Eating out in Chennai is a food-lover's dream, with everything from classy hotel restaurants to the cheap lunch canteens that host the city’s office workers.
The restaurants in Chennai below are listed alphabetically in three different pricing categories:
Expensive (over Rs800)
Moderate (Rs400 to Rs800)
Cheap (under Rs400)
These prices include a three-course meal for one, with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, as well as tax. Tipping is optional.
Expensive
Pan Asian
Cuisine: AsianWith an open kitchen and fine service, the sleek restaurant at the ITC Grand Chola hotel is one of India's top Asian restaurants. The menu is a culinary road trip through the Far East, serving dishes from as far afield as China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia.
Address: Guindy, ITC Grand Chola, 63 Mount Road, Chennai, 600032Telephone: +91 44 2220 0000.
Website: http://www.itchotels.in/pan-asian
Peshawri
Cuisine: North IndianSister restaurant of the award-winning Bukhara in Delhi, the ITC Grand Chola's non-veg restaurant serves up the delectable flavours of the North-West Frontier. Predominantly cooked in the charcoal grill and clay oven, the beautifully marinated meat dishes are succulent perfection, and there are also good vegetarian choices for non-carnivores.
Address: Guindy, ITC Grand Chola, 63 Mount Road, Chennai, 600032Telephone: +91 44 2220 0000.
Website: http://www.itchotels.in
Southern Spice
Cuisine: South IndianThe elegant South Indian restaurant at the Taj Coromandel pulls together the diverse flavours of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Surrounded by grandiose pillars and striking Indian artwork, the house thali (a plate meal made up of a selection of dishes) is a fantastic introduction to the food of South India.
Address: Nungambakkam, Taj Coromandel, 37 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai, 600034Telephone: +91 44 6600 2827.
Website: http://www.tajhotels.com
Moderate
Amethyst
Cuisine: Modern EuropeanA big hit with the city's well-to-do middle classes, Amethyst spills out on a gorgeous terrace looking over a tropical garden. The menu is European-inspired and sophisticated (think tomato, mushroom and olive risotto or tomato and mixed peppers galette), and there's a chic boutique and flower shop in the compound.
Address: Royapettah, Whites Road, Chennai, 600014Telephone: +91 44 4599 1633.
Website: http://www.amethystchennai.com
Annalakshmi Chennai
Cuisine: South IndianRun by devotees of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, this handsome mid-range vegetarian restaurant swims with the flavours of the Indian south. There's an extensive range of South Indian staples, as well as less familiar Jain dishes, made according to strict vegetarian principles.
Address: Egmore, 18/3, Sigapi Achi Building, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road, Chennai, 600008Telephone: +91 44 2852 5109.
Website: http://www.annalakshmichennai.co.in
Barbecue Nation
Cuisine: North IndiaThe kebab is king at Barbeque Nation, where delicious skewers of chicken, mutton, fish and paneer are grilled right at your table. There are good options for vegetarians too, but it's the meaty dishes that have earned the restaurant a loyal following amongst Chennai diners. There are two more locations around the city.
Address: Thyagaraya Nagar, Shri Devi Park Hotel, 1 Hanumantha Road, Chennai, 600017Telephone: +91 44 6060 0000.
Website: http://www.barbeque-nation.com/branches/Chennai
Cheap
Hotel Saravana Bhavan
Cuisine: South IndianA Chennai institution, this vegetarian restaurant offers superb South Indian fare, such as uttapam (savoury pancakes), dosa (crepes made from rice batter and black lentils) and idli (steamed rice cakes), as well as Western-inspired dishes like meat-free pizzas. Established over 30 years, it boasts a loyal local following and there are often queues at lunchtime. There are several branches in the city.
Address: Egmore, 21 Kennet Lane, Chennai, 600008Telephone: +91 44 2819 2055.
Website: http://www.saravanabhavan.com
Murugan Idli Shop
Cuisine: South IndianFamed for its idli (steamed rice cakes), this is one of Chennai's favourite breakfast stops, with 15 branches around the city. The signature dish comes with a side serving of spicy sambar (tamarind and lentil curry) and tangy coconut curry. Wash it down with a jigarthanda milkshake.
Address: Thyagaraya Nagar, 46/13 North Usman Road, Chennai, 600017Telephone: +91 44 4208 4842.
Website: http://muruganidlishop.com
Ratna Café
Cuisine: South IndiaThe house sambar (lentil and tamarind curry) is said to be the best in town at this lively canteen in Triplicane. The spicy sauce is served as a side with filling plates of idli (steamed rice cakes) and dosa (crepes made from rice batter and black lentils), as well as other South Indian staples.
Address: Triplicane, Triplicane High Road, Chennai, 600014Telephone: +91 44 2848 7181.
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