Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory — Restaurant in Tamil Nadu

A Culinary Gem with Room for Service Refinement

Our recent lunch visit to Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory offered a delightful culinary experience, despite a few operational nuances.

Pre-Arrival & Initial Impressions - Upon arrival, we found the restaurant comfortably uncrowded during the midday hours, making a reservation unnecessary. While its location on a sub-road might present a slight navigational challenge due to Chennai's traffic diversions, the availability of complimentary valet parking was a significant convenience. The restaurant itself presented a clean and well-maintained facade, extending to its inviting interior. We appreciated the choice of indoor and outdoor dining options and the contemporary "GenZ" aesthetic of the decor. However, the absence of music and the lack of air conditioning during our lunchtime visit, particularly in Chennai's climate, made the experience less comfortable than anticipated, leading us to seek seating directly under a fan.

Service & Dining Experience - While the arrival of each dish was unhurried, the wait proved entirely worthwhile given the exceptional quality of the food. However, the service aspect could benefit from greater attentiveness. We observed a lack of consistent table waiting, and the overall welcome felt less warm and engaging than one might hope for. Despite these service observations, the outstanding food quality overshadowed any desire to voice complaints during our meal.

Culinary Highlights - The menu's extensive variety caters thoughtfully to diverse palates, ensuring something for everyone in a group. A particular standout was the exceptional quality of the cheese used in dishes like the fries and pasta; it was remarkably fresh, creamy, and truly delicious. The presentation of each dish was also commendable, reflecting an attention to detail that enhanced the dining experience. While portions might initially appear modest, the richness of the creamy cheese ensures a surprisingly fulfilling meal. The chocolate milk also deserves a special mention for its delightful taste. The utensils provided were of good quality, adding to the overall pleasant dining experience.

Facilities & Value - The restrooms were impeccably maintained, and a glimpse into the kitchen revealed a clean and organized space, with chefs professionally adorned in hairnets. Considering the quality of the cuisine, the restaurant offers excellent value for money.

Conclusion - Despite minor points concerning service attentiveness and climate control during our lunch, the superior food quality makes Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory a place I would eagerly revisit, particularly for dinner or a weekend meal, to fully immerse in its...

One of the low-key spots in Chennai which serves amazing meat over the years. I'm chained to their consistency owing to their meat's taste, be it chicken or beef. WOW!!

Garlic bread - Buttery french baguette bread which went well with the gravy of beef 😊

Chef's chili beef - One of the best beef I've ever tried in town; saucy, and crispy on the outside while juicy and succulent on the inside, SO SMOOTH!! 🤩🤩

Thai yellow chicken curry - Mild spiced coconut milk curry with baby potatoes and tender chicken; the meat was perfectly cooked and with the fragrant rice, this is a perfect gravy 😚😚

Louisiana fried chicken burger - Crispy chicken tossed in local style with spicy sauce, lettuce, and a side of fries; perfect size which aided in equal distribution of flavors across the mouth along a single bite, OH WOW!! 😍😍

Bacon, egg, croissant - Layered croissant with smoked bacon and eggs; that crispy yet sweet meat with the pastry layers, OH SO GOOD!! 😊

Sandy's indulgent hot chocolate - SO THICK and rich from the chocolate, damn sweet, and keeps on a high; MUST TRY when it's hot!! 🥰🥰

Aussie latte - Dark espresso with a thin layer of foam on top, a strong blend on the whole, GOOD!! 😇

All fluffy - The best hot chocolate ever!! Damn sweet, thick, fluffy from the torched marshmallows on top, WOW!!! 😚😚

They have enough parking space but valet parking is also available. Ample seating space in their indoor seating and soothing decor make it convenient based on any weather. Their service is always commendable with suggestions based on one's mood, KUDOS to that. Not much of a waiting time but their prices have always made me rethink, could be a tad...

I recently visited Sandy's RA Puram after trying out their Nungambakkam outlet a few months ago.

This is a small place with a few tables for outdoor seating too and the weekends are super rushed.

We tried the Teriyaki chicken wings with their Garlic Mayo dip (Dip has to be requested), their Tiny cake and sprite.

The teriyaki chicken wings the portion size was a disappointment compared to the Other outlet as that Nungambakkam outlet serverd wings with a lot more meat. But the taste was top notch and the wings to sauce ratio was perfect.

The tiny cake was HUGE and delicious. Loved the frosting as well as the whole dessert experience. (This review is from a non chocolate lover, so it's super honest)

And no complaints about the spirite served in cute erlenmeyer flask with a wedge of lemon.

Inspite of amazing food, the experience was a problem here. The people who were serving were lost and couldn't attend to the requests properly. We were asked to wait as the tables were full and someone else who came after us were given the table before us which was a big let down as we had to wait much longer.

The food was served even before we could get our tables and we had to remind them for the dip atleast thrice. The service has to be improved because we had to wait for 15 mins for the bill and they asked us to repeat out order once again.

Would definitely prefer the Nungambakkam outlet over this one as they attended the customer quicker as well as politely.

But definitely no complaints...