Prem's Graama Bhojanam-Back To Your Roots

So I finally made it to this much raved about and enchanting eatery.
I found it as a very secluded destination yet right in the midst of the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest roads (Sardar Patel Road, Adyar) in Chennai.

My trip here started with superb planning, enough research and very carefully filtering through the reviews both honest and unbiased. I was curious, been curious for long but just couldn't find/set time to manoeuvre through the traffic during such peak hours when the place is open to the public.

Eventually, I did and it started on a very bad note! The phone fell from my lap onto the tarred road. Sigh! A chipped phone, broken screen at hand and mixed emotions I found my destination and walked up the very unassuming, modest staircase which opens into several compartmentalised self-effacing rooms that houses several benches and desks meant for the obvious... You eat and you leave and make room for others.

Almost like a "Hole In The Wall" kind of feel :)

The setting is quaint and quite down to earth almost like one is seated in a classroom where it's the teacher's birthday or somebody's birthday and you are being served their birthday treat. Even the reception was lukewarm...hmmm...Till I left I wasn't impressed with the service...Nobody smiled!

 Straight forward paintings on the walls that remind us of our roots-our arid lands, our farmers, our cattle, our grains, the hand pound spices, the gorgeous sun etc.

I understand that the water is infused with a few spices.

 I did look out for a warmer reception...Then again, it could have been just one of those days where you get up from the wrong side of the bed with a bunch of expectations and then somewhere along the line...the reality dawns and there's a very deflating feel from all the hype I have read! Perhaps, I was one of those unlucky few!!!

Anyways, lunch was finally served! Food was incredibly delish concentrating mainly on incorporating millets and replacing the entire meal with them instead of rice. Wow, that didn't disappoint me at all! Loved it! Very decent meal for a reasonable rate. That's "the real hype"-The food! Any health conscious person would go Ga ga over this. I was drooling as I scooped in and savoured every bite. Very unique yet familiar flavours.

 A couple of set menus, no frills, no drama, You get what you see and choose.

Sambhar Rice-Rasam Rice-Curd Rice-A spinach side-Lemon Rice-a sweet dish made with Palm Jaggery, there was a roti in the making (a pickle was served much later after the entire meal was done!)

The lemon rice was served cold, not sure if that's the way it is served.

I am a babe in the woods when it comes to these millets and healthy replacements. Still reading and trying to comprehend their boons. I have started experimenting with a grain or two of late. I have worked with Ragi for long so not new to that!

Would I go there again? probably if I am in the vicinity...I've read and seen pics about their dinner spread, so hopefully should pop up there and have another unpretentious meal set for the evening.

This probably is a gist of the grains used-for those who come there with my kind of curiosity so that we make informed choices.

 I did see a group of foreigners make their way in as well so it is one of those haunts you would want to take some tourists to... just in case they are curious about what is sown and grown by our farmers and how beautifully they have been consolidated in such meals.

But do keep in mind when you are going on a shopping spree that these millets are expensive and is amalgamated in their dishes here and offered at very reasonable rate. I would highly recommend this meal to those working within this radius to make a dash for this.

After having this novelty meal, I was really full and had a light dinner much later into the night.