BLACK BERRY - RESTO BAR, BHIMAS HOTEL VADAPALANI

 BLACKBERRY - RESTO BAR 

1, Amman Koil St, Vadapalani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600026

My review of the restobar  blackberry

I have been here thrice already and this review is a collective experience of all three visits.

The place is opposite SIMS hospital near Vadapalani signal. If you are traveling from Koyambedu towards ashok pillar. This is on your left 100 mts before the Vadapalani signal 

Ample parking available for both cars and bikes makes you breathe easy as you don't have to stress out about the issues that come with it

There is a huge neon board on top of the building and one at the entrance. This is the same place where barbeque nation is also housed. You have to walk past the bouncer desk.

Next is a flight of stairs down to the cellar where the bar is. To the right of these stairs is the men's washroom - yes every time you have to relieve yourself  - your patience and drink handling capacity will be tested and helps to workup a nice appetite

This was formerly 6th Avenue.. and you will still see remnants of it on walls, graffiti and even on the door.

The first thing you notice on your right are a few tables/chairs and a periodic table of booze.  Two letter abbreviations of liquor brands are listed out to resemble Mendelev's periodic table

The moment you are in, you see the lengthy walk way. There are tables and chairs in the front and the far end of this space. On the right is the seating area with one side blue colored cushion sofas and on the other wooden chairs with cushions. A partition between these two zones has bar stool seating. There is also a six-seater private area in the fag end which is under renovation. Can be booked for groups either to have a private party or stay away from loud music

In the middle of the walk way is the DJ console belting out the flavor of the day. The most happening event is the Saturday afternoon DJ party. Entry is 700/- per stag and you redeem a drink worth 300/-

The bar setup is neat.. honey comb design to the front with wooden blocks and backlight with all good brands of liquor stacked at the back.

 

Very good options of international and domestic liquors are available. The bar tender has some skills to showcase and bring out some nice cock/mocktails. Some may feel the prices are a little upmarket but be the best judge yourself

Service: Gudduji was at the helm of affairs taking care of us the entire time. He made sure the food came on time and in the correct order; the tables were cleared time-to-time, and drinks were served orderly and timely

Food:Like every other bar in Chennai they do provide two cups of finger food - chips, boiled legumes, kara sev and the options keep changing every day.

Being a resto bar you have the comfort and privilege of ordering yours main course and  dessert too - all in one place.

Daily new items are being innovated in the kitchen aka Gudduji style - Mind you he has been a food critic, connoisseur, home chef, ex-hotelier himself. Trials are going on before they finalize and print the menu card

French fries - This was served with some Cilantro mayo which tasted yummy

Paneer 65 - square blocks of paneer marinated in spices and cooked in the tandoor with tomato and capsicum wedges served with some masaledar onion shreds and lemon slice

Hariyali kebab - Patties made of green peas served with green tawa tossed peas, garnished with a cashew made for a good snacking option for veggie folks

Chilli egg - I loved the Chinese preparation hot, sour and spicy

Tandoori chicken - no artificial flavors or color. This was juicy and cooked well to my liking.

Smoked Wings - They come in an iron box  nicely sealed with aluminum foil and coals inside are ignited to smoke up the saucy wings. They felt a bit dry to me but were quickly fixed by a juicy/saucy wings in the next order

Fish fry - Catch of the day was good but the size of the fish slice was small.. donno if that is the standard

Schezwan fried rice - Good portion of rice served with Manchurian sauce. Rice was with lots of tiny chunks of chicken making every spoon an experience by itself.

Must try - Ghee roast chicken: very juicy and tasty chicken (didn't like it with bones, would prefer boneless chunks any day).

From LtoR: Ravi, Kiran, Rohit, Gudduji, Sujeesh, NSK, Guru Ramesh

From LtoR: Murlidhar S, Kiran, Gudduji, Patrick and Sowmith

Pic courtesy: Muralidhar Shreedhaaran, Guru Ramesh, Rohith Ramanujam

Verdict: Blackberry is an established brand who has made a mark in Delhi, Mumbai and now in Chennai. If you are from this side of town, you now have a decent place to enjoy your drink with good food and music.
PS: don't mind the price

So let your hair down and do that balle balle with the gentle gaint "Gudduji the great"

PREM'S GRAMA BHOJANAM - SHANTHI COLONY BRANCH

PREM'S GRAMA BHOJANAM 

 AL Block, 112&113, 4th Avenue, Shanthi colony, Annanagar - 600040

A wish that finally came true was a branch closer to home. Millet-based vegetarian restaurant in an artfully decorated, new menu driven, air-conditioned ambiance is the latest offering from the house of PGB Adyar

Me and a friend visited for lunch and had a very satisfying experience. More than the food the warm hospitality which is seldom seen in this industry is amply fulfilled by by none other than NSKji himself. Not just with us (being friends) but with every other guest in the hotel. He is so sharp to note the needs, heed to their requests or suggestions and give them a wow experience is very rarely seen these days
We went for a regular thali and shared among us along with the starters

Welcome drink 

Panagam and spiced buttermilk shots (so creamy and tasty)

Soup - Palak and green chilly based soup served with ragi crisps. More like a clear soup to get you warmed up for things to come 

Starters

Ragi Pakora - The portion was huge. If you are going as a pair, this dish can almost fill you up

Sweet Potato Roast - Round slices of sweet potato blanched and tawa fried with  masalas and served with ginger chutney - the famous allam pachadi made sweeter for the local palates who cant handle too much spice

Chickpea sweet potato cutlets - heard shaped cutlets were crisp outside and soft inside (would have liked some tomato sauce or chutney to go with it) Kids would love this

Apollo Paneer (inspired by the Hyderabadi Apollo Fish) - This has become my instant love here. If I ever crave for my hyderbadi apollo fish which I ate from the famous blue fox restaurant in hyd almost every other day, i would visit PGB as the vegetarian variant is no different. The paneer was so soft and tender (doesnt leave a dry feeling in your throat which makes you go for that glass of water is why I normally avoid paneer at restaurants mostly) You have to eat a few of those chillies to know what i really mean like the true hyderabadi.This was not billed as it is soon to be introduced.

Veg Thali - Is served with a 75% ragi 25% aata roti with dhondakai/kovakai poriyal not deep fried just made a healthy way and a veg kurma. Millet Sambar and rasam sadams - what was improved this time around was that the rasam was lighter and sharp with the pepper corns hitting the right notes. Finally to end with a creamy, mashed, buttery curd rice. To top it all was thogaiyal and fresh amla pickle. The millet halwa was the perfect dessert to end that guilt-free indulgence.
Inspite of eating so much there is no sugar rush, no heaviness and so light on your pocket too
315/-