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/

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Shifu Momos: Mo' for your Money!

Shifu Momos Review

Shifu Momo’s is a small hole-in-the-wall shop located at Panampilly Nagar. Before you decide to try and correct me, no I have NOT forgotten my grammar; this is what the name of the establishment is written as. Check out the photo if you don't believe me! 

We finally happened to be in the general vicinity one day and decided to see for ourselves what this place had to offer.

Honestly, the establishment itself is not much to write about: it is really tiny and they have a counter behind which they prepare all the items. They do not provide any seating arrangements; only a trash can for when you have finished eating. Most people sit at the pavement near the shop, take away the stuff to have it at the nearby park or like we did: eat in the comfort of their cars. It is a true fast food joint where you are expected to order what you need and move on. They had a few staff cooking or serving up orders. Since there is nothing more to be said here, let us move onto the food.

They offer Veg, Chicken and Beef momos. You can opt for full or half plates which would entitle you to 10 or 5 momos respectively. They also offer noodle etc. but it is worth mentioning that they actually ran out of this and a few other items we tried to order to make the review as comprehensive as possible; I guess that definitely says something about its popularity. Apart from the steamed momos, the main sauces on offer were Schezuan and Manchurian. This confirmed our suspicions: the place would serve up Indo-Chinese or Tibetan-style momos which are more appealing to Indian taste buds, and we enjoy those too! We decided to go with all the three available options: steamed as well as the two varieties of sauces.

Steamed Chicken Momos

The obligatory taste test, one that we use to gauge the quality of any joint’s momos. 

We are happy to report that the outer covering was nice and soft as it was freshly made, apart from being reasonably thin. There was no hint of chewiness or anything, so off to a good start. 

Coming to the filling itself, it had lots of chopped cabbage. It was very finely shredded, so it lent a great texture without being noticeably chewy at all. The filling had a detectable taste of chicken too. However, we found no pieces at all so the satisfying ‘bite’ was missing. It was served with chili sauce and garlic sauce. The garlic sauce was mild and creamy and while these are not traditional, it went well with the momos. The chili sauce also added a tangy aspect to the dish; good for those who prefer such flavours.

Chicken Momo in Schezuan sauce

As with most places, the Schezuan option is expected to be the spiciest. 

When we took a bite into it, the first impression one of us felt was that we were eating chaat made with momos…! The sauce was sweet and spicy, a combination characteristic of chaat. [Chaat refers to a variety of Indian snacks consisting of tiny flatbread slathered with tangy chutneys and such.]

After a bit more the flavours came through though and we could tell that it had a balance of sweet and spice working in tandem. I can imagine this being the most popular option they sell, as the addition of Schezuan sauce makes an otherwise bland plate of momos taste a lot more exciting. Not authentic but come on, it was never meant to be anyway!

Chicken Momo in Manchurian Sauce

Predictably, this sauce had a more 'Chinese-style flavour'. 

The texture was slightly thick and it had a darker shade of brown compared to the Schezuan version. It was difficult to tell but the sauce seemed to have finely chopped chili and garlic.

A full plate of 10 chicken momos is just Rs 90/- as of May 2017. With prices like these, it was no surprise this place is so popular. Also not to mention, the food itself was as good as it gets. Sure, if one were to nit-pick, you could bring up the argument that it is Indo-Chinese and not authentic Chinese. There are no seating arrangements. As long as it tastes good and is inexpensive, who cares? The flavours are adapted well to suit the palate of the people here and we think it tastes great.

Our final verdict? We all agreed that we will likely never go anywhere else for momos. ‘Nuff said. 

Type of Cuisine: Momos, [Indo-]Chinese

Location

Opposite Kids and Teens, KV Nagar, Panampilly Nagar.

Parking: Nothing dedicated, but the roads nearby usually have enough space, should not be problem.

Ambience: None to speak of, Buzzing with activity but no dedicated place to sit or anything. Plenty of space including a park nearby so should not be a major problem. 

Service: Quick

What we liked/Recommended for:

Very good value for money. Although not authentic Chinese, is well made and tastes good.

Potential Shortcomings:
On one occasion, got cartilage in more than one momo. Will monitor to see if this was a one-off occurrence. Update: We have returned a few times and every now and then, we have encountered a little bit of cartilage. 
No dedicated seating arrangements; but not to be expected either. 

Taxes: Included in price, fat tax not applicable. 

Phone Number: +91 9633 918 717

Timings: 15:00 - 20:00

Restaurant Website: <None>

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Elements: Back to the Elements...!

Elements Restaurant Review

Located at Chitoor Road Kacheripady, Elements is a restaurant that claims to specialize in Modern Indian and Classic Italian dishes. Wanting to try something different from the usual, we obviously went with the Italian fare. Pizzas are available all over the city and are most often associated with 'Italian Cuisine', while places that serve pasta, lasagna and other items have been comparatively fewer in number. So, how was the experience? Read on to find out!

Talking about the interiors; the restaurant itself is quite spacious with good seating capacity. The tables were well lit and neatly laid out. 

There is a cocktail bar at one end and the place itself has a nice, relaxed ambiance with warm lighting tones. A small enclosed area with a conference table is also available for those interested. 

Starting with the menu, it was worth mentioning that the names of the dishes itself were written in rather accurate Italian lending a feeling that the place would be as authentic as possible. The decor was nice and simple with some special highlighting here and there. On to the main event: the food!

Pesto Polo Funghi [Chicken and Mushroom Pizza with Pesto Sauce]

As the name suggests, this is a pizza topped with grilled chicken, mushroom and originally pesto sauce. We however requested that they use tomato base instead as we were not in the mood for pesto-flavored things and they complied. It arrived on a wooden base decorated decorated with a sprig of parsley on it. 

We were happy to see that it was the typical Italian-style thin crust as opposed to the thick [equally delicious nonetheless!] American style ones you would find in most fast food joints. There was a good quantity of mushroom and cheese on top, and a decent but slightly lesser presence of chicken. All in all, rather authentic tasting pizza. In case you were wondering, it was a 10" pizza. 

Ravioli di Pomodori Secchi e Crema di Formaggi [Ravioli with Sun Dried Tomato and Cheese]

For those who don't know, ravioli is a type of pasta with a filling, akin to a dumpling. It is bears some similarities to wontons or similar types of dimsum. The outer layer is supposed to be made with (durum) wheat, and the filling can be anything. Okay. Now that we know what ravioli is, lets see what it tastes like. 

The ravioli came bathed in a nice tomato sauce, this combination worked really well, having the tartness of the tomato balanced with the richness of the cheese. The ravioli were nice and soft and did not feel like they had been prepared ages ago waiting for us to come here and order it before they splashed it with sauce. This is important as pasta dishes must be had as fresh as possible. 

All in all, it was a rather pleasant dining experience: we look forward to the next visit where we hope to try new items and come up with a much more comprehensive review. Until then, stay tuned for more!

Type of Cuisine: Italian, Indian

Location

Chittoor Road, Kacheripady.

Parking: Dedicated parking lot 

Ambience: Nice and comfy

Service: Good

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Great quality Italian food. 
• Very good pricing; affordable option for continental dining. 
• Nice ambiance. 
• Cocktail bar. 

Potential Shortcomings: 
Quantity of chicken in the pizza could be a tad better. Will update after another visit. 

Taxes: Included in price, fat tax not applicable

Phone Number: +91 97466 55355, +91 484 4066977

Timings: 12:00 - 23:00

Restaurant Website: elements.ooo

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Have you gone 'Back to the Elements'? What did you have? How was your experience? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

New Dragon Chinese Restaurant: Enter the [New] Dragon!

New Dragon Chinese Restaurant Review

New Dragon first caught our attention when their ad came in the newspaper, boasting a complete lunch meal at an unimaginable price. Chinese food [though mostly Indianized!] being one of our favourite things to eat out, we just had to pay a visit to see for ourselves. 

We ordered three of the said lunch menus, which entitled us to a soup, a side dish, ‘Chinese Chapatti’, a main dish and lemon juice each. 

To clarify how this works and help you order, we have summarized the choices below:

• A soup
• One set of Chinese Chapati
• Choice between Egg noodle or Egg fried rice
• Choice between Chili Potato or Chili Cauliflower
• Choice between Chicken Manchurian or Chicken Hong Kong
• A glass of Lime Juice

Yep, you are entitled to all of the above. We discuss the options we chose below, mostly based on their recommendation:

Manchow Soup

First up was the Chicken Manchow Soup, which came with crispy noodle on top. 

The soup itself was delicious, with a decent quantity of vegetables and chicken to speak of. The crispy noodle brought an additional dimension to the texture.

Crispy Chili Potato

Then for starters, we went with Crispy Chili Potato. This saw fingers of potato not unlike fries[AME!]/chips[BRE!] coated with a light batter and fried super crisp, then tossed with some spring onion, bits of garlic, a few bits of green chili.

Probably something the Chinese would frown upon but it certainly tastes interesting! The crunchiness of the coating and softness inside the potato complement each other. Think of it as taking Fries/Chips and tossing them in a little ketchup mixed with the aforementioned condiments and you can kind of figure out what this dish is about, though it tastes better than I just described!

Chinese Chapati

Next up, they brought the Chinese Chapatti, which was something like a thick tortilla that was lightly fried. It was slightly chewy and was fine to eat with the dishes that follow; it isn’t meant to be eaten on its own. 

People accustomed to eating Indian foods like chapattis will feel right at home here!

Hong Kong Chicken

Next, we had Hong Kong Chicken, which saw pieces of crispy fried chicken tossed with green capsicum [pepper], onion and a few green chilies here and there. 

It was not spicy however and the dish worked fine. This was a good accompaniment for the Chinese Chapatti.

Egg Noodle

Next up, we decided to mix things up and order a different thing, one of which was the noodle. 

This had green capsicum [pepper], some spring onion, bits of carrot and a small piece of red chili, though it was not spicy.

Egg Fried Rice

We also got a portion of fried rice for one of the lunch menus, which came with perfectly cooked rice where each grain was separate from the other. 

It had beans, some spring onion, bits of carrot and a small piece of red chili, though again it was not spicy. This had a nice flavour and a good aroma.

To finish things off, they provide a rather big glass of refreshing lime juice. This was perfectly salted and would have been really good to whet one’s appetite, maybe they could serve it at the start of the meal instead.

The portions of each part of the meal are really adequate to actually enjoy rather than just getting a taste. It provides just the right quantity to prevent oneself from getting bored. It all adds up to a full experience: this is a meal that will satisfy the hungriest and has plenty of variety to keep you engaged. In this day and age, it is hard to come across a place that offers such good food, in a clean setting, at such a low price. If you have never experienced Indo-Chinese food and wish to try it, this menu is the best ticket; it encompasses everything that defines Indo-Chinese cuisine [except maybe dimsum, which you will have to order separately]. This is definitely one of the most value-for-money meals in town, especially for Chinese and even in general. Highly recommended to at least give it a try: if you like it, you just found yourself a new place to go to when you don’t feel like cooking, want to have variety, or want to spend as little as possible on Chinese food but walk away with a full stomach. We know we will return soon.

Type of Cuisine: Chinese [Indo-Chinese]
Location

 

Opposite Naval Quarters, First Floor, Elamkulam, Kadavanthra. 

Parking: A few cars in front, should be sufficient but easily gets full on very busy days, area nearby has other commercial areas so it will become difficult. We only had trouble once.

Ambience: Typical dark and red, not too bad though. If you need light, get a seat closer to the windows at the end of the room. If you prefer a darker setting, there are tables with wooden paneling. 

Service: Good

What we liked/Recommended for:

• Lunch menu is incredible value for money, even a reasonable amount of choice is provided for each dish. 
• Food is also tasty and well made. 

Potential Shortcomings: 
A bit too similar to Golden Dragon in terms of variety; but not necessarily a bad thing.

Taxes: Included in price, no fat tax applicable
Phone Number: +91 9656470007, +91 9746855222
Timings: 11:00 - 16:00, 19:00 - 23:00

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Have you Entered [The!] New Dragon? Tell us about your experience in the commments 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
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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/

On Zomato:
      

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