If all you want to do is eat then the 80 Feet Road that cuts through Anna Nagar and the Bypass Road are the most happening places to be in. In less than a decade the face of these two prime roads has changed beyond recognition and also perhaps beyond imagination of the previous generation.
Particularly Anna Nagar is so crowded with eateries that it has become the new hub for grub now. It appears the city of traditional food lovers is finally opening up to embrace and celebrate other types of food. So move over the typical South and North Indian menus...the platter is now filled with Arabian, Mexican, Lebanese, Continental, Chinese, Italian and more!
What is the reason for this sudden spurt? Is it because eating out is a more attractive option? Is the local non-veg cuisine getting undermined in favour of pizzas, burgers, pita bread and falafel and of course noodles? Is there a new found love for dining out? Is it for leisure alone because each outing does leave a hole in the pocket too?
With multiple fast food chains coming up simultaneously and some of them in close vicinity of each other, this is a thought that often crosses the mind. At the turn of the decade if the advent of Dominos and KFC, just about began to imbalance the Temple Town's eating habits, the recently opened Pizza Cottage exactly next to Cafe Coffee Day and opposite to Puppy's Bakery takes one by surprise. At stone's thrown is the week-old Zaitoon and Marry Brown is separated by a traffic intersection.
The menu at all these places is pretty much similar and yet to each their own customer base. The eateries have changed the area profile as more people are willing to spend cash on foods that their parents perhaps never tasted or knew. Pizzas and pastas, burgers and the crispy crunchy chicken are the new objects of desire not only among the youths but many nouveau riche families.
So the small pilgrim town has arrived! Initially there was apprehension over the fast food brands prematurely closing shop. But the trend over the years moved people to dining differently. And the city only witnessed the entry of more players.
Having said that, Madurai -- I am often reminded -- still expects higher quality product offered at reasonable prices. And it surely includes food. People do love to delve deep and diverse only when the item is pocket friendly. That is why perhaps the Pizza Cottage (with branches in Malaysia and Chennai) brought the first of its kind concept pizza restaurant to this city where once upon a time people did not hesitate to compare the pizza to the oothappam!
I was impressed by the quick-service and high turnover inside the outlet on a weekday. Complex flavours and counter-style line in where customers select the ingredients of their choice for the final making is what seems to have caught the fancy of many. And then add to it the ever popular scheme-- whether it is clothes or food -- 'the buy one get one free' bait.
It makes tasting a variety easier. You can go for the American pan pizza with the Italian hand tossed pizza or the low calorie wheat pizza with thin crusts. The combos for two, four, six and eight and the family cottage pack are competitively priced with a choice of items from the 100-odd listed that include pizzas, burgers, pastas, sandwiches, salads, starters and a whole lot of desserts, smoothies and mocktails. Those with ample time, taste and patience can really strike a good deal to their satisfaction.
In every city certain changes happen organically. And Madurai is a city that surely knows how to eat. Only the old timers worry whether the pace of change is terrifying. Mainly because the city still holds a treasure trove of food gems that do not wear a branded logo but hold on their own with their time tested signature dishes and reputation. And as they also say, the best food is still found in peoples' homes!
