r2i forum

Most good bars appear to be in star hotels. For total hang out scene, I suggest Pasha (part of Park Hotel). The leather bar (or some such name) at Park is just so so. The space is really cramped.

For 24 hour eat out, my favorite is Taj Connemara's coffeeshop. The Distil bar is decent

For inexpensive beer with friends, Bike n Barrel (part of Residency Hotel) is decent. But if you don't take a girl with you, then you will be consigned to the upper floor congested with lots of smokers and call center worker types.

Sorry, got duplicated. my post above.

My choices would be: sorted by cost ASC, ambience DESC.

1)Buena Vista in Neelangarai (inside kapaleeswarar arch).
Don't expect great taste in food. But who cares with a nice chill beer!
Although they had good calamaries :emsmilep: cooked in Indian way!

2)Trident - Good bar with draft Kingfisher beer.
Huge dinner buffet everyday with lot of delicacies.
Sunday-They have unlimited wine, beer and food for Rs.900+tax. Worth for every penny!

3)MGM Resort Bar, ECR. Good bar, nice sea view and they do have dinner buffet. Ideal for romantic :emrosesad: dinners with your significant other.

Long live Kudi magans! (drinking folks):D

Buffett Lunch at Dakshin Chitra (catered by TAJ) and GRT Grand are awesome.
I have had @ Dakshin Chitra in 2000 & 2006 and they maintain the quality. If you have never been to Dakshin Chitra, check it out - http://www.dakshinachitra.net/index.htm

A decent place if you miss American food is Sparky's (close to the Museum area in Egmore).

They also have Mexican.

IMO, this place is a decent substitute for those who feel "home" sick about the US.

If anyone has a list of the best ice cream parlors in Chennai, pls. post it here.

Does anyone know of a place where we can buy liquor - good whisky, wine and/or rum? I know all stores are not owned by the govt but what is a good place to buy a couple bottles of these? Any experiences with Pondicherry?

Ram

Usually there are private suppliers who will deliver premium quality products to your home. The typical prices are Rs 75 for Heineken cans, Rs 40 for Kingfisher (Karnataka version) cans. They probably can get you some other stuff too.

I recently realized that you can even buy stuff just before entering the Chennai airport baggage claim area when you are returning from abroad. The "last" duty free shop is just before the scan your hand baggage.

I think TASMAC owns all liquor shops here. Most places look dingy, dirty and crowded with drunken streetdwellers. I hate going to these places. So I send someone to pick up beer if I need one in a jiffy.

Shops look better in Pondicherry. I have brought in a few packs of beers (such as Fosters) on a couple of my trips. You can also engage the private suppliers to deliver you stuff not available in Chennai.

I had been to Zara Tapas in Chennai recently. It was a quite stylish and a trendy place.

Good luck with getting a reservation if you do not have female companions in your group!

-M

South Indian
[LIST=1]

Woodlands Mathura Restaurant

Annalakshmi

palmgrove - breakfast is supposed to be good -

woodlands

Saravana Bhavan - Multiple locations

adyar anand bhavan - adyar branch

rathna cafe - idli sambar is famous here.

Raj Bhavan, Purasawalkam(sambhar is supposedly good) - Rs. 100 for 2 - not sure
[/LIST]


Chinese
WANG'S KITCHEN (in Adyar).

Cakes
Cake Walk
French Loaf

Italian
Little Italy, Nungambakkam - Rs.800 for 2
Italian - Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore on Thirumalai Pillai Road.

middle eastern
Cedars in Kotturpuram

Thai
Benjarong

Chaat
Gangothri - Anna Nagar & Cathedral Road

Multi cuisine
Asiana - 4 to 5 star hotel. Nominal rates though
Eden - Besant Nagar - north indian
Raintree - I went here. Excellent multi cuisine, desserts are superb too.
residency towers - buffet (main street)
GRT Radisson - temple bay

Gujarathi/ Rajasthani Thalis
Mansukh - (T Nagar)

Sweets, snacks and savouries
Grand Sweets - anna nagar, adyar -
Sri Krishna sweets - various places
Shri Mithai - various places
ranga sweets - anna nagar
Suriya’s Sweets & Greens - RA Puram
Durga Sweets - Anna Nagar
Shridi Quick bites

hidden messes
Gomathi mess, mylapore - go early morning - it will be very down to earth small town style in ambience, rates.
DAHLIA

panikoozh (Ice Creams)
Fruit Shop on Greams Road - various places
freeze zone
Kulfi Corner

Meditteranean
azulia (GRT Grand Days)

Disclaimer: I haven't tried every one of these restaurants. Please try at your own risk.