Southwest Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Zone 9 Teynampet

Dear friends

My introduction to a new Coffee shop in my neighbourhood of Mahalingapuram - SOUTHWEST COFFEE ROASTERS" in EmEL EM shopping complex .

A refreshing blow of new south west wind ushers in a new welcome culinary delight in the coffee and food scene of Chennai !

Today on the eve of 76th Republic day of India,I took theopportunity to walk into my neighbourhood coffee shop with my family ,in the renovated shopping complex of EMELEM in Mahalingapuram .

We were welcomed in traditional Karaikudi hospitality, by its promoter Mr Mahalingam an Electronics Engineer following his passion in coffee and food trail .He hails from a family traditionally in the business of running famous marriage halls in the same complex ,which is located in the neighbourhood named after his grandfather, Shri Mahalingam Chettiar,who in fact promoted this entire neighbour hood of Mahalingapuram .

Mr Mahalingam got trained in Speciality coffee academy of India in Bangalore ,because he believed in the motto of this academy that says "Because great coffee doesnt just happen"

Equipped with knowledge gained in coffee making, he started a few months back , his new coffee shop venture named "SOUTHWEST COFFEE ROASTERS", in his family owned EM EL EM shopping complex .

Since opening his doors to this well equipped very modern and chick looking coffee shop, it has been attracting a good number of clientele , more from the younger generation , taking a fancy for not just coffee but wonderful snacks that is served here,curated by none other than Mr Saravanan previously Executive Souz Chef in Park group of hotel and before that as chef de parties in Taj group of resorts . Presently Mr Saravanan offers consultancy through his own firm named C S Hospitality .

The menu card attached shows unique snack items, and healthy natural fruit drinks sans sugar curated by Mr Saravanan ,.

We teated ourself to Roasted pumpkin soup with Basil oil, Vegan Malli podi idli with tomato chutney, wild mushroom duxelle Kataifi spheres, Grilled chicken, Bruchetta bread with varied toppings ,followed by Raspberry Brullee and Sunset cooler Juice .

Trust me all the items served were of top class 5 star rating adequately proportioned and above all very reasonably priced for the quality of the item !

The young team of people assisting Mr Mahalingam in the kitchen and serving the tables were not only pleasing but very hospitable and patient wgike taking in the orders making suggestions when asked about the items on offer and ordered items were served freshly made with a pleasant smile !

I , for one believe young entrepreneurs like Mr Mahalingam needs encouragement from all discerning diners of Chennai to make his venture a success ,to set the trail blazing for a more vibrant young India to shine, in a path not many will dare travel in a very competitive market of food catering...

Disappointing Experience – Poor Customer Service

I had a terrible experience at this restaurant and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful place to dine or work. My friend and I had booked a table around 7:20 PM and arrived early as we wanted to work there. Everything seemed fine until the end when we encountered extremely rude and unprofessional behavior from a staff member.

The staff member, who wore a black shirt and refused to share his name, initially spoke to my friend about our table in a way that made her uncomfortable. No other restaurant in Chennai has ever imposed such conditions without prior notice, so this was unexpected. However, the real issue began when it came time to settle the bill.

I was the one who paid, and after completing the payment via Zomato, the same staff member started questioning my friend aggressively. He kept asking unnecessary questions like, “Why did you pay?” and “Why did you do this?” even though everything was already settled. His tone was confrontational, and he made my friend extremely anxious.

When I stepped away for a moment and returned, I found him still arguing with her. This level of hostility toward a customer is completely unacceptable. When I confronted him and asked what he expected us to do after the payment was already made, he had no real answer. Instead of handling the situation professionally, he continued to be rude, refused to apologize, and showed no regard for basic customer service.

To make matters worse, even when I first arrived and ordered a coffee, he completely ignored me despite hearing my request. The way he treated us felt disrespectful, as if we were not valued customers. Given how much we spent at this restaurant, we expected at least basic courtesy, but instead, we were met with unnecessary drama and an unpleasant experience.

This was by far the worst customer service I have ever experienced in Chennai. We went there to work and enjoy a peaceful evening but ended up leaving with frustration and disappointment. I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for a welcoming and professional...

SouthWest Coffee Roasters: A Must-Try in Chennai

I recently checked out SouthWest Coffee Roasters and was completely blown away! This place is a perfect blend of fantastic food, amazing coffee, and a great workspace.

The Menu Highlights • Breakfast (7 a.m. to 11 a.m.): The new breakfast menu is excellent. My personal favorites are the Island Sunrise Toast (topped with banana and banana ice cream) and the savory Korean egg drop sandwich. If you love soufflé, you absolutely must try the Tropical Trio Pancake!

• All-Day Menu: From the all-day menu, we tried the tandoori rice bowl, but the burger was a perfect 10/10—definitely order it!

Coffee The coffee here is next-level. I became an instant fan after trying their Lotus Biscoff Latte totally worth it. The Affogato with Nutella is also a new favorite and my new go-to dessert!

Work-Friendly Vibe The best part? Not only do they have incredible food and coffee, but they also have working pods! It's an ideal spot if you need to grab a meal or coffee while getting some work done. Highly recommend stopping by SouthWest Coffee Roasters!

Rating: 5/5 stars Best For: Breakfast, Coffee lovers, and...