Karaikudi - Velachery [Chennai]

If you want non vegetarian food cooked in the authentic Tamil style, Karaikudi is your answer. It is a typical Tamil restaurant – except that it serves non vegetarian food too. The moment we entered, the very authentic feeling greeted us. I, personally passed strict scrutiny (being clad in a jeans and T shirt!) and have reasons to believe that maybe my bindi and sindoor acted as my saviour!

The service was quick for some part, i.e., the food appeared very soon after we ordered – almost instantly. What struck me though was the very large variety of dosas that were available or rather, the non-existent varieties of roti/rice. So if you chose to order a variety of roti (like I did), you would be left with the basic option of parantha, chapatti or egg/chicken parantha. Or maybe plain rice. But it would rather be a wise decision to do what most others do – have the chicken with a plain dosa. And trust me; though I myself had apprehensions about it, the combination is absolutely yummy! We ordered plain dosa, parantha, chicken pepper curry, prawn 65 and our favourite fresh lime soda! The chicken tasted fabulous with both the parantha and the crispy plain dosa. However, while these three arrived in a matter of 5-6 minutes, it took a good 15 minutes for the prawns and the fresh lime soda to turn up. But the prawns were freshly cooked and smelled good. So good in fact, that we decided to overlook the delay in time. The fresh lime soda however disappointed me. The soda was too much, the sugar was barely palpable.

The place is serene and calm. The concept of spoons and forks however is seemingly unknown and it is assumed that you would prefer to eat using your hands. The waiters will not vie for your attention and you are expected to maintain the decorum while eating food – (Recall “Two States” by Chetan Bhagat).
The prices are reasonable but the quantity leaves a little more to be desired. The paranthas or the chapatis for instance, cost you Rs. 38 for two. The prawn was super reasonably priced at Rs. 140 while the various chicken varieties cost somewhere between Rs. 130 to Rs. 150 per plate. 

However, the place definitely leaves you satiated. A definite at-home feel, and good food makes you want to go back for more!

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 4/5

Food: 4/5

Service: 3.5/5

Price: 3.5/5

Overall: 3.75/5

OUR TAKE:

Visit only if you appreciate good South Indian non vegetarian food. Definitely try the Prawn 65.