Chennai Restaurants :Andhra Tiffin Room

Heard about Andhra Tiffin Room a couple of days ago on a food group in Facebook and since then, this place was in the back of my mind. I am no stranger to Andhra food as I have my roots from there and my affinity to Andhra Meals in recent times has only grown manifold 

I had a look at the listing of ATR on zomato and could roughly make out the location in Thoraipakkam. At 08:00AM, traffic was manageable on the 200-Feet road connecting Pallikaranai and OMR. Quick driving directions in case it is of some help – After taking a right at the end of the road and joining OMR, keep driving past Fortune Select Palms hotel.

 You will see Amma Unavagam on the left (that’s where there is a pedestrian over-bridge on OMR), enter the service lane here, you will spot the place immediately on your left side.
As I entered, the place was quite empty at 08:20AM. Just a couple of people in the entire restaurant. The place was clean and neat. Had a quick look at the menu card and then realized that this restaurant actually belonged to Shyam’s Hospitality.

 This is the same group that owns other popular restaurants like Amaravathi, The Dhaba, Kabul, Kaaraikudi, Coastline, and a few ice cream outlets like Snofield and Freezzone. I knew they were no strangers to Andhra food, so with a fair expectation set, ordered an Andhra Tiffin as recommended by the waiter.

The mini tiffin had an Upma-pesarattu with Allam pachchadi (Ginger chutney), 1 Idly, a scoop/cup of Pongal and a scoop/cup of pineapple kesari and coffee. Upma-pesarattu was quite good. Pongal was good too, idly was just ok and kesari was tasty. 

The Ginger chutney was very yummy and was the highlight of the breakfast! There were three other chutneys and they all tasted good, especially the peanut chutney. I finished it sooner than I expected, but couldn’t really get a feeling of having had an Andhra tiffin apart from the pesarattu in it. 

So in spite of being close to full, I ordered a Ghee Kaaram Dosa. This was tasty with a nice aroma of ghee, small sliced green chillies and onion inside the dosa added a nice flavor, and again, the ginger chutney and peanut chutney made it even more yummy. Finished it with a good coffee, though it was only three-fourth of the tumbler. 

Probably an authentic Andhra meals for lunch or Punukulu and bobbatlu for evening snacks would have made the experience more Andhra-ish, but overall, it was a good breakfast. The prices are okay in general, Rs 85 for an Andhra Tiffin, a dosa is priced at Rs 75 on an average and with clean and neat interiors, it is a nice place to eat out with family. Probably this place is crowded during lunch time with office-goers on OMR flocking for Andhra Meals, have to visit sometime to see that !

 Murali : Nov 11, 2014