Crispy On - Kandanchavadi [Chennai]

This one does not happen to be a part of our exclusive weekend dates. In fact, far from it. Crispy On is our weekly eat-out joint, whenever we go shopping for groceries. So, while I can almost recite the menu by heart, we can categorically advice you on what to eat and what is best left avoided.
Yesterday, while back from shopping, we were at Crispy On once again. Now, so familiar with the place; that I am sure that the waiter will know just what to serve even if we didn’t say a thing! Anyways, Crispy On is your new KFC in the block – minus the price if I may add. The best thing to order over here any day would be “Chicken Strips Combo” priced quite reasonably at Rs. 159 for six strips and Rs. 239 for 12 strips.  The Combo gives you the delightful combination of chicken strips with French fries, one large coke and awesome mayonnaise. But if you are not very hungry perhaps, then you could order a plate of “Chicken Nuggets” – equally yummy! For the very hungry kinds or for people looking for a quick or early dinner, one can avail the “Chicken Piece”. Priced at a super reasonable price of Rs. 49 only, the size of the material (picture following the article) itself convinces you that the money was well worth.  The only fiascos we have ever had with this place is when we ordered “Chicken Popcorn”. For a regular KFC lover, that is a big let down and a strict no-no!
For the soft drinks section, not much is available. Apart from the normal Pepsi and Limca, Crispy On offers you “Mint Lime” and “Fresh Lime”. The milkshakes on the other hand are something that one would pine for, especially in the Chennai heat. The chocolate milkshake, all resplendent and sitting pretty with a scoop of your favourite ice cream flavour on top, deserves a special mention.
Crispy On also serves basic varieties (Veg, Egg and Chicken) of burger, rice and chow mien. However, the love of chicken itself has been too great for us and we refuse to be lured away from it! All in all, it’s easily accessible, it serves yummy food and it’s easy on the pocket. What more can one ask for?



OUR RATINGS:
Ambience: 2.5/5
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5



OUR TAKE: Stick to the Chicken, especially the Strips or Nuggets or the Piece. Avoid the Chicken Popcorn at all costs.

White Pepper - Thiruvanmiyur [Chennai]

Today being Saturday was our standard day to eat out. We were in Thiruvanmiyur and decided to check out this restaurant “White Pepper”. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that we were taking a safe bet because the place had once been recommended by my husband’s colleague as a good Chinese joint. I however, wasn’t too sure; because my limited exposure to Chinese food in Chennai had left me in much regret. However, we decided to give it a try.

“Friendly” wouldn’t even begin to describe the ambience; “warmly welcoming” would be a more appropriate word. No sooner did we enter that two waiters came forth to us. Despite the place being half filled, they were generous to give us a table close to the television (Keeping in mind that the IPL Finals were being telecast). We placed an initial order of “Prawn Pepper Celery” and “Dragon Rolls (Chicken)” as starters with fresh lime soda and were pleasantly surprised to have been given “Wonton Fried Dim Sums” as a complementary. The Prawns were by far one of the best of what I have had till date and the celery brings in a special twang to your taste buds. The fresh lime soda happened to be just the right mix – a welcome change from most Chennai restaurants. The dim sums were awesome but that would be expected because White Pepper proclaims itself to be a Dim Sum delicacy specialist. For the main course we ordered “Dragon Prawns” and “Corn and Pepper Fried Rice”. Here too, we were in for a surprise - the quantity of a single plate could feed two people and still have some more left! The Dragon Prawns were good enough but a little on the sweeter side. But then, after you have had the “Prawn Pepper Celery”, I doubt if anything at all will measure up to it! The fried rice we ordered was a chance that we took, but as it turned out, it has been one of the better variations of rice that we have tasted in the recent times. For dinner, we took the waiter’s recommendation and ordered for a “Sizzling Brownie with ice cream”. As often happens with this dish, it is very difficult to mess up this one; but making it yummier than yummilious is not an easy task either. White Pepper managed to do just that.

Satiated, we came back home with a full stomach and a fuller heart. The concerned Indian, we were happy about the fact that the prices are pretty reasonable. For two people, the bill came up to approx Rs. 800/-. The non vegetarian starters range somewhere between Rs.90 and Rs. 160. The Sea food platter would cost you anything between Rs. 180 to Rs. 300 depending upon your choice of food.  All in all, a great place to try out Chinese.

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 3.5/5

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 3.5/5

Price: 4.5/5

Overall: 4/5

OUR ADVICE:


Stick to the Chinese and sea food platter. As a basic look of the menu card shall tell you, the Indian cuisine section is just fillers.