side of it quite well in place with truckload of varieties and really interesting options. The food however can be spruced up a wee bit. Once this combination takes shape, they'll surely be a fantastic resto pub to reckon with.