burrp! Stats
- 2 Reviews
- 1 First to review
- 1 Place Added
- Been to 4 Places
- Burrping since Oct 06, 2008
- Burrping fromOld Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai
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Reviews by sriramiyer
Oct 07, 2008
15, Indira Nagar, First Main Road, Adyar, Chennai
Good
Simple Sanjeevanam
Sanjeevanam is housed in a small lane inside the environs of a house in Adyar. To visit a place like this for food, you need to be in the right mood and please note, this is NOT the kind of place you want to head to if you are "really" hungry and you want to splurge on food.
The best part of Sanjeevanam is that the food out here is natural and devoid of additives. Most restaurants resort to additives to give the food that "vottal effect" (as people refer to in Madras, note hotel here is pronounced in the local slang as Ohttal or Vottal)
The plaintain leaf meal better known as Rajakeeyam (feast for a king) is true to its name, albeit with minimal trappings of health food.
The vegetarian cusine of Kerala is known for its myriad ways of preparation. I call it the CHAOS effect. Dishes such as CHamandy, kAAlan, Olan, Avial and PuliShery, EliShery - all these have their flexibility and can be prepared and tweaked in many ways.
Sanjeevanam makes it simple and therefore the "extra effect" of spices or salt does not exist. The idea is that though you have more quantity of food, its light on your stomach sans all that oil, salt and spice.
The red rice (parboiled rice) offered here looks quite heavy. In reality this is the rice you need to eat as its light, easier to digest and healthier than usual (white) rice. The dessert again is neither too sweet, nor are the other dishes too tangy or sour. This is again going with Cholayil's idea of moderation in flavour and spices.
Sanjeevanam. sans spice and oil, light on your stomach and wallet. Preferable on a lazy sunday afternoon followed by a nice siesta.
Given the inflation levels and price of vegetables, Sanjeevanam's budget pricing provides value for money. I'd give a 5/5, if only the ambience and service reached higher levels.
Oct 06, 2008
Hotel Aruna Complex, 5th Floor, 144/145 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai
Excellent
Sigree delight
North-west Frontier cusine is quite a tricky area to explore in a city like Chennai. On many occasions, me and my friends have been a "victim" to bad food, bad service and what not!
Sigree is a paradigm shift. Sigree is a place you are treated with utmost respect and care. I met Amar there who served me with so much care and delight. We got talking and I was surprised when I heard this dude who serves at Sigree is a part-time management grad who's completing his education to enter greener pastures in life.
The people who serve at Sigree make sure that you know what food you're ordering and your tastes are taken care of. They don't want a mismatch between your expectation of the food and reality when the dish arrives!
On one occasion, a few months back, I was not quite happy with the quality of food and I just ticked off a comment to one of the waiters. They were obviously busy with guests and it was quite a crowd that day. As me and my friend finished and settled the bill, out came the Manager with the chef, and Amar was also there.
They apologized and said that they would make my experience much memorable the next time. As I walked out glancing through my copy of the bill, I noticed to my surprise that Amar had not charged me for the item that I had complained about.
The dinner buffet spread gives you value for money and an idea of the cusine they serve. Save space for dessert as they are sinful and tempting.
Pricing is high for fine-dining, but the ambience and food make it worth the visit.
Sigree. I'd come back for more. Any day.