Restaurants in Chennai (Madras)
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Amethyst
Set in a stunning lemon-coloured, colonial-era building, this place is comfortably posh. The lush garden setting and patio dining takes the cake for restaurant ambience. Expect comfy couches, tasteful antique furniture and afternoon tea with lovely cucumber-and-mint-chutney sandwiches.
reviewed
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B
Coconut Lagoon
Excellent Keralan and Goan fare with a focus on seafood delicacies, such as kari meen polli chathu (fish masala steamed in banana leaf).
reviewed
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C
Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Mylapore
Dependably delish, 'meals' at the Saravana Bhavans, although this locale has some 'special meals' if you're willing to pay a bit more.
reviewed
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D
Zara’s
Though this tiny place is a little tough to find, seekers will be rewarded by this ultracool tapas bar. Expect genuine Spanish flavour: everything from squid and olives to tortilla and sangria. Three-course lunch specials with wine or beer are a decent deal at Rs225/245 for veg/non-veg. The bar here doubles as a popular hang-out in it’s own right.
reviewed
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Sparky’s Diner
Sparky’s is a wall-to-wall homage to kitsch. This expat-run ‘American’ diner is plastered with US state licence plates and movie posters, has Sinatra crooning on the radio, and decks its waiters out in baseball shirts. Look out for OK American specials like deep-fried chicken or Cajun gumbo.
reviewed
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Fisherman’s Fare
This small, spotless, AC dining room gets packed to the rafters come lunchtime, with punters digging into well-prepared fish fare ranging from shrimp to fish curries to tandoori fish. There’s a great lunchtime special for Rs155.
reviewed
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Kitchen K
Earth tones, clay pots and wrought-iron chairs make for a soothing ambience at this café serving Hyderabadi and Northern dishes. Cake Walk next door has tiramisu, apple pie and black forest cake, among other indulgences.
reviewed
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F
Hotel Saravana Bhavan
Dependably delish, ‘meals’ at the Saravana Bhavans run around Rs50, though the Mylapore locale has some ‘special meals’ for Rs95 and up. The Thousand Lights branch is more upscale, with an Rs180 buffet and silver cutlery.
reviewed
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G
Ratna Cafe
Though often crowded and cramped, Ratna is renowned in Triplicane and beyond for its scrumptious idlis and the hearty doses of sambar (soupy lentil dish with cubed vegetables) that go with it.
reviewed
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H
Amaravathi
Amaravathi serves hot Andhran specialities on banana leaves. Try the biryani or mango prawn masala (an Andhran interpretation of a Keralan classic), but we'd stay away from the mutton-bone soup.
reviewed
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Ponnusamy Hotel
This well-known non-veg place serves curry, biryani (steamed rice with meat or vegetables) and Chettinad specialities. Look out for interesting options like pigeon fry and rabbit masala.
reviewed
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Gyan Vaishnava Punjabi Dhaba
When asked about his excellent pure-veg Punjabi, Jain and other Northern dishes, Mr Vaishnava opened his arms and said, 'I'm giving quality… with love.' And that's the truth.
reviewed
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Gallopin' Gooseberry
This American diner-style place does fab Cajun, mushroom and tikka burgers, as well as pasta and sandwiches. It also delivers. The Fruit Shop next door has exotic juices and shakes.
reviewed
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Benjarong
From the finely crafted furniture and calming ambience to the attentive service and superbly presented food, this Thai restaurant is an experience. Most mains are around Rs200.
reviewed
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Annapurna
A bustling hole-in-the-wall that serves up a lip-smacking taste of Bengal in Chennai’s Egmore district. Try the bhetki paturi (fish baked in banana leaves). Yum.
reviewed
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N
Copper Chimney
Vegetarians might want to give this meat-centric place a wide berth, but others will drool over the yummy North Indian tandoori dishes served among plush furnishings.
reviewed
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Murugan Idly Kadai
Those in the know generally agree this particular branch of the small chain serves some of the best idli and South Indian meals in town. We heartily concur.
reviewed
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Vasanta Bhavan
Excellent ‘meals’ (Rs40). The older Vasantha Bhavan down the street at No 10 is not as good but has more charm and also sweets.
reviewed
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Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Thousand Lights
This branch is more upscale than some of the others, with a buffet and silver cutlery.
reviewed
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EcoCafé
So-so food in an atmospheric garden, under arty lamps hanging from an almond tree.
reviewed
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Suriya Sweets
Chennai's second-favourite sweets, with an organic veggie market.
reviewed
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