SThe complete experience right from booking a table was wonderful. The good thing about the restaurant is that booking is mandatory; arrival time to the restaurant is confirmed during the booking and it avoids waiting for tables. Spacious parking is available which saves the fuss about locating a parking slot. The ambience inside the restaurant is serene, with magnificent paintings arranged on the walls artistically. Both buffet and a la carte services are available (We had gone for the buffet lunch). The buffet menu had both north Indian and south Indian dishes. The taste of all the items was divine, with the service by the staff courteous. Tomato soup was served as starter. Roti, Butter naan, Paneer gravy, a vegetable gravy, dal, vegetable pulav, paani poori, bisibelabath, curd rice, appalams, vadams were there for the main course. Salads, gulab jamun, laddu, cake, ice cream, lemon juice were available in the desserts section. The meal was completed with a banana and a beeda. The cost of buffet lunch was Rs.400 + taxes. In all, it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
I decided to check out this much talked about restaurant in Chennai and landed there this afternoon with a friend. Had pre-booked in advance for their fine dine silver service section - Swarna. Was pleasantly surprised when i got a call this morning for a reconfirmation of my table reservation - thats a good follow up system, i say to myself, but pray why the lady on the other side only speak Tamil (this was the case when i called for my table reservation 2 days ago too) and my plea to converse in English fell to deaf ears. Its Tamil land but are they only wanting to serve to their own!! But that did not deter me and we landed for our lunch this afternoon.
As you enter the restaurant and the lovely decor convinces you that you are going to have a good afternoon indeed. You are escorted to your table and are greeted in a most hospitable manner by your server. His smile puts you at ease.
We select our drinks (from the drinks menu - all non alcoholic beverages, but naturally) and ask for the lunch menu but are told that there is a thali which is being served. So we insist on seeing the menu and with a bit of reluctance, are handed one (each). Why the reluctance - no idea, maybe lest we go for a-la-carte option?!
We opt for the Preetibhojan Thali. In the meanwhile our fresh pomegranate juice, Anarkali arrives. Excellent.......one can come back to this place simply for this juice. It was fresh and wonderfully refreshing. The Thali arrives.....we start with the soup (made with green leafy veg), verdict - very tasty. No cream, no masalas, simple and yet so tasty. The appetiser - simple and so very tasty. As far as the main course component of the Thali goes, its a mixture of North Indian and South Indian. Its like having a simple, healthy and freshly done home cooked meal.
On finishing the meal, the finger bowls arrive - rose water with a lime slice. Its silver service all the way - from cutlery to the plates, not to forget the ever courteous servers.
Whether the food justifies the tag of Rs 675/- each thali or not, but I say you are paying for the whole experience and not to forget, "charity" and I say, "its worth it!"
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