Saravana Bhavan: A True 'Bhavan'[Abode] of Veg Food?!

Temple Palace Saravana Bhavan Review

Mushroom Idly. Mushroom Masala Dosa. 
Interested? Read on!
Driving down the highway on our way back to Kochi after a holiday, we noticed this place for the first time. The brightly lit display and name caught our attention. This was how we entered the new restaurant with the old world charm, called Temple Palace Saravana Bhavan. As mentioned, they have the advantage of being located beside the highway. Like most places that 'share' the name, it may not match the famous Saravana Bhavan in Chennai but they do a decent job, as you will read below.

When you first drive up to the place, you will be relieved to know that you won't struggle to find a place to park: they have ample space outside. 
Stepping inside provides a welcome change from the run-of-the-mill budget restaurants. At the entrance, they have a counter with sweets on display and a small seating area. The main restaurant is spacious, with comfortable seating featuring upholstered furniture and generally adequate privacy. The ambiance is pleasant, with decent lighting and the walls feature paintings of a few traditional dance forms. We are pleased to report that the Tamilian staff were attentive and helpful. 


Suggested Reading: Not familiar with  South Indian food? We have just the right article to get you up to speed: South Indian Breakfasts!

Onion Rava Dosa

As usual, we ordered an onion rava dosa, with the usual instructions [telling them to make it crisp]. The onion rava dosa was as you would expect, no different from other places in the city. 

It had the standard complement of spicy green chillies, onion, aromatic black pepper etc. On a positive note, it was reasonably crisp. 

Mushroom Masala Dosa

While browsing through the menu, we had to do a double take when this one came up. When we assured each other that our eyes weren’t messing with us, we proceeded to order it. 

Sure enough, it was exactly as described: the standard-issue masala dosa with spiced potato, only this time also accompanied by button mushrooms…! Texturally, the dosa was not crisp but that may be expected thanks to the moisture in the mushroom and potato filling. Thankfully, the mushrooms were actually present in the dosa itself, not just in the name! It was a welcome change from a bog-standard masala dosa. Without the mushroom however, we could not find anything to help it stand out. 

Uzhunnu Vada

We were happy to receive a plate of uzhunnuvada that were at least lukewarm. 

A quick bite revealed that they were soft and spongy. They featured the usual black pepper and onion but also added jeera [cumin], giving it a distinct flavour and an additional bite. 

The chutneys and sambhar were a mixed bag for us; spanning both ends of the spectrum. As such, we decided to summarize the accompaniments for the above dishes here:

Sambhar

We had high expectations for the sambhar as the place seemed to offer Tamil Nadu style/Chettinad food. Disappointingly, the sambhar was just average: it was not very tasty; being too light in texture and lacking its usually characteristic sweet and sour flavour. It lacked any resemblance with Tamil Nadu style sambhar.

Green chutney

The green coconut chutney was not mind-numbing spicy which was a good sign. It was reasonably dense too; putting it a spot above some other restaurants.

Garlic chutney

Also served was some white chutney. This was exceptionally good as it had a noticeable but not overpowering hint of garlic in it. In our opinion, it got the balance just right and we enjoyed it the most. 

While still not up to the mark of real Tamil Nadu dosas, we found a few [saprophytic!] nuggets in a clean, airy but otherwise ordinary joint serving good, if mostly common South Indian vegetarian food. We probably will not go out of our way to go there and grab a bite but certainly would not hesitate to drop in if we happened to be in the general vicinity.


Type of Cuisine: South Indian Vegetarian
Location

Opposite Atlanta Cafe and Restaurant, Amrita Nagar, SH66, Edappally

Parking: Lots of place right in front, should not be a problem.

Ambience: Good

Service: Good

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Above average interiors for a veg. restaurant. 
• Good chutneys. 
• Ample parking space. 
• Value for money. 

Potential Shortcomings:

• Sambhar needs work.
• Dosas are just alright, just not as great as one would expect. 

Taxes: Included in price, no fat tax applicable.

Phone Number: +91 484 280 2585

Timings: 09:00 - 21:40

Website: saravanabhavan.com

Best Bakery: True to its name?

Best Bakery Review

Best Bakery has been around as long as I can remember [which admittedly is not too long!].  In the typical ‘kid in a candy store’ fashion, I remember going to their Kaloor branch and looking at the various pastries, sweetmeats and cakes at eye level as the counter was about as tall as I was at the time! They also had several other things included branded biscuits and chocolates. The main point of interest however, has always been their range of biscuits. Our favourites were the Salt biscuit and the spicy ‘Masala biscuit’ which I initially was not too fond of when my young taste buds could not take the mild but persistent heat although that eventually outgrew everything else to become my favourite.

Having several branches across the city is a strong point, making their products easily accessible. The Edappally branch even featured a restaurant [now closed] with decent food and possibly the best porottas I have tried. Over the years, they have grown and so have I, to the point that I have to look down at the glass display at the pastries and cakes; in some areas, metaphorically too: the pastries at least no longer inspire the same sense of delight I used to feel. Especially after our taste buds have tasted the remarkable quality of offerings that came first from Breadline at MG Road in the early 2000s [which has since closed down, wonder whether anyone actually remembers that place!] and shortly afterwards: Bread World, which still sticks around. [We are focusing on Kochi and not counting back to really great cakes we have had outside of Kerala years before those popped up too.]

Now after years of refraining from buying any pastries from them, we finally decided to give those another chance and see whether things have changed over the years, and [somewhat inadvertently!] also sample a few new additions. Who am I kidding, the main purpose if you have been paying attention to this point was: to get ourselves some of that delightful masala biscuit! On to the food we go!

Masala Biscuit

The masala biscuit is a real treat for the taste buds assuming you can tolerate a little bit of spice. The biscuit itself is rather perfectly round and has a light but lovely glaze on top. 

It has bits of lovely caramelised onion, black sesame seeds, black pepper, bits of curry leaves and a hint of ginger. Bits of cashew only add to the incredible richness of the biscuit while providing a bit of crunch too. The biscuit itself has an amber-brown colour and a remarkably powdery yet firm texture that breaks nicely. If you can handle a little bit of heat and there is just one thing you must try from here, it has to be this one. If you cannot take any hint of spice, move onto the next item.

Butter Salt Biscuits

Danish Cookies have nothing on this one! The biscuit is not very sweet as most bakery biscuits tend to be and that is where it works: the mild flavour of the biscuit works great with the wonderful grains of saltiness. 

The real highlight is the texture: it is incredibly soft and really powdery. It holds its shape but does not snap clean; it simply crumbles. Other bakeries have tried to match its success but nothing we have tried from anywhere else has even managed to come close. The others ones are either too sweet or the texture is just wrong: usually ending up too crisp. The ones here are the best we have had, anywhere. For the record, this one is free of egg too so it is vegetarian. Use of butter means it has lactose however.

Carrot Cake Loaf

This is a rather new addition that was not there a few decades ago. We tried it only recently however. The exterior looked promising with a mild dampness to the touch and a dark, dark colour on top with noticeable flecks of carrot, dried fruit and nuts distributed in the body of the cake. It had a lovely slightly sweet aroma with a few notes of spice.

When we took a bite, we were pleasantly surprised that it was rather moist, perfect sweetness. This was reminiscent of fresh homemade cakes. The cake was perfectly sweet aided by the dates and the nuts improved the overall texture. This was a definitely a purchase we were happy with and is very economical considering the quality and weight. It has a disclaimer you can see on the box, which states that it contains egg.

Black Forest Pastry

Just out of curiosity, we tried out their Black Forest pastry which used to be the go-to cake for most people for almost any occasion.

AND IT WAS… Still pretty much the same. Bummer. 

The overall mind numbing sweetness of the cake seemed to have generally reduced thankfully but the cream was still rather cheap feeling and the overall combination left a lot to be desired as the cake itself hardly had its own flavour. It still has not caught up with the other bakeries on this front. Other buttercream cakes may work fine as long as they are coined as ‘old-fashioned’ cakes but a black forest should still be a lot better than this in order to bear the name. Sure, even the ones sold in more expensive bakeries are pretty far from the real thing which should have sour cherries and Kirsch. Bloomsbury had one that was close but it was too long back for us to accurately review. I guess you will likely need a German Visa to experience an authentic ‘Schwarzwalder torte’!

To sum it all up:

Biscuits are as great as ever, they remain our all-time favourites

Most pastries still leave room for improvement

They have adapted slightly: the new cakes are well executed

Could improve quality of certain cakes: especially Black Forest.

They are doing well and it would be in their best interests to keep up the quality of their biscuits and savouries high as always.

Best Bakery, true to its name still has the best ‘bakery biscuits’ in the city. Their savoury items are also good enough quality even if it may not be the absolute best available. They remain one of the most iconic bakeries of Kochi and have some unique and delicious offerings that you will not find anywhere else, daresay: in the world. 

Type of Cuisine: Bakery, Desserts, Cakes, Savouries, Snacks
Location

Near Axis Bank, Manimala Road, Edappally.

Parking: Most branches have space for a few cars in front, should not be a problem.

Ambience: Average

Service: Quick, Pack 'n Go!

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Delightfully rustic biscuits. 
• Old-fashioned butter cream cakes. 
• Good quality snacks and savories; much to choose from. 
• Value for money. 

Potential Shortcomings:
Some items still stuck in the past [details above]. Stiff competition. 

Taxes: Included in price, no fat tax applicable.

Phone Number: +91 484 255 5957

Timings: 08:30 - 21:30

Website: https://www.bestbakers.in/

On Zomato:

     

Metro Kulfi and Lassi: Killing Two Birds with One Shop?!

With the summer at its peak & high levels of humidity driving us crazy, we were drawn to an ad in the papers: Metro Kulfi opening an outlet at the ground floor of Mathewsons Square, near Changampuzha Park, Edappally.
Situated close to the famous Edapally Church and Lulu Mall, they have a strategic advantage in terms of location. They could probably be spotted when riding the metro too, which is probably why they named it so in the first place! 
This kulfi & lassi joint is on the ground floor of Mathewsons Complex next to 'Sunrise Furniture'. It is a well lit and compact place. Seating however, is limited to a handful of chairs. It must be mentioned, the chairs are green or magenta and potentially bright enough to light up the dark! 
As you enter, there is a blue, kulfi stick-shaped signboard that proclaims the following: 'Life is like a kulfi: Enjoy before it melts.' Not a 'Zen' level thought but that is fine, we are here to eat kulfi not attain enlightenment! 
The first thing that catches your eye are the colorful lassi on display. They have many fruit flavoured ones including strawberry, mango etc. The display counters have an attractive array of kulfis too. The kulfis come in different sizes & flavours. They have discs, small sticks, big sticks, pot or 'matka' ones (it looked like plastic instead of clay). Their prices also range accordingly, although it is worth mentioning that the difference in price between small and large sticks is minimal and it may be better value going for the big ones itself, unless you would rather sample different flavours. 
As always, we had a difficult time choosing from a range of  flavors but finally placed our bets on pista and mango. The menu seemed to offer compelling variety like kesar, anjeer (fig), chocolate, malai (cream), butterscotch and so on. 

The kulfi turned out to be creamy and smooth. They were also refreshingly cool and flavorful too. One thing to note was that the pista kulfi did not contain any actual nut pieces. It tasted decent by itself but the missing crunch was notable. Seriously: when you specialize in one thing, you better be good at it.

I have had some top-notch lassi during my time studying in the North so we will put their claims to the test the next time we go there. 
To sum it up, if it is a warm day and you are on the lookout for a cool and refreshing treat, this place offers great value and has a modest variety of kulfi to choose from as well. We hope to return to this place and evaluate their lassi soon. So do stay tuned for updates!

Type of Cuisine: Frozen Desserts, Kulfi

Location

Next to Sunrise Furniture, Near Changampuzha Park, Edappally.

Parking: Nothing dedicated but there is plenty of space nearby, should not be a problem.

Ambience: Tiny, well lit but otherwise nothing exceptional.

Service: Quick, as expected

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Decent variety. 
• Good value. 
• Good flavor. [Will update about lassi after our next visit.]

Potential Shortcomings: 
Pistachio Kulfi without nuts. Need I say more?

Taxes: Included in price, fat tax not applicable.

Phone Number: +91 98463 27234

Timings: 11:00 - 01:00AM [Not a typo, they claim to open till 11:00AM in the morning to 1:00AM at night]

Restaurant Website: https://www.facebook.com/metrokulfilassi/

Sree Abhirami

Sree Abhirami Veg. Restaurant Review

A relatively new addition to the Kochi veg restaurant scene is Hotel Sree Abhirami. Located near the Indian Oil Petrol Pump/Gas Station at Koonamthai Edappally, it has a good parking area and is situated on the main road. We come here occasionally for dinner when we want to eat light and have something vegetarian. 

The restaurant is spacious, they have a good seating capacity with ac and non ac areas. The AC section has been full every time we went there at night, and we feel it possibly offers better service, as you will read below.  
Being a budget veg restaurant, the 'ambiance' is practically non existent; it is basically a 'sit, eat, leave' kind of place which is pretty crowded. Cleanliness was average in terms of drinking water served being a bit questionable, and the place in general was not as well kept as a few other places we have seen. 
They also have a sweets counter which offers a good selection of laddus, like rava laddu, gund laddu, besan laddu etc. and mysore pak, gulab jamuns, pedas, halwas and so on, for those who are interested. 
The menu mainly consists of South Indian dishes, but others like fried rice, biryani and even noodles etc. are also available. 

Suggested Reading: Not familiar with  South Indian food? We have just the right article to get you up to speed: South Indian Breakfasts!

Onion Rava Dosa

We ordered an onion rava roast telling them to make it crisp and well cooked. It came out crisp & not too oily as in most other restaurants. 

It contained onions, chopped green chillies, jeera etc. This was accompanied by sambar, mint chutney and a nice coconut chutney with a hint of garlic. 
Edit: Another time we ordered the Onion Rava Roast, the onion was still raw despite telling the waiter to make it crisp and well cooked. This leads us to believe they need to work on the consistency of their dishes. Coincidentally, this occurred when the AC section was full and we had to eat at the non-AC area, which could be a potential reason for the reduced quality/service, as much as it should not have happened. 
[Note: The vada seen in the photo is not included, it was ordered extra]

Masala Dosa

Their masala dosa was also accompanied by these items. 

It had the usual potato filling and as you can see in the photo, the dosa was rather limp and not very crisp, though this could be expected. There were slightly chunky pieces of onion and the filling was bland; it was not seasoned well enough.
[Note: The vada seen in the photo is not included, it was ordered extra]

Butter Roast
The butter roast was also rather large, much larger than the plate it was served in and was nice because it was crisp and golden brown like it should be. 

It was accompanied by the aforementioned sambhar, white and green chutneys. The taste was fine. 
[Note: The vada seen in the photo is not included, it was ordered extra]

Idli

The idlis [savoury rice cake] served here were nice and soft, reminiscent of what you would find in Tamil Nadu. 

Uthappam
On requesting, they made the uthappam [savoury rice pancake] slightly crisp as we like it. It was topped with chopped onion and chili. 

Uzhunnu Vada

Their uzhunnu vadas [savoury donut] were piping hot & very tasty. 

These are available even at night which is not the case with other places. They had chopped onion and green chilies distributed inside. 

Puris

The puris are also rated good, being golden and puffed like it should be. Served with the usual spiced potato gravy. 

Chapatis

They faltered here too: chappatis were undercooked as was evident with the dark colour it had underneath the surface. They need to work on this one.

Strangely, whenever we ask them for Mysore Masala Dosa which is on the menu, they simply tell us it is 'not available'. Once, twice heck, even three times is fine but they have kept saying the same excuse each and every time we have been here, and this is absolutely unacceptable. 

When the bill arrived we were amazed at how low the prices were. Sure, they have a lot to pick up on, we summarize our findings below: 

• Certain menu items like the chapatis and the masala dosa need improvement
• Mysore Masala Dosa either needs to be removed from the menu or made available for ordering.
• Rava dosa should be a little more consistent and the onions well cooked unless mentioned 
• Their service can be inconsistent, waiters need better training 
• Drinking water is of questionable quality
• General cleanliness could use a boost.

To sum it up, this is another vegetarian restaurant that serves decent food if you order the right thing [what we have suggested ordering above] and offers substantially good value for money. The ample parking area is a bonus and you should not have trouble finding a seat either. They are very strategically located, so if they iron out the above issues, they stand a chance to do well.

Type of Cuisine: South Indian Vegetarian
Location

Near Indian Oil Pump, Koonamthai, Edappally.

Parking: Lots of place right in front, should not be a problem.

Ambience: Average

Service: Ordinary

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Ample parking space. 
• Air conditioned area. 
• Value for money. 

Potential Shortcomings:
Read bullets above. 

Taxes: Included in price, no fat tax applicable.

Phone Number: +91 95673 88735

Timings: 08:00 - 22:30

Website: http://www.sreeabhirami.com/

On Zomato:
      


This review will be updated based on further experiences so stay tuned.

Have you been to Sree Abhirami? Tell us your experience in the comments below!

WOW! Momo: More than just Momos!

WOW! Momo Review

Having various branches across the city, WOW! Momo as the name suggests, have a good selection of momos and also offer other things like soup, sizzlers, a burger with a predictable twist: it uses a momo instead of a patty and even chocolate filled momos for dessert! 

Steamed Momos

Starting out authentic, the steamed momos are available in chicken (three varieties), fish, prawn, mushroom, paneer and some other veg options. We like to keep it simple so we tend to go with plain chicken momos.

These deliver well in terms of flavor. It comes with spicy red chili and green mint sauces for those who need it. This serves as a base for the other preparations of momos that follow. 

Pan Fried Momos

This is a twist on fried dimsum, it uses the standard momo base with the same choice of fillings as before but they are fried gently till the coating is slightly crisp and then slathered with a sauce. You can select between two different types of sauces, and we have tried both so that we can tell you about them.

 
The Schezwan sauce is as expected, spicy with bits of red chili seed etc. to please Indian taste buds. This is Indo-Chinese leaning closer to the Indian side! If you love and live for spice, this is a no-brainer. We found it a bit too Indianized however.
The tomato garlic sauce seen in the photo is what we usually order, this comes with a light tomato sauce reminiscent of ketchup and a good hint of garlic. It is garnished with a little bit of chopped spring onion. This is a bit sweet, so you may want to choose this wearily; whenever we order the staff tend to tell us that it is meant for kids! This is how we ended up trying the Schezwan sauce in the first place. 
The choice of sauces is a bit unbalanced as one is pretty spicy and the other is pretty much sweet.

Sizzler

As the name suggests, the sizzler comes on a sizzler plate with a portion of noodle topped with momos prepared to your choice. The noodle is actually pretty good just like real Hakka noodle should be, and the momos as described above. It would make a decent meal thanks to the addition of the noodle, making it one of the few dishes you can actually order for a meal instead of an appetizer or snack. Of course, it looks interesting when it is served to you, all steamy and sizzling! It is reasonably filling too we should say. 

This is a nice place to have a light snack in a decent food court/restaurant setting and their momos are pretty good. We come here every once in a while. The steamed ones have decent flavour and can be considered a healthy option. The Pan fried ones may be a little too Indianized and the sauces are on two ends of the scale but altogether, a worthwhile place if you like momos and want to sample different types; of which they have a commendable variety. Not horrifically overpriced for the non veg options, though I can't say the same about the veg ones but then again, you get a restaurant setting [unless you are in LuLu] so the poor value for money is to be expected. Recommended for those who like momos, or are adventurous about trying new foods, or of course: both!!!


Type of Cuisine: Momos, Chinese [Indo-Chinese]
Locations

Food Court on Third Floor, LuLu Mall, Edappally.

Emir Plaza, Kaloor Kadavanthra Road.

Food Court, Centre Square Mall, MG Road.

Parking: Mall parking at LuLu (chargeable) is fine except on very busy days and weekends. Other outlets have some parking space in front. 

Ambience: Typical mall ambience, love it or hate it! The restaurant ones are quieter.

Service: Good.

What we liked/Recommended for:

Plenty of variety of momos. Have alternate dishes too.

Potential Shortcomings: 

• Sauces for pan fried momos are unbalanced. 
• Momos tend to be expensive for the quantity provided even considering the restaurant setting. 
• Taste is average to good. 

Taxes: Included in price, no fat tax applicable.
Phone Number: +91 484 4064888
On Zomato:
     

Have you been to WOW momos? What did you have? Please share your experience in the comments below!

Burger Spot: Taking the Spotlight!

Burger Spot Review

Burger Spot is the latest addition to the various joints in Kochi that offer the eponymous dish. So what makes this place different? Read on to find out!

Burger spot has a few branches around town. I had noticed them but shrugged them off as another attempt at taking a bite out of the already solid burger scene in town. It wasn’t until my friend recommended this place that I decided to go see for myself. I found that they sell different kinds of burgers, mojitos etc. On to the food review:

Fries[AME!]/Chips[BRE!]

The burger arrived with a small serving of fries [to be precise: three, I’m not joking, look at the picture!].

I tried the fries, which turned out to be really good: they were nice and crisp outside but the highlight was the fluffy center, just as it should be! Moreover, they were perfectly seasoned with salt and a little black pepper. It was so good I knew it deserved a special mention so we ended up ordering a plate. This came with a dip, as shown below. 

The dip was basically a mayonnaise: smooth and delicious with a good hint of garlic which will please garlic lovers [and may put off those who are not so fond of it! Jokes apart though, it was not too strong for me but I do like the flavor so I guess it may be intolerable for a select few].

Burgers

I opted for a medium range chicken burger [the V2.0 or something to that name] to see how the place performs on average. 

Examining it, the burger came with cheese, an adequate dollop of mayonnaise and of course the prerequisite sesame bun. I took a bite and realized this was my new favorite joint [or should I say, spot?!]. The patty was soft and juicy, perfectly cooked. The best part was that it was really moist thanks to the mayo and the cheese added to the richness. The lettuce too was fresh and crisp. Don’t get me wrong: I like the burgers in other fast food joints like KFC, ChicKing, SFC etc. for their own flavor as well but this burger simply has so much more moisture it’s in a league of its own.

Mojito

I ordered a kiwi mojito. I must mention I was happy to see bits of kiwi seed floating around. You can see for yourself in the picture. 

I took a sip and was pleased with the result. It is extremely cheap yet manages to taste like the real thing, just the right balance of sweetness and flavour. I usually refrain from ordering any drinks from any place because I don’t like having too much to drink while eating but this is one place where I will make the exception. 
We have also tried their lime and mint mojito, which was topped with mint leaves and a wedge of lemon. This was also really refreshing and has the added benefit of aiding digestion. Highly recommended.
For the price, they deliver well.

My family and I have already gone back a few times afterwards to enjoy the food there and we have been satisfied every time. I can safely recommend this to anyone who likes to have good quality burgers and generally chill out without having to break the bank.

Type of Cuisine: Fast Food, Burgers
Locations

Near Sunrise Hospital, Seaport Airport Road, Kakkanad.

University Road, Sheba Square, Kalamaserry. 

Near Al-Ameen/Lulu Mall, Edappally. 

Parking: Most branches have decent space nearby. Can be a problem for the one near LuLu mall though we’ve never had issues.

Ambience: Good. The one near LuLu mall is small but reasonably good regardless.

Service: Good.

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Great tasting burgers. 
• Reasonable prices. 
• Well priced mojitos. 
• Great potato fries/chips. 
• Good for garlic lovers. 

Potential Shortcomings: 
Parking at the outlet near LuLu mall may be challenging. 

Taxes: Included in price
Phone Number: +91 94968 16666
On Zomato:
      

Have you been to Burger Spot? Don't forget to share your experience in the comments below!

Paragon: A True 'Paragon' of South Indian Food!

Paragon Restaurant Review

If you are in LuLu Mall and want to treat your taste buds to some delectable South Indian food, you don’t even have to head to the food court anymore! Right next to the ticketing counters of the PVR Cinema Halls is Paragon, the newest South Indian restaurant to open at LuLu. 
The best part is they have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food of almost every kind including a rather extensive menu for seafood!

True to their name, they serve up exceptionally good, traditional food typical of Kerala. They even have daily specials so that you can always come back to try something new over and over again. This review will mostly focus on the more permanent menu items that are available all the time, with a few specials thrown in.
The restaurant has good seating capacity but since it gets crowded, they have an exclusive waiting area, where you can await your turn. The interiors are nice and bright with comfortable seating. As soon as you enter to your right, there is a counter that has a display of the available fish for the day. They have both fresh catch as well as frozen ones. 

Suggested Reading: Not familiar with  South Indian food? We have just the right article to get you up to speed: South Indian Dishes!

Choice of Fish Fry: Karimeen [Pearl Spot Fish] Fry

We ordered the famous pearl spot fish, which was then marinated with select spices, curry leaves and split green chilies.

This is fried to golden brown perfection and served whole. It is served with a side of julienned carrot and onion.

Fish Curry Meals

Trying out these 'Meals' are highly recommended, especially if you:

• Have huge appetite and love rice
• Want to have a complete meal with tremendous variety or:
• Simply want to try the same meal any Malayalee would likely have for his lunch

If you see one or more of the above factors in your list, the traditional ‘meals’ as they are called, will be your best bet. As the name suggests, it is a complete meal with no less than 12+ different side-dishes included, truly reflecting the tremendous diversity that the Cuisine of Kerala has to offer! 

Boiled rice: The main carbohydrate comes in the form of very fat-grain boiled rice, which they serve unlimited quantities of. 

Rasam: Then there is rasam, which is a tamarind and tomato based soup-like dish that is both tangy and mildly spicy at the same time. It may be mixed with rice like you would with a gravy, or had on its own as a soup or similar beverage.

Fish curries: The first of the two fish curries is the red fish curry which has seer fish in a gravy made with ‘Kodampuli’, a kind of tamarind also known as gambodge or Malabar Tamarind. The other is a yellow fish curry with a different type of tamarind. The main difference between the two is that the red curry is a bit spicier while the yellow curry has more of a tangy flavour. Generally, these curries are what you would mix with the rice you are about to eat.

You will also find the following side dishes which are usually taken in small quantity along with rice: 

[NOTE: Sorry for the sloppy descriptions for some of the items below; I am working on better ones which should be coming soon. It is difficult to describe some of these dishes as I have never made them myself and there are many ingredients and techniques that cannot be translated easily in just a few words! Eventually, we will also add images of each side dish below the next time we go there.]

Parippu peechinga coconut curry: This is a dish consisting of lentils called 'parippu' and a type of gourd called 'peechinga' also known as ridge gourd or luffa. This is also known as 'pottika' in some other parts of Kerala. This is a healthy dish as it has lentils for protein.

Vellarikka: Vellarikka is a type of cucumber which is cut and cooked in gravy that has spices and more notably: coconut paste. Has a unique texture from the use of ground coconut.

Kalan: Type of curry made using coconut, curds and vegetables like yam, raw banana etc.

Kovaka thoran: Yet another type of small gourd made with coconut paste. This one is comparatively dry meaning to say it does not have a gravy of its own.

Cheera thoran: This a dish that consists of shredded spinach with grated coconut and spices which are stir fried. Another healthy dish rich in iron and other minerals from the spinach.

Kachiya moru: This is a savoury spiced yogurt dish which sees yogurt simmered with a few spices and seasoned with a few ingredients. It can be had with the rice like a gravy but is also consumed on its own as a tasty drink. 

Thairu [Plain yogurt]: A bowl of plain yogurt is also provided, you may wish to add this to the rice if you want to mellow out any spiciness or consume it on its own.

Pavakka/Kaypakka (bitter gourd) chips: This sees slices of bitter gourd marinated in curd and chilli then fried till crisp. This has a strong and tart flavor and a nice crunch to add textural variety to the plate.

Pickle or ‘achar’: These spicy and tart sides provide a tang to pike up your hunger and help you eat more! They provide a perfect contrast to the semi-spicy gravies that are also provided. The one provided was lime pickle. 

‘Papadom’, which is a kind of crisp rice cracker. This is consumed to add a tinge of textural contrast as it is crisp and crunchy compared to the soft vegetables and rice. They have a rather mild flavor mainly from being fried in coconut oil.

‘Payasam’: To finish things off, a milk-based dessert called payasam [which is like a sweet rice porridge or kheer] called Palapayasam is given for dessert. This is essentially made by boiling milk and rice with sugar and a few whole spices like cardamom.

Whew. That concludes the items given for the 'meals'. Now onto the other dishes!

Prawns Fry

Medium sized, succulent prawns are used in this dish with the tail on. It is coated with a spiced batter made of rice flour. This is fried with curry leaves to achieve a crunchy coating that contrasts delightfully well with the soft and juicy prawn. Served with a side of julienned carrot and onion.

Crab Fry

You get to choose your crab and get it marinated with select spices. This is then fried with curry leaves and served cut up into the constituent parts like legs, arms, body etc. 

Served with a side of julienned carrot and onion plus a wedge of lime. Though the marinade was tasty it was just concentrated on the shell, unable to penetrate the meat of the crab. This leaves the meat inside still white and flavorless. That said, it is a good dish if a little expensive. Prices vary based on weight of the crab you choose.

Calicut Chicken Curry [Dish of the Day]

Note: This is was a dish of the day, meaning it may not be available all the time and is not present on their standard menu.

A semi-thick curry consisting of chicken pieces on the bone and an aromatic gravy made with roasted and ground spices, a process locally known as ‘varutharachathu’. The chicken pieces were well cooked and the gravy went well with porotta. The quantity was just all right, mostly enough for two people.

Thattukada [Streetfood-style] Prawns

‘Thattukada’ is the name given to a small time roadside establishment based on push-carts or other vehicles or even tents that dish out some pretty delectable food for the common man. 
As the name suggests, such joints seem to be the inspiration for this dish and they tried to make it taste just like it would if were standing on the roadside ordering a plate of these from one such thattukada. The masala had a slight spice owing to the use of black pepper but nothing overwhelming. Also in the mix were bits of roasted coconut.

Squid and Prawns Ularthiyathu [Stir-fried]

‘Ularthiyathu’ refers to a dish that has its ingredients tossed in a pan with spices, akin to a stir-fry. A dish that has prawns and squid rings fried with coconut bits and assorted spices. The squid was cooked well and was not chewy as one would expect it to be elsewhere.

Chicken Biryani [Rice Dish with Chicken]

A dish that mixes rich rice with heavily spiced chicken. The chicken was marinated very well and cooked to perfection. The rice itself is not very spicy and needs to be mixed with pieces of chicken to get the flavour. Also provided are green coconut chutney and curd raita to be mixed with the biryani to add additional flavour and texture to the dish. They offer half and full plate options to suit everyone’s need.

Vellayappam [Fermented rice crepe-pancake hybrid]

This is a traditional breakfast dish that resembles a fine crepe with a thicker centre. It is made using fermented rice batter and cooked on a small wok. The result is a flower-shaped flatbread that is thick and soft in the center and thin and crisp as you move outward.

The vellayappams served here are very good. It has the right texture and is served hot. Thus it is crisp too. It can be had with both spicy and non-spicy dishes.

Kerala Porotta/ Wheat Porotta

This place also has typical flaky Kerala Porotta. Goes great with almost anything and especially with spicy dishes. They offer both healthy wheat and traditional refined flour [maida] varieties.

Elaneer Payasam [Tender Coconut Dessert Dish]

This is a sweet dish made with tender coconut and milk. It had a lovely creamy consistency and rich sweetness to it with the subtle yet detectable taste of Tender coconut. Needless to say, this is highly recommended! Payasam is the most traditional type of dessert served at the end of a meal.

If you are touring the city and are in search of some authentic traditional South Indian non-vegetarian dishes, then this place is an absolute must-visit. The food is great, the place is neat and clean making it one of the few places we recommend for non-veg food. 

Type of Cuisine: South Indian non-vegetarian and vegetarian
Location

First floor of LuLu Mall, Edapally.

Parking: Mall parking at LuLu [Chargeable] is fine except on very busy days and weekends when it may get full and you might have to wait to find a spot.

Ambience: Good, adequate spacing between tables, well lit. 

Service: Very good.

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Great South Indian and Naadan food, special dishes to add variety. 
• Good ambiance, great for families. 
• Good service. 
• Seafood counter. 
• Ample lighting. 
• Clean.

Potential Shortcomings:
Nothing much to speak of: prices so far have been reasonable for the environment and quality provided. Some fresh seafood dishes like the ones reviewed above may be a tad expensive though. 

Taxes: Included in price, no fat tax applicable.
Phone Number: +91 484 401 1000
Timings: 11:00 - 23:00
Restaurant Website: http://www.paragonrestaurant.net/

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Have you been to Paragon? Take the time to tell us what you had in the comments below!