Chettinad Canteen — Local services in West Zone

Personal Review about Chettinad Canteen.

Heard about this place from a friend of mine and wanted to try immediately as it sounded really innovative so booked an appointment by Saturday morning.

Booking process :

Google maps suggested me a number and it was right. I called them up and booked a table for 2. The manager who attended the call explained about the concept of sequence plating and mentioned the price as well. He asked if we had any allergies and when I said we don't eat dairy, he assured to give me alternatives.

Location and amenities : Located in the main road. A modified house with chettinadu paintings, comfortable seating and polite waiters. The restaurant is quite spacious and there is enough space between tables.

The concept.

Sequence plating is nothing but a big thali where each and every course is served one after the another. The quantity is fixed but the quality and brain behind the food is extremely good. You will definitely leave the place with content.

Soup First ball boundary moment. A simple tomato rasam, super tangy and spicy filtered nicely and served in a wine glass. Was a very good start and definitely does the work of soup.

Taste booster / trigger

This was a simple yet intresting dish. A fried rice vadagam with a peice of orange(pulipu) Raisins(inipu) Coconut stem (Kuruthu, thuvarpu) Bitter guard vathal(kasapu) and this was to be taken in one shot so that it activates all the taste Buds of the tongue. That was a bomb of taste. Definitely a different experience and worth it.

Adai and vadai

A simple adai with Melagai thuvayal and vadai with mint chutney. The thuvayal was top notch. Perfect balance of spice required for the adai. The mint chutney could have been better and the quantity could have been more.

Pillakai Podimass:

Shredded Tender Raw jackfruit with very subtle spice and topped with a tomato, Raddish micro greens and some spice. The flavour was nice and clever use of the texture of jackfruit. Definitely my second personal favorite.

Idiyappam with coconut milk :

No mistakes. Perfectly steamed mini Idiyappams (3) in a big serving of cardamom flavored coconut milk. It had a very soothing effect on the throat after the spicy start. My first personal favorite (went for a repeat)

Mini coin Parota with Mushroom gravy :

The texture of the parota was so soft and silky. They usually serve with a paneer gravy but since we asked for non dairy version, they gave us a mushroom gravy. Very rich masala and good quality of mushrooms used in them.

Varkanam / podi rice :

Two cute portions of Parupu podi and pepper podi accompanied with mango pachadi. This was a superb combination of Flavours. This was the dish I would really appreciate because of the detailing. The Parupu podi rice has a small peice of garlic in it which was fried very perfectly and placed with care. The same with a singe curry leaf in pepper podi satham. Even the single curry leaf had a flavour and was fried to perfection. This plate immediately gave me a fine dine experience.

Yennai Kathirika sadham :

I'll always judge chettinadu restaurants with the way they handle brinjal and Yam so I was excited to see how it would taste. I was so thrilled to see a kalsoru pattern of Yennai Kathirika sadham. It was just out of the world. The gravy and rice were recooked in banana leaf and the aroma makes you drool as soon as you open the pack. Now comes the most innovative dish of the day. Pepper Mushroom Beeda. Initially was very reluctant to try them but when we tried, it was just out of the world. A very new taste which I've never had before.

They had a kavini arisi risotto which had butter in it so we dint opt for it but wanted to try the sides, cauliflower cream and kilangu karuvaatu poriyal. The cauliflower cream was a let down as it had a very odd smell (smelt like fish) so dint have it fully whereas the kilangu poriyal was vera level. 10 on 10 perfection of spices and texture.

Adi kumayum Some dessert with millet and beetroot. Personally dint like the flavour of it and we were really full eating...

Actually they don’t even deserve 2 stars but taste of most of food is good so I m giving. 17 people of family and children. (5 course meal).

We suffered twice now with their inability to professionally take count of veg and non veg and choices of food. It’s basic that their model suffers with staff like raj kumar who is arrogant and forgetful. Mixing items last time and arrogantly treating us this time.

Additionally, they play cheap songs that are not fit for setting and suddenly high volume.

They underestimate the power of word of mouth I pray for their decline .

They have some bars and children started running and playing because it had gaps and it was weak. How can we control children when they start playing but they rudely said to stop. They should think of such in family setting.

They knew it was birthday party, cake cutting they rushed us to start service . They missed counts twice. But after second time They served after hands became dry again and again literally each time.

Baby could be fed only Orange and they rudely denied extra can’t be provided.

Not for family. Not for decent people. Not for children. Shameful!!

We asked for 1 extra glass they didn’t serve.

We asked for rasam which is supposed to be complimentary but they behave cheap and don’t serve properly.

They serve few people, not serve for few and start to explain.

We suffered as group of 4, and 15. A total service failure.

also they themselves [Siddarth] will come and ask for keeping cake in fridge till cutting and we will feel how thoughtful and agree and their manager [Rajkumar] will stand far and shout "AC is running right then why to Siddarth". Imagine in which restaurant will people do this kind of team coordination with such a delicate and optional menu. See if my two stars are over kindness after this particular stint and so many more similar.

First item, taste enhancer, they served for 12 people and one guy started explaining. We felt for other left out and said first serve everyone and explain, the guy loudly did a "ucchu" and walked away in rage. before all our friends and family.

There are a few more I am not listing down. How would you feel if your birthday dinner was this messed...

I visited Chettinad canteen on a Saturday for lunch. I went there based on a friend's recommendation and I wasn't disappointed in the quality of the food.

I think the 3 pillars of a good restaurant are 1. Ambiance Service Food

Ambiance - 3.8/5

The interior ambiance and the seating were all done in proper Chettinad style with mosaic flooring, paintings, and roofing done with wooden Kongu style architecture.

However, the exterior was totally unimpressive. It's right beside Balle Balle and unless you look for it particularly after slowing down you will absolutely miss it.

Service - 4/5

One thing I absolutely can't take away from them is the service. The staff were quite friendly, knowledgeable on the dishes served and willing to comply to most requests.

Food - 3.6/5

You might be wondering why I gave such a modest score for something I said I wasn't disappointed with. Well, lemme explain.

Although, I had absolutely no complaints with the food quality and taste. I have this one thing to bicker on.

The food was good but not exceptional or unique. Most of the dishes may seem unique but it's something as people in the Kongu belt, we have had the opportunity to try at least one time or another.

The cheeyams are just another version of Uzhundhu Vadai with onions, or the so called marakarikaai dosa that's the size of a large cookie tastes oddly similar to Adai dosai.

The dishes are named unique but taste reminiscent of the dishes we have all tried and loved.

I just didn't find the wow factor I was promised but all the dishes they did serve although not awesome were made quite well and hard to complaint.

Overall - 3/5

I might have been convinced to give the restaurant a higher rating even after considering ask this. However, I personally think charging ₹940 per person for a 7 course meal here is a big ask considering what they...