Sunday, December 16, 2012

B R Matsya Restaurant (Udupi Style)

B R Matsya Restaurant


Thanikachalam Road,

T Nagar, Chennai 600 017

Tel 044 4212 7007



It was 9:30 pm, after a tiring shopping experience in RMKV, Saravana Stores and Big Bazaar (its entertaining for ladies…lol!!!). The ladies of the house wanted to eat outside and did not want to go home and prepare dinner. We gents did not want to take the risk of offending them, coz any offense on our part will leave us hungry. 

I had heard about Matsya, which is a Udipi Restaurant. Found this as an opportunity to experience the food there.

Matsya is on the road next to “Big Bazaar”. There is valet parking, but not ample.

The restaurant was crowded by my niece gave the go ahead due to a small children playing area available within. 

There are two options, either we can go for the Buffet (costs around Rs. 300/- plus taxes, menu varies on a day-to-day basis) or the normal a la carte method.

We thought its better to order by menu instead of the Buffet.

After 5 minutes of waiting period, we a group of 7 people were ushered in. The restaurant was very much crowded. 2 tables were joined to enable us to be seated together, but the tables were not cleaned. It took us literally telling them some 3 to 4 times to clean the table, after which it was done. Later, the menu came. We ordered the dinner, the waiter had the courtesy to say that it will take half-n-hour to bring them. We were fine with it as we were tired and wanted to relax a bit.

The menu consists of some weird names for dishes.

Ordered “Raja Raja Cholan Dosa” for my father, a normal dosa with some veg masala which was little bit on the sweet-sour kind. Had this been prepared in our house, my father would have thrown a fit.  . We tasted it a bit, and found it not so worthy of the cost against it.

We ordered some North Indian and Continental dishes. Must say, that the Dry Gobi Manchurian, Crumb Fry Mushroom, Szechwan Noodles, Baked Pasta were good. My sister wanted to try the “Rilli Milli Subji”, but on tasting found it to be like a normal subji masala.

The staffs were courteous. The experience was good.

But the place is always crowded.

Ambience is good.

One major appreciable thing about this restaurant is its spic and span restrooms. Have found that rarely a Chennai restaurant restroom looks so clean.

Worth visiting, but not on a regular basis :)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Rangoli, Chennai

Rangoli, T Nagar, Chennai

102, Thayagaraya Road (Pondy Bazaar), Chennai

Tel : 044 23455589 / 23455590


Rangoli is basically a franchisee of “Saravana Bhavan” chain of hotels, the hotel has come up with this new idea based on the growing pan food industry. Its located in the basement of the Saravana Bhavan Hotel, Pondy Bazaar.

Its not like in the past where the cuisines of a particular region was available only there. Since, the transition of people has occurred thanks to the IT / ITES industry across the country, so its become important for the culture, traditions, food and other aspects to be marginalized.

We went to “Rangoli” based on the good reviews I found in the Internet. Being a foodie, I try to visit various restaurants / outlets.  Rangoli is differential from the monotonous Idly, Vada, Pongal, Sambhar, etc of Tamil Nadu. Similar on the lines with “Rajdhani Express”, but mostly into Gujurati. This restaurant offers only “Thali Meals” and is not into any other kind of menu.
Menu

As it usually happens in Gujurati meals, all the items were mildly sweet, which my parents and niece found quite offensive.

The thali is unlimited with 2 items on the limited side. To start with, Jal Jeera and the starters Dhokla, Subudana Vada and Bhaat Na Muthia(sort of potato vada) are bought to your table, later the thali comes into picture. Must say, that the Daal Khichidi was excellent, the moong dal seera was heavenly (but alas limited). After the thali was finished, we got a glass of masala curd milk and a sweet pan.

Starters
Thali

The staff are courteous, the ambience is fine. We can even see the food being prepared.

Experience has been good. But, hope they continue the same.





Kitchen










Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Transgender's are also gud @ heart

As usual I was walking from my own house to the rented one, a daily routine I have been following for the past couple of months due to certain personal issues with varied thoughts and depression kinda look in my face. I got accosted by two transgenders in the road asking for money. I just looked unto the face of one of them and said that I am in deep problem and I dont have much to give them. My immediate conclusion was that now they will start using bad languages or provoke me or mis handle me. But, what happened was altogether very touching. One of them touched my forehead and said " problems are there in everybody's life, so dont loose hope, I pray that God helps you out of it", smiled and immediately left me. I was overwhelmed with happiness. Here, somebody out of the blue comes and kindles your faith. On contrary, we most of the time ridicule them. The ways of life...Oh isn't everybody have the right to lead their life as per their own terms. Why can't we have rules / relaxations for the transgenders also. Its high time we include them on the professional front also. Since they dont have any other means of earning, they end up doing all the wrong things. May be if we give them an opportunity to be on par with the male / female gender, they will also flourish and let the society also to flourish....Can't this happen??