This was follwed an array of starters. We kicked off with Hara Matar Bhutte Palak Tawa Kebab. Yes it is a big name for a kebab. Maybe it would get the big name award. (LOL). It was a kebab made of corn kernels, green peas and spinach and fried on a tawa like a cutlet. Very very minimal oil. Taste mind blowing.



Next up I munched on Vegetable Chop which was a crumb fried mixed vegetable patties with ground nut served along with mint chutney. Soft and bloody brilliant.


Moving to the non-veggies we had the Beckti Macher Fry and Murgh Chakori Kebab. The Beckti Macher Fry was a deep fried crumbed fish fillet. This was simply splendid because I did not expect an Indian dish which was so similar to a continental dish, yet had a distinct Indian flavour. The crumb coating was thick, while the fish fillet was thin. Inspite of this it was simply out standing. The thick crumb did not affect the taste of the fish in anyway.


The Murgh Chakori Kebab was my pick of the starters lot which was char grilled star anise flavoured chicken pieces. Usually I avoid star anise in biryani. But here it was totally different. It was one explosive starter fare.


The main course was a selection of gravies to go with Tulsi Olive Naan. Badi Palak, Narkel Diye Chholar Dal, Khus Mehak Paneer and Sunheri Nalli were the selection gravies served.




Badi Palak was more like the porial of sorts. It was a mix of fresh baby spinach and garden veggies cooked with radooni. As such it was brilliant.

Narkel Diye Chhalar Dal is your regular dal but with Bengal gram in it. Simply superb. You can have it with roti or poori or even just your plain old steamed rice.

Khus Mehak Paneer was a paneer dish cooked in tomato gravy something on the lines of paneer butter masala but a little less rich.

Finally the non-veg gravy of the lot Sunheri Nalli which was essentially tender lamb shanks cooked and served with subtle gravy. It was just devine. The meat just fell of the bone with ease. The combination of this gravy with roti and Basanti Pulao or just the steamed rice was fantastic. Finally the Basanti Pulao was kind of your kashmiri rice but a little less sweet.

My pick for the carnivores who are just dying to try this
- Aam Porar Shorbot
- Murgh Chakori Kebab
- Sunheri Nalli
- Basanti Pulao / Indian Bread

Food:
Dining along with owner gives you the insight into the hard work which has gone in for this project. A small chat might even kindle one to become an entrepreneur like him. We started the meal with a smooth Chicken Shorba. A Shorba which was rich like no other, with real fat and cream. Loved it.





Next up, starters was a round of chicken dishes. Tandoori Chicken, Murgh Banno Kebab, Kalmi Kebab and finally Punjab da kebab. Each very different in flavours. This gives you an idea of all the different spices and different methods of preparations that have gone in for these delicious dishes. Each juicy, succulent and fit for the royals.


Moving to the main course we came to realise that the Tandoori Rotis are served free of cost. That's the first I have come across in Chennai. So people can just walk in and order their gravy items and have soft tandoori roti served at their table. Hats off for this decision. We were served with Butter Chicken Masala, Mutton Rogan Josh and Dal Makhani. To wipe them down, we were served with Naan Maharaja and the soft tandoori rotis.


Naan Maharaja is a huge naan which is as large as your forearm, not a kids forearm but a full grown adult's. Packed with cashews, almonds and saunf with a double layered bread. A true maharaja in its size, taste and texture. A piece of Maharaj and a little bit of butter chicken and I was instantly transported to Delhi. Flavours very very similar to what I have had at Delhi. Mutton Rogan Josh, though I have had many variations, this was the best - soft medium cooked mutton in a spicy gravy. The combination of the sweet Naan and spicy gravy support each other to tingle your taste buds. Finally the Dal Makhani! It was just brilliant. You can slurp it alone, without any bread.


Just when we thought that we were stuffed, we were served with a Kashmiri Pulao. I don't think I have had a Kashmiri Pulao as rich as this, ever in my life. Usually it is rice with dry fruits. But here they have taken it to the next level. Cooking the rice with cream and dry fruits made it a bite of heaven.

Finally after the delicious round of main course we decided to sample just the Gulab Jamun and the Rasa Malai. Rasa Malai was just brilliant, it was soft and sweet while the Gulab Jamun was good as well.

Ambiance:
On entering the restaurant one would notice extraordinarily large chairs at the entrance which welcomes you with comfort and grandeur. This definitely sets the tone and you do feel like you were dining at a royal court.

Price:
With Tandoori Rotis being served as free, Ordering just a starter, a side dish and a dessert would cost Rs 800 for two. This is the best value 3 course meal one could have.

And the conclusion? ULTIMATE!

Grill Ministri is located in Mogappair West. If you do encounter a difficulty in locating it, search it on Google Maps.

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I am returning back to the CFG Showcase scene after a long time and what better way than heading to the restaurant which pioneered the Butter Chicken Masala and the well known Tandoori Chicken. Even though I had visited Moti Mahal earlier, this was one opportunity I was not going to miss.

Usually when I write about a showcase dinner, I go on ranting about all the dishes served. But this time I want to try something different. I ll make it short and sweet. The dishes which I liked the most. Nothing more or nothing less, just the ones you need to try.








There is nothing better than having the Butter Chicken Masala along with the assorted rotis. This was what was served to us. I just loved the flavor the chicken had. Off the lot of assorted roti, I must say the stand outs were the Garlic Naan, Butter Naan and the Chilli Roti. If you guys go as a group, I would suggest you guys try the above mentioned roti. I am pretty sure, one would not be disappointed.


The Mutton Biryani served here, is standard affair. It was very much similar to the Biryani which one would be used to in North India. I am pretty sure if you like the Tamil Nadu style you will not like this.


Last but not the least, one should never leave Moti Mahal without having their Kulfi and the best I have ever tasted Paan Ice Cream. I have had paan ice cream all over the town and I am pretty sure this is the best one, one can have. It has nice deep taste to it.

If you guys love North Indian Food and are a sucker for kebabs, this is a must have restaurant. I do wish they have a small buffet offered on some odd days.

Ambiance:
The place stands true to my previous verdict, very subtle and neat.

Price:
A decent meal for two should cost around Rs 1200/-

Moti Mahal Delux is located in Jaganathan Road, in the same building as Sam's Pizza.

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*A review about a place holds good only for 6 months as there can be a change in quality and quantity of the food, the service and the staff, due to reasons best known only to them. So kindly consider these factors while visiting the places

"Simar," now you would wonder that it sounds like a persons name. Apparently yes!!. This restaurant is the brain child of Simarjeet Kaur, who runs the restaurant with great aplomb..For one this place is located in the already crowded shopping and  food hub of town, Khader Nawaz Road. And also, when you walk in here, you get the feeling you are transported to a French restaurant. You don't get the feeling that you are dinning in a North Indian Restaurant, until you are served with a papad.

As this was a CFG meet I was surrounded by loads of familiar faces at the meal. We started off  the days menu with Chicken Kalvi Kebab. The chicken was tender and well cooked and also mild on marinade. The Mutton Sheek Pao was on the drier side. It was filled with cheese and covered with green chutney. This was followed by Fish Lasuni Tikka. The fish too was similar to the chicken, light on the marinade, but it was stuffed with a garlic and a chilli.  We cannot say highly of the vegetarian foods and it was clear from the expressions on the vegetarian counter parts, that the non-vegetarians fared better that day.

We were also served with a Chicken Chatpata Salad. It had a punchy flavor to it, like a zest of lemon. In between the starter and main course, we were given a sweet juicy Mango Lassi. It was decent. This was followed by Salted Lassi. Salt content in it was on the higher side, definitely not to my liking.

Usually when I head to Punjabi restaurant, I will not exit the place without trying the Butter Chicken Masala. So I was expecting a Butter Chicken Masala to be served to us. But to the contrary we were served with Chicken Curry, Mutton Rogan Gosh for the Non-Vegetarians.

For the vegetarians, Panner Butter Masala, Dal Tadka, Baingan Bharta, with Peas Pulao and assortment of bread were served. Dal Tadka were just decent. I felt the Dal could have been a little richer, as richness is the essence of Punjabi cuisine. Of the assortment of rotis served to us, I liked the Garlic Naan and Stuffed Kulcha. They went well with the Chicken Curry and Mutton Rogan Gosh. Both the dishes were rich and had a thick gravy. The combination of Mutton Rogan Gosh and Peas Pulao was spot on.

Desert was just  decent fare. Gulab Jamun was soft. But was a little too sweet and oily as well. The Rabdi was a bit salty and it felt grainy. Not the best way to end the meal.

The place looks rich, with very stylish ambiance and some decent food. On an average a meal for two would cost Rs 1000/- Pricing seems to be set on the standard set on Khader Nawaz Khan Road, which is just a wee bit expensive.

Food - 6.5/10
Ambiance - 8.5/10
Price - 7.5/10

Simar is located in Khader Nawaz Khan Road in the same building of YoKo Sizzlers.

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