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!!

Flaming Wok - C R Park [New Delhi]

I can sum up this place in one word – AVERAGE. And indeed that’s what comes to your mind as you set foot inside this Chinese joint. It’s nothing too fancy and neither is it your standard run off the mill. All in all, an okay kind of place to dine in if you are in the locality. And we happened to be in the locality and thus, gave it a try.

The “Crispy Wontons” and were just right but then again, that is such a classic Chinese dish that it’s near impossible to mess with it. However, we did not fancy the sauce that went with it. It seemed more like an half hearted attempt at what could have been a definitely better try. The second starter downright disheartened me. We had “Chicken momo” and I can guarantee you that I have had better stuff at some old street joints in Kolkata. The “Sweet Corn Soup” was the only saving grace of the Starters section.

The main course saw us meandering through all sorts of non vegetarian including chicken, prawns and lamb. We had ordered for “Butter Garlic Chicken” but to be very honest, the dish as it came and when we tasted it – it had butter, it had garlic, it had chicken... but it definitely wasn’t a preparation of Butter Garlic Chicken. The “Prawns in Oyster Sauce” were reasonably good; that is to say that you wouldn’t have had any complaints against it. The “Crispy Lamb” however was a big disappointment. The lamb was extremely dry and the gravy could as well have been water! As if, there was no original intention of gravy and it had been added only as an afterthought.

 However, the “Chinese Veg Fried Rice” was what we really loved and it went wonderfully with the prawns. The “Chicken Hakka Noodles” was again very very average - something which could have been improved if you ask me.

In a nutshell, it’s not such a bad place if you know what to order and maybe mix and match a few dishes. Give it a try – you may not have any extremely pleasant surprises in store, but then again, there shall be no rude shocks either.

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 3.5/5

Food: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Price: 3.5/5

Overall: 3/5

OUR TAKE:

Very appropriate if your budget isn’t too elaborate or if you are in a large group and don’t know where to treat your friends or simply of you happen to be in and around C R Park and are looking for a decent Chinese joint.

Once Upon a Pirate - Besant Nagar [Chennai]

We weren’t too happy the first time we dined here because the food was unimpressive and the service pathetic. However, we stand corrected. Our second experience was worse, if possible! The moment one enters “Once upon a Pirate”, the thing that strikes you that it is a little hot for an AC restaurant. And indeed it is! Because only one out of the three ACs work (or were working on the two occasions we visited!)

We ordered for “Crispy Lamb” and “Golden Fried Prawns” and we liked the lamb and were okay with the prawns but what bowled us over was the mayo sauce. It had a complete homemade touch to it. So the next time we went, we ordered the same starters. But we were in for a surprise when a different sauce was served and on asking them about the mayo, they denied having served it earlier!! The table next to us had ordered Sizzlers and we became a little enthusiastic about it. Thus, the main course order stood at “Chicken Tikka Sizzlers”, “Egg Fried Rice” and “Hunan Chicken”. Our experience with the food can be summed up in one word – DISASTER! The Chicken Tikka thing was anything but a Sizzler apart from the fact that it was placed on a wooden platter with a cabbage leaf! The Sizzler smelt as if someone had burned it down, the tikka gravy separate and the chicken tikka pieces dry and that was it. Four pieces of chicken served with some Biriyani on the side!! That’s the Chicken Tikka Sizzler” for you! The Hunan Chicken was hot! And that was all I could make out of it because apart from the taste of red chillies, there was no other taste in the dish. It lacked aroma, flavour or “edibility”. We failed to understand as to how can one pour such copious amounts of chilli and yet render a dish so unpalatable and tasteless!

Unfortunately, we had to leave a major part of the food uneaten and ask for the bill. What amazed me at this point is that while the waiter cleared the table, none of them bothered to ask as to why such huge portions had been left behind or if we were unhappy about the food (Something that one finds at most restaurants!)

After an almost painful culinary experience, we came out and opted for a roadside kulfi. Other things unknown, one thing is for sure – we are never going back again!

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 3/5

Food: 2.5/5 (Only for the Lamb and the past awesomeness of the mayo that they later denied!)

Service: 1.5/5

Price: 3/5

Overall: 2.5/5

OUR TAKE:

VISIT AT YOUR OWN RISK. If at all you take the risk, stick to the Starters – you will be able to eat them at least!

Hot Pot China - Perungudi [Chennai]

We managed to spot this one accidentally – it’s just near the Perungudi signal (close to Hi-Style) and reasonably close to our home.  For non-Chennaites, Perungudi is located in South Chennai. And with my love for Chinese cuisine, we decided to try this one out at the earliest opportunity, which was this week. Hot Pot China (HPC) has a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of entrance. But once you enter, one realises that the place is not as small as the entrance looks like. It has a rather swanky decor for a place that has been in business since the last 2 weeks! However, it is evident that the place is new and has room for further improvement before it goes full swing. But that is probably the good part – since they are so new in business, they are ready to learn fast.

We decided to try a little bit of everything but as the food came in, we realised out mistake – the quantity was mammoth! A unique feature that I noticed about this place is that HPC allows you to order half portions of everything apart from the dim sums. In fact, our waiter was decent enough to suggest us that half portion of the “Konjee Crispy Lamb” (starters) shall suffice for both of us. And having said that, let me say that this is one area were HPC leaves even good brands behind – extremely prompt service. The waiters are decent, attentive and eager to please. Thus, what may be a trifle lacking in the food or decor etc, is more than made up for in the behaviour. I can go so far ahead as to comment that the service here is one of the best that we have received in the various restaurants that we have dined in over India. 

Now for the food. We ordered “Chicken Wontons” and “Konjee Crispy Lamb” for starters. The wontons were crisp and the lamb was delicious. And true to what the waiter had suggested – half portions of both was enough for both of us! For the main course, we decided to order 3 half portions – one from each section so that we could give most of it a try.  We ordered “Corn Fried Rice”, “Sea Food Fried Rice” and “Chicken Hakka Noodles”; with “Sliced Fish in Butter Garlic Sauce” and “Prawns in Oyster Sauce” as side dishes. If there is another thing that I have to say apart from the food being good – the food was too much. With ordering half portions of each, we ended up wasting most of it (still feel bad about that!) because we soon realised that 1 plate of the rice/noodles will more than suffice for 2 people – and that comes from foodies like us! The fish was good and did not smell – something I had thought could happen only in Kobe Sizzlers. The food isn’t too spicy – just the authentic Chinese way. The only thing that we did not enjoy in the whole experience is that the noodles were a bit undercooked and thus lacked proper taste.

The prices are what are unbelievable. The Veg starters range from Rs. 54/- for half plate to Rs. 125/- for a full plate. The Non Veg starters begin at Rs. 100/- for half a plate and go up to Rs. 225/- for a full plate. The Rice varieties vary between Rs. 70/- to Rs. 135/- (half to full) for the Veg section and Rs. 80/- to Rs. 185/- (half to full) for the Non veg section. For the side dishes, the Veg section prices are Rs. 75/- to Rs. 150/- (half to full) and Rs. 110/- to Rs. 265/- (half to full) for the Non Veg section. But then, when one plate is enough for two – who is complaining?

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 3.5/5

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Price: 4.5/5

Overall: 4/5

OUR TAKE:

We loved both the side dishes in the main course and would recommend any of them.

We usually limit our posts till this bit, but since this is such a new place, we have a few suggestions for them:

(1)    Once the restaurant starts running in full swing, HPC is grossly understaffed.

(2)    The tables definitely need to improve.

(3)    The menu card is huge which makes navigating a cumbersome task. Also, it shall be difficult to maintain.

(4)    Should start a home delivery section – almost all restaurants have this.

(5)    The entrance must be a little more lit up/spottable so as to attract more attention.

(6)    Good place; deserves proper marketing strategies to make it popular.

Kobe Sizzlers - Express Avenue Mall [Chennai]

I have been wanting to visit this place for some time now and it was only last weekend that we could manage to do it. Kobe Sizzlers is located on the 3^rd floor, just off the Food Court in the Express Avenue Mall. However, once you enter the restaurant, you leave behind the din of the Food Court. Inside, the atmosphere is calm, relaxed and laid back. We were soon showed to our table.

One thing that I wasn’t too happy to notice is that apart from the place, the behaviour of the waiters too is laid back. Initially while showing us our table, the waiter himself seemed confused as to which of the empty table shall he take us to! Well...that does not speak too good of him! Once we were seated, we informed the waiter of an empty bottle that was lying on the table – obviously abandoned by some previous diner. The waiter coolly replied, “It’s not yours? It does not belong to us also”. I had to categorically ask him to remove the bottle from our table.

Then came the food. We had ordered for “Chicken Satellite” (Boneless chicken in mushroom sauce, cheese and fresh cream) and Fish Sizzlers (in Garlic Sauce), both of which came with boiled veggies and mashed potatoes/French fries. The food made up for almost everything. Both the dishes were yummy and the mushroom sauce over the mashed potatoes did wonderful things to your olfactory senses as well as your taste buds! However, we would have liked it if the chicken was a little tender and succulent. The fish was one of the best parts. Being a Bengali and from Calcutta/Kolkata, I am used to fresh water fishes and as such do not have much of an appetite for the sea fishes because of their strong smell. But this one gave me no such problems. In fact, it was mouth wateringly delectable. Completely full with the food, we did not try out anything else, but the two dishes that we had, are both very commendable.

Prices at this place are a little on the higher side, but then since one dish comprises as a whole meal, I am willing to overlook that. The vegetable sizzlers range anywhere between Rs. 270/- to Rs. 320/- while the non vegetarian ones start around Rs. 290/- and can go up to Rs. 430/- in the sea food sizzler section. Most soft drinks are within Rs. 100/- while the desserts are between Rs. 100/- and Rs. 130/- for one serving.

OUR RATINGS:

Ambience: 4/5

Food: 4/5

Service: 3/5 (I am being generous because the food was served real fast)

Price: 3.75/5

Overall: 4/5

 OUR TAKE:

Try both the Chicken and Fish Sizzlers. If not, stick to the “Chicken Satellite” and order mashed potatoes with it instead of the fresh fries. It goes wonderfully with the cheese and mushroom sauce.

We would have enjoyed it more if the service would have been better.