HAVEN SAMPOORNA

I read about it long back in Femina, since then I wanted to try it. And though it is very near to our home, I got to check it yesterday only.

This is a small cafe with multicuisine..literally..Almost everything was listed in the menu. We tried garden sandwiches, hara bhara kabab and knock out.

Garden sandwiches were ok, should have been grilled a little more.

hara bhara kabab was very good and so was the chatney .green one.

Knock out was perfect..and in good quantity too, it was two icecreams with nuts and fruits..tinned fruits were good, though they should have added some more nuts...but it was yummy.

Seating arrangement is ok,what I didnt like was that there were mosquitoes, I am totally allergic to them. Secondly the person who was taking orders was very shabbily dressed and a sloppy one, in this area smart boys or girls are more tuned.They dont provide cutlery .neither with kabab nor sandwiches..it is uncomfortable to eat like that..And since it is a small place, its very awkward to see the server standing nearby or looking at you.

Prices are on the upside for some items, wheres moderate for others.

22448882, 9840977582

31, Pandian Street, Shankaran Avenue, Vellacherry by-pass RoadVelachery, Chennai

TAJ COROMANDAL

This was one outing gifted to me by my son on my b'day.Since we have seen all other Taj hotels, we decided to go to Taj coromonadal.Entry is quite grand and spacious, since wanted to have a buffet we asked there and it was available in two restaurants..Golden dragon and Anise, we opted for the latter as we like north Indian food.....

Since we hadnt booked the table, we waited for some time till he seated us, and we couldnt get the best ones..looking outside, so I think its better to book in advance.

For the appetisers they had..3 fruit juices, one milk shake and tomato soup...all good.

Starters...sadly there was no variety for vegetarians..there was paneer tikka and pizza, pasta...to me pizza pasta are more main dishes than snacks.

In the main course as usual some vegetables ,including one paneer, two daals..one methi daal and one daal makhaani, three types of rice...curd rice, plain boiled and veg biryani, dahi bhalla and plain curd and 4-5 variety in salad, with kulcha, naan and chapati.....kulcha was awesome, havent eaten so good anywhere else.Dahi bhalla was too sweet for me.Rice variety wasnt good.But all vegetables and dal were prepared well/

Dessert..2-3 Indian sweets, few mousse, puddings, fruits, cakes and ice cream. .Gulabjamun was too sweet,but chhena kheer was delicious,and so was the ice cream. Even dry fruit pie was very tasty.

Ambiance...is good, and seating spacious, thats what other places lack..I dont like hitting others whenever going to take something..or too much noise and crowded look.

Service..is not good, they were very slow, I found the service better in Connemara.

I would love it, if they prepare a comprehensive menu for buffet, otherwise, one is left at sea to choose and sometimes we miss also something.

Pricing..very expensive at around 1800/per person including taxes for Sunday lunch.

TAJ COROMONDAL

36,MG ROAD NUNGAMBAKKAM

CHENNAI

GRT GRAND...

Yesterday we went to GRT grand fro a lunch buffet. It was raining heavily and we were getting so bored sitting at home., so thought of trying a new place, and were we surprised..yes..it is a very nice place with awesome food......Only I missed some juices or soft drink..

They started with mushroom soup, since we dont like mushrooms, my hubby asked for tomato soup, though they didnt have it in the menu, still he got it for us, though took some time.

Starters...lots of variety..baby corn with dip and broccoli with dip..there were tens of things with dips, then potato dumplings...tasty,onion rings,cheese toast..also tasty, and papad and salsa..salsa was awesome.

in the main course, we had lots of variety...vegetables in balsamic,, kozhambu,sweet potato fried with something and many more, what I liked specially was paneer preparation and one potato dry,dahi vada,rice with corn and lemon rice and butter nans were very soft and good..rare to find anywhere.

Desserts..now this is my favourite counter and they didnt dissapoint me....it had, malpua, rabri, kheer, rajbhog, kaju roll, coconut barfi, trifle pudding, chocolate cake,cheese cake, tarts and few more and three types of excellent ice cream.

Preparations are good, and so is the service and ambiance.....

All this for 760/ person.

And at the end they give some mouth freshener too..it is really worth it

COPPER POINT
20, Sir Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017 044 28150500

JEEVAN.your cafe

When we saw in the paper that CCD people have opened a cafe, we wanted to see it.Now a days my hubby also keeps looking for pure veg restaurants. It is in Nungambakkam on Jagannathan street, near Motimahal.First thing I look for is ambiance and comfort, so it has a ethnic look(my favourite) and seating is comfortable.

Then in the food, with north Indian food as the permanent menu, rest everyday they keep rotating..that is for buffet lunch, Dinner is a la carte.

we went for lunch and there they had...
Jaljeera and chhaas and mushroom soup, I dont like mushrooms, so didnt try it, but chhas was very good.
In starters we had Golguppas,panner fried and spiced .Golguppas were good.
Then they had4-5 types of salads,
in vegetables..shahi paneer, stuffed chichinda,potato fried,panchratan daal,rasam,banana flower,gobhi manchurian,pakori curry and some more southIndian preparations.and pastas
Rice....lemon rice,boiled rice,pulao,curd rice,fried rice.
Naan and chapati.
Dersserts..Gulabjamun,carrot halwa, semian pyasam and icecream..all very good.
Sevice is also good and all this for Rs250/ person only..
I found it a big steal.

THE PIANO

Last weekend we tried Savera hotel on RKSalai road.There they had buffet in their Piano restaurant.
I just loved the food here, their most of the preparations are very good.
We started with mango drink,thye had one strawberry and one punch too. we tried the first one, but it was too sweet.
For the starters they had..paapdi chaat,samosa, kachori, gobhi manchuria, and pakoras, golguppas.

In the  main course there was..two varieites of aloo.both yummy,and paneer bhujai, beans,3types of south Indian curries, curd rice, three varieties of pulao..all very tasty, and noodles with 6-7 varieties of salad including choley also..rice varieties were very good and so were the naans.

for the desserts there were 5-6 baked varieties and few were really good, three types of icecreams with toppings, then, moong daal pyasam, almond gulabjamun and carrot mysore pak..these two were awesome, I really hogged them and then some fruits.

All in all a very good buffet and price is also reasonable...730/ per person.

what I miss there is the endings, if they add paan to it, it would be awesome and the place should be more spacious.
But I would love to go there again

SAVERA HOTEL,
146, Dr.Radhakrishnan Road,
Chennai – 600004
India

Phone : +91 - 44 - 2811 4700

MINT LEAF

This is one of the fine dining Indian restaurant in London. It has many branches here.we went to the Piccadilly one.Very nice ambiance , service and food too.Paneer preparations were yummy For a detailed menu you may check here.We could get the parking also and its the biggest advantage here.The pricing is little on the higher side, but then its called an upscale restaurant, so one is warned in advance. we were 8 people and men took wine, whereas women took soft drinks and then one starter each and then main course.Then since it was bday celebration we had chocolate cake and it made up for desserts. It came out 30 pound per person...for an enjoyable evening.
Mint Leaf Lounge & Restaurant 

M

12 Angel Court, Lothbury, Bank
London EC2R 7HB
T: 020 7600 0992F: 020 7600 6628
l: reservations@mintleaflounge.com

Opening Hours

Monday - Friday
Mon - Tue: 11.30am - 12:00amWed - Fri: 11.30am - 1:00am'''


Restaurant Opening HoursMonday - Friday

M

Lunch: 12.00pm - 3.00pm
Dinner: 5.30pm - 11.00pmBAR FOOD AVAILABLE FROM 12noon - 


Press and Public Relations Enquiries

onday - Friday

lease contact:
Gerard McCann
General Manager
Mint Leaf Restaurants0207 930 9020

Mon - Tue: 11.30am - 12:00am
Wed - Fri: 11.30am - 1:00am

Monday - Friday
Lunch: 12.00pm - 3.00pm
Dinner: 5.30pm - 11.00pm
BAR FOOD AVAILABLE FROM 12noon - 12pm

Please contact:
Gerard McCann
General Manager
Mint Leaf Restaurants
0207 930 9020

Suffolk Place SW1Y 4HX

ZIZI

It is an Italian restaurant, and a favourite of my son. we frequently go there,specially the one in Canary Wharf.
Here the ambiance is good, one gets an excellent view of Thames and service is also good with a smile.
Detailed menu can be found here..what I like is..
in starters...Arancini
Crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella
and peas, served with a tomato chilli sauce. 5.15..this is like Indian cutlets:)
and

Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Toasted ciabatta with fresh baby plum tomatoes,
basil and red onion. 4.95

In the main dish we ordered Pizza Margharita and one pasta..pizza is delicious , we normally like thin crust.

in dessert I just loved....
Torta Amaretti

Mascarpone and amaretto fl avoured cheesecake with
a fruit compote and fresh mint. 4.95
Tiramisu..is also good.
Light sponge soaked in espresso and liqueur, layered with mascarpone and cocoa. 5.10

and for chocolate lovers...

Chocolate Melt
Rich chocolate dessert with a soft, melting centre served
with vanilla mascarpone or gelato. 5.25 V..it is sinfully delicious.