When Annavilaas, a vegetarian South Indian restaurant opened weeks ago in the heart of Mylapore, a buzz went around among foodies. This food chain was said to be special.
Apart from its signature South Indian preparations, North Indian, Tandoori and Chinese food are served here.
The restaurant functions in a 4000 sq ft ground floor space, with bright aesthetic interiors, well designed seats and enclosures. The ambience is warm and inviting. A neatly designed beverage counter is positioned near the entrance.
The restaurant is open for breakfast from 6 a m till 11 p m for dinner. Dosa varieties are available all through the day. Coffee has a refreshing aroma and is flavourful.
In principle, food additives like Ajinomoto, dalda, colours and soda bi carb are not used in the restaurant, says Arun, manager of the restaurant.
He adds, “Dishes like idlis are suitable for even new borns as we take care to use quality produce and stick to time-tested recipes, so the taste and quality are preserved.”
A range of snack items are available from 4 p m and include kariveppillai idli and a variety of vadais – vazhaipoo and keerai vadai, beetroot vadai and rasa vadai to name some.
The signature dish, soft-ball like podi bonda, and six types of vadais are available every day. The vadais we tasted were crispy and dipped in pudina and tomato chutneys, tasted good.
Other signature dishes are a sweet-meat made with black kavuni rice and jaggery, kavuni pongal and chinna vengayam podi uthappam. Arun also mentions their sambhar, the Annavilaas signature.
South Indian lunch is ‘unlimited’ ilai sappadu at Rs150, that comes with paruppu podi, ghee, two poriyals, keerai, kootu, sambar, rasam and a special kuzhambu of the day. North Indian and ‘business’ thali meals, priced Rs 220 and Rs 180 respectively and a variety of biriyanis are available.
Annavilaas has a restaurant in Chennai’s Phoenix Mall, a few outside the city and overseas branches in Dubai and Amsterdam. Interesting tidbit – the menu of the day is uniformly executed in all its branches.
Party orders are executed, online orders are delivered through Swiggy and Zomato.
Annavilaas is at 106, Venkatesa Agraharam Road, Mylapore (at the junction of South Mada Street and R K Mutt Road).
Parking is available on the basement.
Phones: 47738999, 47740777.
