Ayur Square – The Healthy Restro Café • Pure Veg — Restaurant in Tamil Nadu

My review for AYUR SQUARE (henceforth referred to as "AS"), actually, could only be highly positive, for such was the experience and aesthetic takeaway. I've given AS a "Five Star" rating, and below are FIVE very practical reasons they deserve each STAR.

First off, we arrived not knowing what to expect, but quite calm and collected. The approach was comfortable enough and the restaurant was nestled in a quiet residential pocket in Velachery, away from the cacophony and conundrums of the busy city. This is AS's first advantage: THE LOCATION.

Secondly, the ambiance was such that it felt we'd entered a different dimension. It was like being in a time warp, and all orientation of place and space was defaulted. It smelled and felt so neat, clean, hygienic, sanitized, pleasant and calming. The ambient lighting and retrograde decor, while not being too vintage, fittingly sets the mood for an Ayurvedic indulgence. This AS's second advantage: THE DECOR

Thirdly, after the meal order is taken, with proper explanation about the making of each dish, AS presents its diner with a Questionnaire and a pencil. Please note "pencil" and "not pen" --- the continuum is that adherent to its theme of being fundamentalist and retro. This is AS's third advantage: THE CORE PHILOSOPHY.

Fourthly, the fundamental offering: food. The Soups, Starters, Main Course, and Dessert were each unique in their making, taste, and flavor. Simplicity is the real luxury at AS that heightens the indulgence. They haven't gotten too overwhelmed with the "Ayur" thing, and have been very practical with their balancing act between the offering and how it appeals to the local tastes. It renders a sense of universality to their menu planning and meal preparation. Wah! Just lovely! This is AS's fourth advantage: THE GASTRONOMIC SENSIBILITY.

Fifthly, they made us happy to have chosen their restaurant to dine, and made the dining experience a privilege more than an experience. AS apparently has been established by Husband-Wife couple Mrs. Jaya Srinivas, a Rajasthani, and Srinivas, a Tamilian. They personally served us, and were very generous and patient in providing vivid answers to the questions a few of us had. Thanks Jaya and Srini. More down-to-earth, and completely non-condescending restaurateurs we have not seen. This is AS's fifth advantage: THE HOSPITALITY.

And that's Five Stars for AS, one each for every star quality. Please visit AS with an open mind and heart, and you are sure to come away totally satisfied, both gastronomically and...

Food: Piri-Piri fries - Classic fries but in sweet potato and tossed well in piri-piri masala; not heavy, just perfect with the right spices and crispiness 🙌

Masala papadam - Wholesome maize crisps topped with finely chopped veggies; crunchy, had a great kick from the cilantro and chaat masala 😘

Chipotle fries - Couldn't believe that it was sweet potato tossed in native TN-style gunpowder; has the same taste and aroma as chipotle fries, WOW!!! 👌

Corn bhel puri - Very corny stuff with so good crunchy bhel, very light sauces tossed in veggies, NO GUILT CHAAT!! 😄

Pumpkin basil soup - My all-time favorite!! The pumpkin was well churned and it had the right amount of basil to give that impetus to make it smell and taste so good!! Pretty smooth and mild-spiced!! 😊

Phulka with Gobi matar - Authentic whole wheat roti with a semi-gravy gobi!! Both the peas and the cauliflower were delicious since the masala never made the tummy feel bad, MUST TRY!! ❤️

Mexican pan wrap - Fresh paneer stuffed and rolled in a whole wheat tortilla with Mexican sauces; was sour but ain't all that spicy just like how the Mexicans roll 😋

Rose lassi - A pleasant pink lassi with a tinge of rose; very smooth, soothing, and comforting to the taste buds 🤩

Moong dal halwa - Very soft dal with rich jaggery and a hint of blissful ghee; This was gluten-free and though it was a healthy sweet, it tasted the same as any normal halwa, AMAZING!!! 👏

Ambiance/Price: Located inside a small quiet street away from the chaotic busy road of Velachery, this place has limited off-street parking and limited seating since this is a house converted into a restaurant. Aesthetically and tastefully decorated with quirky hangings and displays. Table booking is recommended but I don't think they take it on weekends. Waiting time for the tables could be long on such days but very negligible waiting time for the dishes. That was predominantly because of the activity sheet that they shared between placing our orders and bringing them onto our tables. Very creative to keep the customers engaged while not realizing the time passed by for the dishes to arrive. One of the best customer service I've come across in Chennai, KUDOS to that!!! Worth every penny spent since they don't just serve food but also make sure we know what we're consuming. Right quantity with the right quality of food.

*Personal rating would be a...

My wife and I visited this place on a Thursday evening. We were in Velachery and wanted to grab a quick snack. We usually do not eat out but decided to visit this place after seeing their menu and other reviews.

Right as we walked in, we were greeted by the friendly smile of the owner. The place was in brilliant shape. The tables and the chair were impeccably clean, water was filled in a glass jar in each table and a soothing music was being played in the background. It is a small place but brilliantly laid out.

We ordered a plate of fries, a chatpata wrap and ginger tea. The taste of the food was delectable and was prepared with great care and attention. For instance, the fries were prepared from fresh sweet potatoes and fried perfectly. It was cooked well, crispy and not oily. The wrap was beyond perfect and the tea just took the experience a level up.

When you wait for your order, they have an interesting questionnaire with which you can check your body type as per Ayurveda. It engages you for sometime while your food is being prepared.

But what really impressed us was certain basic things which most places do not even consider. The food was not brought to the table all at once. We were served one at a time in the right order. Other places bring all at once, overwhelming the eating experience. This place took care of that by themselves. They prepare food from fresh ingredients. They do not use ready-made frozen stuff. We loved the Sauce we were served here - One creamy and another spicy tomato Sauce. The food portions were sufficient, though a tad more would be great.

Overall experience was fantastic. We are contemplating to visit this place for lunch as we are curious how their main...