Parambriym, Ispahani Centre, Nungumbakkam, Chennai
After a long drive and listening to a really sad story of a friend whom we decided to drop en route our return drive via OMR took the toll on me. Talk about abuse in marriages, a bad divorce and the fear of marrying again...Sheesh! I truly feel am in a happier space after listening to this friend's story.
We had set off on this drive having an idli each for b/f as the husband and I couldn't eat more than that. By the time we were done with the errand for the day...we were so damn hungry!!! As we had to drop two friends en route, we decided that we would lunch somewhere in the city closer to home.
As always the husband always directs me to his favourite place...Hurrah!!! it was jam packed and crowded and the valet himself directed us to move on as there were people waiting in a long queue as well!!! Me, actually doing the happy dance, cart wheel and break dance, ROFL inside my head but looking very sad with that puppy face look to be in sync with the husband's feelings!!! He's very touchy about this favourite place of his. Ha ha! I was really elated as we could go elsewhere for a change. And that is how Parambriym came up in my list of places to head as it was round the corner.
He had been there with a friend over lunch once and liked it so he wasn't against the idea at all.
We were famished by the time we reached Ispahani centre where this restaurant is located (Nungumbakkam). The place already had a couple of customers having or almost finishing their lunch. We went in after two and were really elated not to be turned down.
Our orders were made as we both were really focussed about the lunch options and didn't browse through much.
The husband firmly believes that the word or name of the restaurant must have been coined using some Numerology and some superstition because it should have been spelled as Parambariyam. Well! it could be because people are generally fanatics and it has caught up with several Indian states-be it their number plates, their own names, their cell numbers...Oh boy!!! I just don't want to get into that murky avenue!!!
Both of us ordered the Vazhalilai Saapadu @Rs.130/- which as seen above has rice in the centre and a couple of sides-rasam, a snakegourd dal curry, sambhar, a beetroot poriyal/thoran, a chicken gravy (there are no pieces at all in this) and a fish curry (no pieces of fish in this) It is just their gravy, an egg curry, a Papad and a sweet (Kesari) I wasn't aware that there would be an egg curry as well, then I would not have gone in for this masala omelette @Rs.55/-
The rasam was really to die for...hey why should one die for that...please Live on... to savour so many other dishes and food from other restaurants!Slurrrp!!!!
The prices were all decent and the taste was marvellous! I am glad there was this detour in our choice of restaurants. It was a very filling lunch! Of course, I couldn't have all that rice and the husband did have the rest besides his own. I found most of the prices reasonable.
As there were no pieces of meat or fish in the gravies, the husband ordered separately a Mutton Chukka (R. 200/-). Quantity wise perhaps in my eyes very less...perhaps! but boy it was so yumm!!! Prepared really well with all that garlic punctuating the chukka!
As I couldn't have the fish gravy, the guy at the counter immediately asked it be changed to some other veg curry and got another sambhar! Now that was a kind gesture on his part. I was actually reconfirming with him which Katori (small bowl) had the fish gravy. On hearing about the allergy, it was immediately taken off the thali (plate) and replaced with a dish that would agree with me.
Decent ambiance. People were streaming in and as the downstairs was already occupied, people headed upstairs despite it being close to three pm. Customers swinging by and not being shunned is also a good sign of a business...they still have food to share!!! Nice place to come with family, perhaps not on a date or to look at someone eye to eye or cuddle. It wasn't noisy when we went in but I do not know how it would feel if a guy gang or a girl gang went in and raided the place!!!It may nt be ideal for such an ambiance.
The wash area did not appeal to me as I am always touchy about common areas such as these. I usually avoid the wash and carry my hand sanitizer but owing to the hurried manner in which we left home, I couldn't tick it off the check list and I knew I had grime as I was driving to and fro the distance so I had to use the wash. It may look alright to some but I have my reservations!
Right behind that screen is the cashier's counter and behind that the kitchen from where all the tasty food was generated.
That's a part of the designs on the ceiling. It has air conditioning as well!
Overall our food was tasty and exactly what we had in mind after the long drive and hunger pangs.
We brought back a parcel of Chicken biriyani as the younger one was home and I didn't have time to cook him lunch. To be frank, he had just woken up a while back and had the breakfast that I left behind for him.
He did enjoy the biriyani but cribbed a great deal about the spice and wondered why people prepare a lovely dish such as biriyani in a spicy manner! The biriyani (Rs.160/-) he said that the quantity was pretty good!
While having that moist, melt in my mouth Kesari, I told myself that this is surely a place I would visit again. It set us back by Rs.350 per head which also included the mineral water we bought.
We had set off on this drive having an idli each for b/f as the husband and I couldn't eat more than that. By the time we were done with the errand for the day...we were so damn hungry!!! As we had to drop two friends en route, we decided that we would lunch somewhere in the city closer to home.
As always the husband always directs me to his favourite place...Hurrah!!! it was jam packed and crowded and the valet himself directed us to move on as there were people waiting in a long queue as well!!! Me, actually doing the happy dance, cart wheel and break dance, ROFL inside my head but looking very sad with that puppy face look to be in sync with the husband's feelings!!! He's very touchy about this favourite place of his. Ha ha! I was really elated as we could go elsewhere for a change. And that is how Parambriym came up in my list of places to head as it was round the corner.
He had been there with a friend over lunch once and liked it so he wasn't against the idea at all.
We were famished by the time we reached Ispahani centre where this restaurant is located (Nungumbakkam). The place already had a couple of customers having or almost finishing their lunch. We went in after two and were really elated not to be turned down.
Our orders were made as we both were really focussed about the lunch options and didn't browse through much.
The rasam was really to die for...hey why should one die for that...please Live on... to savour so many other dishes and food from other restaurants!Slurrrp!!!!
The prices were all decent and the taste was marvellous! I am glad there was this detour in our choice of restaurants. It was a very filling lunch! Of course, I couldn't have all that rice and the husband did have the rest besides his own. I found most of the prices reasonable.
The wash area did not appeal to me as I am always touchy about common areas such as these. I usually avoid the wash and carry my hand sanitizer but owing to the hurried manner in which we left home, I couldn't tick it off the check list and I knew I had grime as I was driving to and fro the distance so I had to use the wash. It may look alright to some but I have my reservations!
He did enjoy the biriyani but cribbed a great deal about the spice and wondered why people prepare a lovely dish such as biriyani in a spicy manner! The biriyani (Rs.160/-) he said that the quantity was pretty good!
While having that moist, melt in my mouth Kesari, I told myself that this is surely a place I would visit again. It set us back by Rs.350 per head which also included the mineral water we bought.
Ispahani Centre always brings back fond memories. It once housed the Yoga centre where besides the sun salutations and winding down playing dead (Shavasana), I met some solid friends that I would treasure for life! I also lost my father at that point and I disappeared for a while trying hard to recover from that tragedy!
I had my Yoga teacher J come home the moment she heard about it and comforted me in my grief...so on and so forth! I had friends who missed me...and wondered where I had vanished...I recovered a great deal...following which I started a food blog drawing a lot of inspiration from like minded friends at yoga who talked, described and yarned stories about food!!!
There is one branch in Velachery that I have been eyeing for a while. Maybe I will take the hubby there, he might enjoy this meal. Nice review chechi :)
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