Food:
The only option here is the buffet and there is no ala carte fare here. But the buffet is just enough to shut any person about missing dishes. The items on the buffet remains same for the most part with a slight alterations here and there along the week.  Food service starts off with a mix of on-table grilling and a few starters served on plate. There is no discrimination between veg and non-veg foodies here. The same number of dishes for both, so one does not feel left out.



Usually I am stuffed by the time I am done with the starters and I just head over to the desserts. I did just the same this time as well. As this is a compilation, I thought I would list some of the dishes which were worthy of mention.



Firstly the Pineapple Strawberry Shaker drink served inside a pineapple is absolutely Bindaass!!!! Both the drink and the way it is served is top notch. BBQ Chicken wings part of the recently concluded Ay Caramba food festival was fantastic. Mind you I had atleast 4 to 5 pieces of the lovely succulent wings.



Then there was the tender, well marinated Jamaican style Mutton grill which was superb. Then there was this interesting looking chicken lollipop kind of dish which turned out to be a Corn-pop, was really good. Also they had a nice pepper grilled steak served with mustard sauce.


At this point I just move over to the desserts and pick my favourites Pan Ice Cream and the Saffron Phirni which was simply brilliant. I would just return for the Pan Ice Cream which is fit for Kings.

Ambiance:
Very, very noisy! It could be a turn off if you want a quite dine. If not, you would love the experience.

Service:
Simply fantastic, very attentive. The chef personally talks to the diners and is always willing to change the type of preparation according to the customers tastes.

Price:
The buffet here is priced on a average of Rs 699 - 899 depending on the day and time you dine in.

Leaving all this aside which sound interesting, getting a seat here is a big pain. I have been disappointed 'n' number of times trying to make a reservation. So if you could get a seat then you are in luck and make the best of the meal.

Disclaimer : Invited Review.

Absolute BBQ is next to the Hotel Residency, T-Nagar.

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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.

Looks like my blog had become a Pondicherry food guide after my visit there. Stepping back to the hometown, this is about my venture into dining at the DINE  in Express Avenue, after doing a couple of hours of window shopping.

Food:
It was just me and my mum, and my mum wanted to try the soup of the day. The soup of the day was Sweet Corn Chicken Soup which we had as 1 by 2 portion which was quite decent. Good quantity of morsels of chicken in clear soup. For the main course I had chosen the combo which comprised of Chicken Fried Rice, Dragon Chicken and a glass of Coke, while my mom had the Roast Chicken Lasagne.




The fried rice and chicken were quite good and punched much higher than my expectations. Decent quantity and delicious. The Chicken Lasagne was exquisite. If one is looking for a very tasty lasagne in a place which has a very good ambiance without blowing a big hole in the pocket, look no further. Lasagne was loaded with chicken pieces and the sauce was creamy. Craving for a lasagne look no further. Even my mom was quite impressed with the lasagne.

Ambiance:
Quite contemporary and you do get the feeling of dinning in a fine dine restaurant.

Service:
This was simply superb. Only one man manning the restaurant. But the way he conducted himself really sets the standards. Helping my mom to get seated first then, poring the water 1st to my mom and in so many other ways he impressed me. Something which you only see 5star restaurants and also in some other fine dine standalone restaurants. Totally impressed.

Price:
This meal for two cost us Rs 770/- No service charge was present so we decided to tip him.

Food - 8/10
Ambiance - 8/10
Service - 9/10
Price - 8/10

Disclaimer : I paid for the meal.

PS: Photos clicked using Samsung A5 and not my DSLR.

Dine is located inside the Movie Theater Escape at Express Avenue, Royapettah.

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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.

Food:
The best selection of dishes from around the world are placed here as live counters all around the buffet.




It starts off with the Chaat items from the Indian food bowl:Dahi Poori, Papadi Chaat and Bhel Poori and if you walk along, one is treated with Momos both veg and non-veg along with sticky rice from the Chinese food bowl. Further down you have Dosai and the Pesarettu from South India. As you move along you are greeted with a Big Shawarama from Arabia. Trot down further, you are greeted with Sliders and Sandwiches and finally the quintessential Pasta, Risotto and Burrito from Italian and Mexican  cuisine.






Apart from the loads of food from around the world, there is the regular buffet. Buffet spread is extensive. Full marks for the salad counter. Which is the best I have had in a long time. Salad lovers paradise. Main course had dishes which would please everyone Chicken, Mutton, Fish, Beef and Prawns all yummy!









Binging on hell load of food, I was stuffed. But desserts! I just had to have em. Dessert spread was extensive with 4 choices of ice cream and selection of Tiramisu, Chocolate Fudge, Mango Gateaux, Keer, Blueberry Compote and also a selection of assorted fruits all fabulous in their own right.




Ambiance:
The kitchen which is the 24hrs cafe for the hotel is simple and elegant.

Price:
The buffet is priced at Rs1400 for lunch and 1600 for dinner.

The world food festival is on up to the 23rd of May at The Kitchen, Anna Salai. A small gastronomic trip around the world for people who wish to devour different cuisine.

Disclaimer : Invited Review

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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.

Awadhi cuisine - Galouti Kebab - Marriott. These keywords were enough. I said yes to trying out the Awadhi food festival at Courtyard Marriott. Marriott had flown in Chef Younis Khan who specializes in this cuisine for the special food festival. For those who don't know what Awadhi cuisine is.... It is essentially a Lucknowi food which specialises in Dum cooking and is heavily influenced by the Mughal and Persian style of food. As I have said a numerous times I am sucker for Galouti / Goluti / Galwati Kebabs and this was just another reason to dine here.




The meal started of with Malai Prawns. I must say it was out of the world. Okay, I missed saying I love Seafood as well. I just cant resist them. If this was not enough we were blown away with veggie version of Galouti Kebab. For once I thought this could pass off as an alternative to the original. Just as I was binging on the doupelgangers we were served with a Masala Paneer and Malai Paneer. The Maiai paneer was a little flat in  flavors. It was soft no doubt, but a little flat in the spices department.  Masala Paneer was the one, everyone would relished.



With all these dishes being served I was beginning to become impatient. I was waiting for the star attraction, the Galouti Kebab. Finally after all the waiting, it was served. Looked great, was definitely soft, but on eating I found the taste to be a little different which I did not mind as it was still melt in your mouth types. Finally if this was not enough we were served with Tandoori Lamb chops. OMG! It was delicious, soft, tender and decadent.


Finishing off the starters I was too stuffed to even move around. But then the smell of the Awadhi Biryani and Lamb Nihari shook me up. The Biryani had a different color, but was packed with richness. It is safe to say that this is one of the best Biryanis I have ever had in a Star Hotel. On the other end the Lamb Nihari was a stunner. Tender cooked lamb with roti was just what the royals would want. I was way too stuffed after the main course to even sample the desserts.

Chennai has become the home of many poor buffet. But this was the only time I felt that the major portion of the buffet was great.

Awadhi food festival is on till July 21st. It is priced at Rs 1250/- Do try em, don't miss out on this unique food festival.

Courtyard Marriott is located on Anna Salai next to Manyavar.

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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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