Hoppipola is all set and ready to take the Chennai pub scene by storm. After already making a splash with it's ventures in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, the radar of this happy go lucky pub has extended it's footing towards Chennai and thankfully so. This resto pub is located in the basement of Spring Hotel, Nungambakkam and the initial feel well and truly indicates it having the shiz factor going for it.
The place appeals instantly and the interiors are tastefully done. It is bright, colorful and vibrant as opposed to the eerie darkness usually associated with a pub. It is much more than just that and trebles up as a great place to eat, drink and play. Zest and zeal is inherent and the tons of fun events make this place really happening and uber cool.
It was just the 4th day of its launch when we as a big group were invited to check this place out on a friday evening. It's very much in its nascent stage but witnessing the activity and atmosphere prevalent, there's no doubt that it has already been lapped up by chennai vaasis and the bar has been raised.
We got to sample a plethora of food and drinks and most of them won the brownie points. The non vegetarians especially were raving about some of the stuff served, veg wasn't too bad either ranging from average to good with some being top notch. The pizza's though lacked a bit of bite but the cheesy macaroni was baked to perfection having a smooth texture and tasted kick ass. The hummus were bloody brilliant and kind of addictive. Kudos also to the presentation. Also they had very many interesting sauces coming along with the starters, some were punchy and had a lovely twang to it. And for dessert we were served a ravishing baked cake with banana engraved on top and we were literally fighting with one another to grab a bite of the pastry. The drinks were in variety and abundance and it was fun gulping down the different drinks they had in store. Some of us also indulged in frolic playing some of their interesting games.
The service was exceptional. The bar tenders keep the place extremely lively and entertaining. The choice of music is great keeping the tempo and pep going on incessantly. The rates seem par for the course and surely within limits. Valet parking also works in full swing. Despite being new in the market, most bases have been covered which speaks a lot.
Nungambakkam rightfully stakes claim to being the area invested with the best restaurant's in town and with the arrival of this lounge bar, it's position has been elevated a notch further. There is something for everyone here and rest assured you will have an awesome time experiencing Hoppipola.
Will i come again - Hell Yeah.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
South Indian Fusion @ Madras Kafe
Madras Cafe has it's moments . It's a decent place to stop over for a quick bite of south Indian tiffin tossed up in a fusion avatar. It is predominantly the usual south cuisine customised to give it a twist. You have snacks in the form of cheese fingers, potato wedges, assorted platters etc in the ayal naattu (outside land) section and in the namma ooru (home land) part you have your vadais and bhajjis.
The place specialises on dosa's with a truckload of varieties and you also have your usual idli, chappathi, poori and also idiappam, appam, Chole batoora et al. They also have something called Barotizza, an indianised version of pizza with toppings on a chappathi base and also kothu barottas and barotta rolls. Also there is an area called Hall of sandwiches with many stuffed cheese based ones. Also there are variety rices and beverages and smoothies and shakes for finishers.
We had a mix of tiffin items such as podi dosai, onion uthappam, paneer tikka masala dosai, fried podi idli ,kaara cheesy varuval and a filter kaapi and masala chaaya to round off. The fries were oozing with cheese on the top, however the bottom part was left orphaned. The tanginess was missing a bit. The podi dosai was also ok but however it was just podi smeared without oil in it which was a bit of a let down. The paneer tikka masala was perhaps the best we ate here with the triangular dosa having abundant pieces of paneer masala and also it went well with the chutneys and sambar. The onion uthappam was strictly ok and nothing to regale about. The podi idly which took oh so long to be brought to the table was worth the wait and was well deep fried and had a lovely punch to it with podi in magnanimous quantity enveloped all over the idli's.
The place is neat but isn't something that will work big on the ambiance front. The big poster drawing of Madras with the Mylapore backdrop and the Marena beach tries giving it an authentic flavor. The Hindi music playing in the background however sticks out sorely taking the charm away.
The prices are pretty reasonable and par for the course. All the items we had set us back by 500 bucks and a bit which wouldn't really make you slouch. The service at times had it's issues with water not being refilled promptly and also time taken to bring the stuff which was much longer than expected. Also the lack of tissue papers in the tables were irritating. And the disappointment of not having many things from the menu adds to the woes.
The Madaras Kafe has its shares of hits and misses. It surely isn't a bad place to head out for some tasty south indian food being a tad different than the usual.
The place specialises on dosa's with a truckload of varieties and you also have your usual idli, chappathi, poori and also idiappam, appam, Chole batoora et al. They also have something called Barotizza, an indianised version of pizza with toppings on a chappathi base and also kothu barottas and barotta rolls. Also there is an area called Hall of sandwiches with many stuffed cheese based ones. Also there are variety rices and beverages and smoothies and shakes for finishers.
We had a mix of tiffin items such as podi dosai, onion uthappam, paneer tikka masala dosai, fried podi idli ,kaara cheesy varuval and a filter kaapi and masala chaaya to round off. The fries were oozing with cheese on the top, however the bottom part was left orphaned. The tanginess was missing a bit. The podi dosai was also ok but however it was just podi smeared without oil in it which was a bit of a let down. The paneer tikka masala was perhaps the best we ate here with the triangular dosa having abundant pieces of paneer masala and also it went well with the chutneys and sambar. The onion uthappam was strictly ok and nothing to regale about. The podi idly which took oh so long to be brought to the table was worth the wait and was well deep fried and had a lovely punch to it with podi in magnanimous quantity enveloped all over the idli's.
The place is neat but isn't something that will work big on the ambiance front. The big poster drawing of Madras with the Mylapore backdrop and the Marena beach tries giving it an authentic flavor. The Hindi music playing in the background however sticks out sorely taking the charm away.
The prices are pretty reasonable and par for the course. All the items we had set us back by 500 bucks and a bit which wouldn't really make you slouch. The service at times had it's issues with water not being refilled promptly and also time taken to bring the stuff which was much longer than expected. Also the lack of tissue papers in the tables were irritating. And the disappointment of not having many things from the menu adds to the woes.
The Madaras Kafe has its shares of hits and misses. It surely isn't a bad place to head out for some tasty south indian food being a tad different than the usual.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Chamiers Cafe - Elegance Personified!
Chamiers cafe is this elegant European based cafe. It has a very rich and grand look to it and makes it an ideal place to spend some laid back leisure time. It has such a feel good factor going for it which will surely lure you to visit this cafe again.
Floral wall paints with anticrafts hanging along make it aesthetic. The caned chairs and cushiony settings makes it feel very cozy and comfortable. And the light music at the back end soothes you. The dim lamp lights gives it a classy touch and the tulle decorated on the roof makes it elevated with opulence. And to boot the upholstery and vintage window settings make this outlet really stylish.
They have a lot of wonderful stuff to gorge upon. The pastries are wonderful and just a mere glance at them will make your lips smirk with excitement. They've also got loads of other things such as coffee's, shakes and ice teas, nibbles and starters, salads, pasta's, sandwiches and pizza's and a hell lot more.
My recent visit was more to pass off some free time and indulge in some yak yakking with my friend. We just ordered a solitary pastry - the threobama 6 layered mousse cake which was massive in size and jaw dropping to look at. And the taste matched the looks to the 'T' by being as gob smacking as possible. It was a delight pruning the creamy layer off it and shoving it inside the mouth. It was quite heavenly to say the least. The pastry rack had so many amazing desserts that will make your mouth drool like a waterfall.
The service is pretty quick and amiable by nature. The cafe screams upmarket in every front and expectantly the rates too are a bit on the higher side. But you wouldn't slouch too much considering the positive factor's at hand.
If you're the one looking for a perfect blend of a cafe and conversation experience, you need to look no further. I surely haven't had enough of Chamiers cafe and already contemplating my next visit :).
If you're the one looking for a perfect blend of a cafe and conversation experience, you need to look no further. I surely haven't had enough of Chamiers cafe and already contemplating my next visit :).
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Thattu Vadai Settu Kadai - Taste of Salem
I am a big fan of Murukku Sandwich and have never missed out on a chance to gorge the decorated delicacy which gives such a crunchy taste when you bite on those crispy small murukkus smeared with the requisite spices and dollops of cheese. And when I read a review in the paper's that there is a settu kadai from Salem serving a South Indian equivalent of the same, was quite eager to check what they have in store.
Thattu Vadai Settu Kadai is a small kiosk run by a busy young lady and is situated outside a supermarket in Gopalapuram. You also have few more kiosks offering different kind of stuff in the same surrounding.
The concept here is set based chaats and they have different varieties of sets - plain, onion, tomato, mango, garlic etc and I went for the combo comprising of all of the ones mentioned. Here the Thattai's replace the murukkus and the ingredients spread are to suit the south indian taste buds. It also happens to be a more healthier version. I enjoyed my Mix chaat or rather 'settu' which was nicely flavored and crunchy and even quite appealing to look at. They have 2 tubed versions of sauces which adds a nice touch to the texture - a red chilli based one and a yellowish mustard onion like paste.
The prices are very meager and there are quite a few set options which you would want to try. Also looks like a few more of these traditional stuff are going to be added to the menu. If you happen to pass by this place, do not forget to have a bite at this uniquely invigorating offering from the heart of Salem.
Thattu Vadai Settu Kadai is a small kiosk run by a busy young lady and is situated outside a supermarket in Gopalapuram. You also have few more kiosks offering different kind of stuff in the same surrounding.
The concept here is set based chaats and they have different varieties of sets - plain, onion, tomato, mango, garlic etc and I went for the combo comprising of all of the ones mentioned. Here the Thattai's replace the murukkus and the ingredients spread are to suit the south indian taste buds. It also happens to be a more healthier version. I enjoyed my Mix chaat or rather 'settu' which was nicely flavored and crunchy and even quite appealing to look at. They have 2 tubed versions of sauces which adds a nice touch to the texture - a red chilli based one and a yellowish mustard onion like paste.
The prices are very meager and there are quite a few set options which you would want to try. Also looks like a few more of these traditional stuff are going to be added to the menu. If you happen to pass by this place, do not forget to have a bite at this uniquely invigorating offering from the heart of Salem.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Spoonbill - Global cuisine on a plate!
Spoonbill is unique and one of a kind restaurant serving specialty street food from across the globe. It has a very interesting menu with importance given to the country and the popular dish of the nation's choice. You also see hordes of enticing pictures of street food splashed across the restaurant. It has a lively buzz to it with music always playing around and is brightly lit and orangish. You also find logo's of the rare bird with the long beak called Spoonbill which incidentally is also the name of the restaurant. Not sure exactly of the connection the bird has with street food.
It also has an open kitchen setting and you can see the cooks constantly on their toes adhering to the orders placed of food from across the globe. It is based on the self service concept where you pay before you eat and this being more of the fast food types is a good system to follow. Even the drinks in the form of canned juices and iced tea's are kept in a fridge where you can pick whatever you feel like and get them billed. They also give you a small disc like machine which vibrates as soon as your order is ready.
Keeping in line with the tradition of street food, it gets prepared very soon. On this occasion decided to go European with a twist of local Indian flavor and hence ordered corn and peas Empanada and Ragada Pattice. The Empanada was stuffed judiciously with cheese and interspersed were pieces of corn and peas. Make no mistake this really tastes awesome and they give you 3 big pieces of this patty. The ragada pattice too was nice and spicy. Probably not the most authentic but definitely on the taste side it did win honors.
On the price part they are a wee bit on the expensive side but again considering the location and stuff they serve isn't too much of a misnomer. The food arrives in doubly quick time as already harped earlier. The decor with low wooden chairs with small cushions is comfortable and kind of apt for gorging on fast food based items.
They have a plethora of items in store and you will mostly always have something new to try on your next visit. The food seldom disappoints and mostly always lives up to the mark. The happy hours concept is kind of a bonus and also their sunday breakfast is a win. It always attracts a sizable crowd and continues doing so. The innovation and inventiveness goes a large way in making Spoonbill classify as a top bracketed dine out option and rightfully so.
It also has an open kitchen setting and you can see the cooks constantly on their toes adhering to the orders placed of food from across the globe. It is based on the self service concept where you pay before you eat and this being more of the fast food types is a good system to follow. Even the drinks in the form of canned juices and iced tea's are kept in a fridge where you can pick whatever you feel like and get them billed. They also give you a small disc like machine which vibrates as soon as your order is ready.
Keeping in line with the tradition of street food, it gets prepared very soon. On this occasion decided to go European with a twist of local Indian flavor and hence ordered corn and peas Empanada and Ragada Pattice. The Empanada was stuffed judiciously with cheese and interspersed were pieces of corn and peas. Make no mistake this really tastes awesome and they give you 3 big pieces of this patty. The ragada pattice too was nice and spicy. Probably not the most authentic but definitely on the taste side it did win honors.
On the price part they are a wee bit on the expensive side but again considering the location and stuff they serve isn't too much of a misnomer. The food arrives in doubly quick time as already harped earlier. The decor with low wooden chairs with small cushions is comfortable and kind of apt for gorging on fast food based items.
They have a plethora of items in store and you will mostly always have something new to try on your next visit. The food seldom disappoints and mostly always lives up to the mark. The happy hours concept is kind of a bonus and also their sunday breakfast is a win. It always attracts a sizable crowd and continues doing so. The innovation and inventiveness goes a large way in making Spoonbill classify as a top bracketed dine out option and rightfully so.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Sky Lit at Rajputana!
Rajputana instantly strikes with its skyrocketing ambiance and that rightfully takes centerstage. It's a wondrous sight to witness the sky lights to the outside in a very well done up elevated roof top restaurant. There are lovely cottage like settings for couples and small families and the dim lights with old school mild bollywood music playing across adds to the decor. It has a lot going for it on the class side but it's on the food that they need to do some giddying up to make the experience wholesome and complete.
The restaurant is located in Koyambedu near the bustling CMBT bus stand and is conveniently located on the top floor of JP hotel. They are open only for dinner and have both Buffet and Ala carte. It was an 'On the House' meal and we got our hands at the former which in actuality is priced at Rs 750 for veg and 850 for non veg. The food was quite a mixed bag with a few items being top notch but the majority of the food turned out being disappointing.
Chose the veg option and started out with a mocktail which was spicy and just didn't taste right. Next was the black gram soup which was passable with the ingredients being soaked right at the bottom. We had 3 starters in the form of a paneer, corn and gobi and the rating scale for them went from good to decent to bad. The paneer was the hands out winner in this section, being soft, chunky and presentable. The gobi at the other end of the spectrum was such a dampener not being grilled properly and was rather tasteless. On the main course we were served Indian Bread, Pulao, Biryani and 3 main course dishes. Really not much to complain on the nans and rice but it was on the gravies where they have lots of catching up to do. The dal was delicious but the veg makhanwala left a lot to be desired and the Kadai paneer which is supposed to be spicy had a rather funny taste and was flavorless. In effect was forced to have majority of the meal with the Black Dal for company. On the dessert section we had phirni, lassi and kulfi. Whilst the former two were no doubt nice it was the kulfi which won the day. It just had the perfect feel and texture to it and it was a delight gobbling them up. Also was a pretty good way to end a rather ordinary meal overall.
This one's a sit down buffet and one factor which was bothering was the time taken to serve the food which was taking for ever.
Whatever encomiums one showers on the ambiance, the food needs to match up because whether you like it or not its what you eat which is key and gives maximum weightage when visiting a restaurant. They have a lot of ground to cover up here and hope they take the necessary precautions to ensure the best in food and service supporting the already prevelant top draw ambiance.
The restaurant is located in Koyambedu near the bustling CMBT bus stand and is conveniently located on the top floor of JP hotel. They are open only for dinner and have both Buffet and Ala carte. It was an 'On the House' meal and we got our hands at the former which in actuality is priced at Rs 750 for veg and 850 for non veg. The food was quite a mixed bag with a few items being top notch but the majority of the food turned out being disappointing.
Chose the veg option and started out with a mocktail which was spicy and just didn't taste right. Next was the black gram soup which was passable with the ingredients being soaked right at the bottom. We had 3 starters in the form of a paneer, corn and gobi and the rating scale for them went from good to decent to bad. The paneer was the hands out winner in this section, being soft, chunky and presentable. The gobi at the other end of the spectrum was such a dampener not being grilled properly and was rather tasteless. On the main course we were served Indian Bread, Pulao, Biryani and 3 main course dishes. Really not much to complain on the nans and rice but it was on the gravies where they have lots of catching up to do. The dal was delicious but the veg makhanwala left a lot to be desired and the Kadai paneer which is supposed to be spicy had a rather funny taste and was flavorless. In effect was forced to have majority of the meal with the Black Dal for company. On the dessert section we had phirni, lassi and kulfi. Whilst the former two were no doubt nice it was the kulfi which won the day. It just had the perfect feel and texture to it and it was a delight gobbling them up. Also was a pretty good way to end a rather ordinary meal overall.
This one's a sit down buffet and one factor which was bothering was the time taken to serve the food which was taking for ever.
Whatever encomiums one showers on the ambiance, the food needs to match up because whether you like it or not its what you eat which is key and gives maximum weightage when visiting a restaurant. They have a lot of ground to cover up here and hope they take the necessary precautions to ensure the best in food and service supporting the already prevelant top draw ambiance.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Elegance at Ecstasy
Ecstasy has been long associated with sathyam cinemas and has always been perceived to be expensive and out of reach for those wanting to gobble a simple pastry. But true to it's class, it is designed to excellence and lives upto its potential as one really elegant chic looking cafe submerged with exotic pastries. Simply the look of them will make you all buttoned up smiling like a cheshire cat.
Unfortunately went here after a heavy meal and so couldn't do real justice. Had a Tiramisu double coffee mousse kinda pastry which was buttery smooth in texture and delicious. Am sure going here again to check out some of their vibrant and colorful stuff.
Yes you have to shell out heavily but it's not something to cringe as the value you get out of them make it justifiable. You cannot deny the fact that it has got some sort of luxurious aroma enveloped around it.
Pictures sometimes speak more than words and hence let me do the needful by splashing them across for you to start feeling jealous :).
Unfortunately went here after a heavy meal and so couldn't do real justice. Had a Tiramisu double coffee mousse kinda pastry which was buttery smooth in texture and delicious. Am sure going here again to check out some of their vibrant and colorful stuff.
Yes you have to shell out heavily but it's not something to cringe as the value you get out of them make it justifiable. You cannot deny the fact that it has got some sort of luxurious aroma enveloped around it.
Pictures sometimes speak more than words and hence let me do the needful by splashing them across for you to start feeling jealous :).
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Malargal Ketten - If flowers could sing!
I have been incessantly looping on Malargal Kaetten from OK Kanmani ever since I laid my ears to it. It has the vintage stamp of ARR written all over and seems like a throwback to the glory days of the past.
Childhood memories are rekindled and you go on a trip down memory lane as portions of this song are reminiscent of Ennai Solli Ennai Cholla (Thenali), Suttum Vizhi Suddar (Kandukondein Kandukondein), Uyirum Neeye (Pavithra), Needhaan En Desiya Geetham (Paarthale Paravasam), Malargale Malargale (Love Birds) and more such evergreen compositions.
The mellifluous voice with backdrop of the Tambura followed by the subtle slithering in of the kanjeera, the 4 phrases of Malargal Kettaen (00:57 to 01:08) sung in 4 different ways, the introduction of the swara portion, the fulminant of the broken flute play in the 1st interlude, the violins gushing up in grand fashion along with the flute playing merrily alongside during the 2nd interlude, the downward chromatic movements all make the composition truly memorable.
Also the way both the Ma's (4th note from Sa) and both Ni's (4th note from Ma) are handled deserve the plaudits and not one ounce does it feel out of place. It can always be debated whether its based on Behag, Hameer Kalyani, Khamas or something else but for now lets just enjoy the beauty of the composition which is simply magnificent.
The magic of yesteryear is engulfed all over and the combo of Rahman and Chitra create absolute bliss. It almost feels like a relic and musical vignette from yore. Highly infectious and an aural treat !!
Songs such as this are hard to come by in today's times and thus let me catch hold of this dearly as long as it lasts. Maybe this is how flowers sound if they could sing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fndcB3s5n9s
Childhood memories are rekindled and you go on a trip down memory lane as portions of this song are reminiscent of Ennai Solli Ennai Cholla (Thenali), Suttum Vizhi Suddar (Kandukondein Kandukondein), Uyirum Neeye (Pavithra), Needhaan En Desiya Geetham (Paarthale Paravasam), Malargale Malargale (Love Birds) and more such evergreen compositions.
The mellifluous voice with backdrop of the Tambura followed by the subtle slithering in of the kanjeera, the 4 phrases of Malargal Kettaen (00:57 to 01:08) sung in 4 different ways, the introduction of the swara portion, the fulminant of the broken flute play in the 1st interlude, the violins gushing up in grand fashion along with the flute playing merrily alongside during the 2nd interlude, the downward chromatic movements all make the composition truly memorable.
Also the way both the Ma's (4th note from Sa) and both Ni's (4th note from Ma) are handled deserve the plaudits and not one ounce does it feel out of place. It can always be debated whether its based on Behag, Hameer Kalyani, Khamas or something else but for now lets just enjoy the beauty of the composition which is simply magnificent.
The magic of yesteryear is engulfed all over and the combo of Rahman and Chitra create absolute bliss. It almost feels like a relic and musical vignette from yore. Highly infectious and an aural treat !!
Songs such as this are hard to come by in today's times and thus let me catch hold of this dearly as long as it lasts. Maybe this is how flowers sound if they could sing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fndcB3s5n9s
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Mainland China - The taste of South East Asia
We decided to do Chinese for dinner and the first option which came in mind was Mainland China and pronto decided to head there. It is located on a small by lane perpendicular to Cenotaph Road and it's impossible to miss as the restaurant is huge and in your face. Valet parking is very convenient and never an issue.
Large doors and big sized statues embrace you on entering Mainland China and as you step in you sense the feel of China through the smell , look , wardrobe and mild music playing along. The ambiance feels quite and peaceful much in tune with the chinese culture. You would find Red and black being the predominant colors and you would find a lot of them at this place on the chairs , walls hanging articles etc.
Now coming to the food started off with the Peppery Lemon soup. It was light and flavored heavily with pepper and a tinge of lime with veggies floating along like mushroom , brocoli , carrot , cabbage etc. It was burning spicy but still felt it to be decent enough and set the tone for the larger picture.The starter which we had was the Mushroom Chilli garlic which was flavorful and nice on the mouth , the fungi were extremely soft and almost chewable kind and there were few other assorted veggies added which went along well. For main course had the golden garlic fried rice along with stir fried vegetables. Found the rice to be bit plain and not up to the mark , the strong garlic flavor also wasn't prevelant. The side however was nice with an amalgam of veggies in a black gravy.Ended the dinner sojourn by having one of their mock tail oreo crushed with mint which I really liked. The cookies were grated very thinly and had a nice lingering taste along with the chocolate shake.
The service is top notch and the waiters really know well about the items in store. The time taken to bring in the food also was fast barring the main course which took a little longer still nothing to complain about. The rates simply put are expensive. It's a granted fact that you have to shell out excessively if you were to dine here.
Chinese is not my most favorite cuisine and I tend to get the feel that most chinese food in different restaurants across the city tend to taste roughly the same. But with Mainland China you are guaranteed of consistency and a good eating experience which makes this quite a favorite for many. It's definitely one of the prime chinese outlets in the city and will always continue to be so.
Large doors and big sized statues embrace you on entering Mainland China and as you step in you sense the feel of China through the smell , look , wardrobe and mild music playing along. The ambiance feels quite and peaceful much in tune with the chinese culture. You would find Red and black being the predominant colors and you would find a lot of them at this place on the chairs , walls hanging articles etc.
Now coming to the food started off with the Peppery Lemon soup. It was light and flavored heavily with pepper and a tinge of lime with veggies floating along like mushroom , brocoli , carrot , cabbage etc. It was burning spicy but still felt it to be decent enough and set the tone for the larger picture.The starter which we had was the Mushroom Chilli garlic which was flavorful and nice on the mouth , the fungi were extremely soft and almost chewable kind and there were few other assorted veggies added which went along well. For main course had the golden garlic fried rice along with stir fried vegetables. Found the rice to be bit plain and not up to the mark , the strong garlic flavor also wasn't prevelant. The side however was nice with an amalgam of veggies in a black gravy.Ended the dinner sojourn by having one of their mock tail oreo crushed with mint which I really liked. The cookies were grated very thinly and had a nice lingering taste along with the chocolate shake.
The service is top notch and the waiters really know well about the items in store. The time taken to bring in the food also was fast barring the main course which took a little longer still nothing to complain about. The rates simply put are expensive. It's a granted fact that you have to shell out excessively if you were to dine here.
Chinese is not my most favorite cuisine and I tend to get the feel that most chinese food in different restaurants across the city tend to taste roughly the same. But with Mainland China you are guaranteed of consistency and a good eating experience which makes this quite a favorite for many. It's definitely one of the prime chinese outlets in the city and will always continue to be so.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Maplai - the taste of Down south!
Maplai has been on my radar for sometime now and finally headed there on a weekday dinner to satisfy my appetite.
Good first signs with valet parking being available and it looked vibrant at least from the outside with colored lights glowing in a pattern.
It feels a small place and seems like they haven't spaced out the tables very well. Its polarised into different spacing with a couple of tables in each of the divided space. In a way its good because you feel away from a crowd and feels a place safe to have a peaceful meal. On the other hand it looks like they can accommodate very few people at a time and they will be hard pressed if people come in big numbers.
Enough of jabbering, coming to the numero part - the food. The menu seems to be quite interesting with quite a few innovative options. It's not a place for the vegetarian but if you like your eggs you are saved quite a bit. They have various variants of this oval shaped delicacy.
For starters , we ordered for a Chettinadu Bashed Potato which was brown in color and smeared with a fine powdery mix and spread across with karuga pilai and mayonnaise to accommodate. It was crunchy , delicious and perfect foil for starter material. Great start I should say.The other starter was Muttai Kalki which was smudged and soggily floating around and felt like having a caramel custard sans the taste. It was quite diiferent and found it palatable though nothing special about this one.
For main course ordered Egg Appam and Paneer Nilgiri. The Aapam's were nicely done up with the bullseye right in the center and well cooked. The paneer gravy was done up with mint and was tea green in colour. The curry was fair enough with the paneer in judicious quantity being deep fried and soft and chunky.
And ended the dinner sojourn with a thirst quencher in the form of a Bovonto Icecream Soda. Seemed a speciality dish of theirs , it was nothing but Bovonto mixed with Vanilla ice cream giving a flavorful feel and felt it apt after having this kind of a meal.
The real winner however about this place is the pricing. When every other restaurant charges the roof nowadays , you would be surprised to find quite a number of items at double digit rates for a place with a neat and clean enough ambiance such as this. It was pretty much a surprise I must admit.
If you love poultry or even if you are just an eggetarian , it's certainly a decent place to hog some good food and it just doesn't pinch your pocket much. Maaplai is surely worth trying !.
Good first signs with valet parking being available and it looked vibrant at least from the outside with colored lights glowing in a pattern.
It feels a small place and seems like they haven't spaced out the tables very well. Its polarised into different spacing with a couple of tables in each of the divided space. In a way its good because you feel away from a crowd and feels a place safe to have a peaceful meal. On the other hand it looks like they can accommodate very few people at a time and they will be hard pressed if people come in big numbers.
Enough of jabbering, coming to the numero part - the food. The menu seems to be quite interesting with quite a few innovative options. It's not a place for the vegetarian but if you like your eggs you are saved quite a bit. They have various variants of this oval shaped delicacy.
For starters , we ordered for a Chettinadu Bashed Potato which was brown in color and smeared with a fine powdery mix and spread across with karuga pilai and mayonnaise to accommodate. It was crunchy , delicious and perfect foil for starter material. Great start I should say.The other starter was Muttai Kalki which was smudged and soggily floating around and felt like having a caramel custard sans the taste. It was quite diiferent and found it palatable though nothing special about this one.
For main course ordered Egg Appam and Paneer Nilgiri. The Aapam's were nicely done up with the bullseye right in the center and well cooked. The paneer gravy was done up with mint and was tea green in colour. The curry was fair enough with the paneer in judicious quantity being deep fried and soft and chunky.
And ended the dinner sojourn with a thirst quencher in the form of a Bovonto Icecream Soda. Seemed a speciality dish of theirs , it was nothing but Bovonto mixed with Vanilla ice cream giving a flavorful feel and felt it apt after having this kind of a meal.
The real winner however about this place is the pricing. When every other restaurant charges the roof nowadays , you would be surprised to find quite a number of items at double digit rates for a place with a neat and clean enough ambiance such as this. It was pretty much a surprise I must admit.
If you love poultry or even if you are just an eggetarian , it's certainly a decent place to hog some good food and it just doesn't pinch your pocket much. Maaplai is surely worth trying !.
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