Malgudi’s – Delhi Dabha

Malgudi's- A prelude

In our (mine to be more precise) earlier days in Chennai we used to go to a Sai Baba temple for worshiping almost every Saturday. The temple was close to our place of stay back then. Now, we live quite far away  but we still try going to that temple whenever we can. Last Sunday was one of such days when we planned to visit this beautiful, peaceful and serene temple. By the time we would return it would be quite late in the evening hence we decided to eat out. So, I suggested to have at a simple eatery like Hot Chips (wasn’t hungry after a heavy Sunday brunch) located at Kotivakkam. Earlier we used to stay in Palavakkam, which is close by that is when we frequented this place as it had good food at a very reasonable price with a decent ambiance. This particular Hot Chips outlet is absolutely different from all other Hot Chips outlets in Chennai. It pulls equal crowd but is more spacious than other outlets and has a much better furnishing, has valet parking etc. Anyway, we did not go to Hot Chips as my 'hujjband' said lets go somewhere else. Now, on OMR there are many options for eat-outs and restaurants. I thought of Malgudi. Malgudi is actually one of the restaurants in the same premises & management which have three restaurants namely Malgudi which offers South Indian food, China Terrace-Chinese cuisine and Delhi Dabha which serves North Indian items. This place in general is called Malgudi’s may be because that was the first one to open up or maybe because Malgudi is more popular than the other two. Although I don’t think so, as I always see more crowd at China Terrace. China Terrace brings a smile on my face because I came here on the first day of my life at Chennai. Malgudi’s China Terrace is THE FIRST place where I have eaten in Chennai. We had just got back from our Honeymoon, I waited the whole day for my husband to get back home from work, by then I had changed the bachelor pad into a nice cozy home. When he was back he was delighted. There was no dinner because there were no provisions at all at home, my afternoon lunch was chocolates and energy bars (no complaints on that although) so after a quick grocery shopping we headed to China Terrace, which gave me my comfort food. Although it is in the expensive range, China Terrace has beautiful ambience and its quite a lovely place for almost anything from family outings, to dates to general eat out. 

This time around when we reached Malgudi as I climbed up the wooden stairs and which leads you to China Terrace, I turned back and thought of trying out Delhi Dabha which is on the ground floor. For me, it was a bad decision. And yes this post is on Delhi Dabha of Malgudi’s, I apologise for such a lengthy prelude.  

Delhi Dabha

The seating arrangement at Delhi Dabha offers two options sitting in the open where they have put a large screen on which they play songs or being seated in the AC hall. We chose the AC hall as Chennai is famous for its teeming mosquitoes.  The AC hall has the ambiance of a decent eat out; they have confused it between a ‘dhaba’ look or a restaurant look. It’s good, it’s decent but not great not like China Terrace. They Menu according to me is quite sparse and the items seem similar. They have a lot of kebab varities though and I think they should have called themselves Kebab kings or something not Delhi Dabha. Yes, you guessed it right I am not kebab fan. If  you are a kebab fan this is the place for you Kebab dishes range from Rs.170/- to Rs.220/- I never ordered any so can’t talk about the quantity but I have heard they are lip smacking. For starters, apart from kebabs the only option available is ‘Murgh Kalimirchi’ ‘Lasani Jhinga’ and one more type of prawns and one fish fry. That’s it. Of course, there are vegetarian kebabs and Gobhi Tikki and Aloo tikkis which are exorbitantly priced. Many types of Indian breads are offered ranging from Rs.18/- to Rs. 50/-. Kulchas are Rs.35/- The Rice items are pulao and biryanis which are of different types like vegetable, chicken or mutton.Main course has few chicken items, some mutton and some vegetarian items. We ordered Kashmiri Roganjosh priced at Rs. 170/-, Mutton biryani Rs.220/- and ‘Lasuni Jhinga’ for Rs. 250/-.

‘Lasuni Jhinga’ was good, had exactly 6 small pieces so I would say over priced for the quantity and the taste. They served the Mutton Biryani which was well just like any other Biryani nothing great there either and the quantity is not actually enough for two if you are hungry. Same goes for the Roganjosh which was spicy although it was Kashmiri Roganjosh that we ordered.

The service is fast. Malgudi also houses a small shop which sells apparels and accessories. It also has a portrait maker, a magician who comes o your table to show you magic if you are interested, a potter and I think I saw fortune teller also. I should have gone and asked him whether I should opt for China Terrace or Delhi Dabha to avoid the disappointment.

Please do not miss a visit to Malgudi owing to the dismal picture I painted of Delhi Dabha. If you love kababs maybe this place is for you. And a trip to China Terrace will surely amuse you , I haven’t tried Malgudi’s at Malgudi which could be great too. Malgudi has lot to offer but for a foodie like me Delhi Dabha is not the place to be!

Malgudi, Malgudy, Delhi dhaba, OMR, Eat out, Chennai eatouts

The Park Pod’s ‘Italia’- or another name for finest Italian dining in Chennai

The Park Pod is the luxury and boutique hotel of The Park. Italia is the fine dining restaurant of The Park Pod.

Italia is located in the heart of the city of Chennai at the Khader Nawaz Khan Rd. The entrance is a narrow gate, although broad enough for a truck to enter. This gate leads you to a grand entrance through a corridor. When you park the car you can see the chic crowd seated and enjoying through the glass wall of Italia’s first floor dining hall. I do not think they have a dining area in the ground floor- a word of caution if you plan to take anybody who has a problem climbing few flights of stair case.

The smoking zone is a nice pool side. Generally the smoker’s are pushed into a balcony of sorts. Smokers could well be delighted to have the pool side to smoke with a beautifully lit up tree to gaze on while they smoke. Although smoking still remains as injurious to health as ever. Getting back to the point, Italia’s ground floor entrance is a nicely lit (not brightly lit) pool side which takes you to a spiral stair case at the end. This stair case opens up to a very well done lounge area. It is uber posh. It has this very beautiful water running through woods. A lot of wood works in the interiors making it look really rich. Inside the lounge, the restaurant everything is very brightly lit up.

You are invited inside by the very courteous staff and are given an option to be seated in the exterior side with a glass wall which allows you to look into the pool or you have the choice of being seated in the interior portion where you can gaze upon the tastefully done restaurant.

Italia offers true Italian food. I know so does a pizza outlet, what I meant was that they have a lot of Italian variety to offer other than the regular Pizzas, Fettuccine alfredo, Bruschetta etc. The varieties offered are galore. Be it meat or sea food that you desire or beverage or dessert.

The service is very good. Very courteous. They know what they are serving and ask you in which order do you desire to be served. Are knowledgeable enough to advise on portions, kind of food, drinks etc. And yes they are quite fast! Now, that’s worth an applaud.

They begin by serving the complimentary bread with different sauces which you can start having with your drinks while you ponder with all the long Italian dish names which are difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to comprehend. For appetizers we ordered a platter of sea food fritters- this was how I am describing the dish, the name slipped away from my mind. It was delicious they give some 5 varieties of sea food (3-4 piece each small ones) with a sauce. Extremely good.

We ordered just one main course and one dessert both of which were just excellent. The dessert was a deadly chocolate mousse; the quantity is enough for two. The main course would be enough for two if you have ordered a starter, a drink for each and a dessert. If you skip any one of the things, you might have to order one more main course to be full.

In the beverages you have option of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Good number of cocktails or ‘mocktails’ to choose from. I had a Margarita which was fab. I forgot what hubby dahling had, whatever it was he seemed content.

Let’s come to pricing – a meal for two with starters, cocktails, one dessert, one main course came to Rs. 3000/- pricey but worth it. It is specially worth it if you are taking your romantic interest for a special treat like I was taken out for my birthday treat.

I would want tell all you people out there to try out this place specially if you love Italian food.

At the end of it all I want to say is thank you for stopping by. and a special shout out to the husband ‘Thank you, you made my day.’  And ‘when did you say we are going there again?’ ;-)
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Pooh & I have similar 'food' for thought

‘When you wake up in the morning, Pooh’ asked Piglet, ‘what’s the first thing you say to yourself?’

‘What’s for breakfast?’ said Pooh. ‘What do you say Piglet?’ 

‘I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?’ said Piglet. 

Pooh nodded thoughtfully, ‘It’s the same thing’ he replied. 

---A.A Milne, The House at the Pooh Corner.(Pic. courtesy: graphicshunt.com)