Drizzle - Neelankarai (East Coast Road) [Chennai]

Can a restaurant suffer in quality, service, food, hospitality and all possible areas apart from the ambience which is hardly a saving grace? Yes, it can! And you have to visit Drizzle to experience it! Or rather, don’t force such torture upon yourself and be better informed after reading about our experience.

We stumbled across this place rather accidentally and decided to give it a try. We went in and what was rather amusing is that the waitress was just as clueless as us about where to get us seated. The whole place was empty! She asked us to choose any place which we fancied and we took a table that was nearest to the AC. Next came the menu cards, which came in after about 10 minutes of waiting. We took much of it in good humour as it was just yet 6:30 and business hours didn’t start before 7:00pm. We asked if we should come back later but were told to remain seated and that our orders would be taken. What was startling that a huge place like that (20 tables approx) had only 2 waitresses. One took orders while the other manned the door. We ordered for Chicken Crostini and Crumb Fried Fish Fingers and some Fresh Lime Soda to wash it all down. The soda came in about 5 minutes. After another 30 minutes came the Fish Fingers. What was odd that neither were our plates put forward and neither was the food arranged. Rather, the waitress very casually tossed the empty plate to the next table which landed with a clatter and then she put the plate of Fish in front of me. Throughout the whole process, she decided to ignore the presence of my husband!! Another excruciating 20 minutes later came the Chicken Crostini. This time something really weird happened. In fact it was so atrocious, we had to laugh about it!! This time too, the lady decided that I was the only one to deserved to be served and henceforth ignored that there was a man sitting right next to me. Not only that, she also promptly picked up my half sipped soda glass and walked away confidently without as much as asking me a word!!  We were speechless!

However, we decided to play it fair and thought that our bad experience was owing to the fact that we had dropped in before business hours. And hence, the next day, we went there around 8:30pm. Guess what? The service was worse! It had to be – when you have 4 tables to man and only 1 waitress as the other one was busy manning the door! We ordered the same starters and to our extreme displeasure and disbelief, they tasted different!! And by different, I don't mean in the good way! How could the consistency of the same food vary so appreciably within the span of 24 hours? However, we ordered the main course but I guess it was not to be! After a good wait of 45 minutes, we were told our food would take a “little more time” to arrive. And that was enough. We footed the bill and stormed out.

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 4/5

Food: 3.5/5 for Day 1 and 2/5 for Day 2.

Service: 1/5

Price: 2.5/5

Overall: 2/5

OUR TAKE:

If you are really at loggerheads with someone and want to take revenge, take him to Drizzle. I am sure you shall not regret it!! 

Rajdhani - Express Avenue Mall [Chennai]

The first time I saw this place, I didn’t want to enter because it was a Sunday and I was raring to have non veg food. The second time was because the queue outside was too long. The third time I took the chance and realised the wrong decisions I had taken the previous two times by not entering.

The first thing that shall strike you as you enter Rajdhani is its service. There are numerous customers and yet at every point, you feel as if you are the privileged one, receiving all the attention. The moment we entered, we were escorted to our table by a much smiling waiter who then brought in an ornate kettle with lukewarm water so that we could was our hands.  Next the plates were laid. What’s unique about this place is that it has no menu cards; or at least, not general menu cards for each table. The menu for the day is hand written on a small black board right at the entrance of the restaurant.

Anyhow, we waited as we were served. Oh what a pleasure it was! One felt like a Royal, with all that treatment. First came the plate, adorned with 5 types of subzee and 2 types of daal accompanied with salad, pickles, chutney and papad. Then came the rotis – 4 types in all. After the rotis, came the various options of rice (though we stuck to the better known “Khichdi”). And at the end came the sweets. And as if that wasn’t enough, every time before you could finish up a portion, you found a waiter standing by your side, ready to refill the plate.  The menu simply bowls you over – it’s that good. And yet, the waiters so humble, always with a smile and ever ready to help, it’s a pleasure eating here.

The rotis that we had were – Phulkas, Moong Daal Kachori, Pooran Poli and Palak Thottu.

The subzees – Aalu Baati, Turiya Tamatar, Gobhi Vatana, Batata Curry, Matki Masala.

The Daals – Spicy Daal Marwadi, Sweet Daal

The Rice – Steamed Rice, Khichdi, Curd Rice

The Desserts – Strawberry Halwa, Kala Jamun, Fruit Shri Khand

And at the end, we could hardly move, we ate so much!!

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 3.5/5

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 4.5/5

Price: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

OUR TAKE:

A must visit for the sheer pleasure of being served and the process of serving if not anything else. But then, when has good food hurt someone? Don’t miss the Dahi Vada – That would be a shame!!