Gone are the days when the city would call it a night, especially in terms of grabbing a bite at 2 a.m. Of course, there are restaurants and take-out places like Mathysa, Twilight, Buhari and Hotel Crescent to satisfy your midnight hunger pangs. But when you’re partying from dusk to dawn, the last thing you’d want to do is to head out in the darkness in your near-malnourished state to appease exotic cravings.
From dum biryani to pizza pollastra, the food available isn’t secondary to drinking. While there’s a wide variety to choose from in the 24x7 coffee shops and restaurants, there are some dishes that have people coming back for more. In fact, regular revellers swear their allegiance to a specific hotel and make it their post-party haunt. Some even have the option to pre-order their dinner, so they don’t end up waiting. After a night of debauchery, they kick back their heels and suedes to tuck in to a potlam of rice or a Thai green curry.
The Park
What’s popular: Their signature Murg dum biryani baked in a puducherry clay pot and served with onion and cucumber raita and baingan ka salan.
Where: The 24-hour Six-O-One Restaurant
Why: Nothing spells comfort like a one-pot meal and the biryani is the perfect way to end an all-night drinking binge. Served in individual clay pots, the murg dum biryani can be easily hailed as one of the city’s favourites.
When it’s available: All through the night
Price: Rs. 945 (exclusive of taxes)
Other favourites: Smoked chicken pasta
Address: 601, Anna Salai
Contact: 4267 6000
Hyatt Regency
What’s popular: Pizza pollastra
Where: Focaccia
Why: One can’t go wrong with cheesy pizza at the end of a long night of drinking and dancing at 365 A.S. Topped with chicken, jalapeno, onion, oregano this thin crust pizza can be a wholesome meal in itself, as it is light and easy to eat.
When it’s available: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Price: Rs. 690 (exclusive of taxes)
Other favourites: Sichuan chilli chicken and mozzarella cheese sticks
Address: 365, Anna Salai, Teynampet
Contact: 6100 1234
Hilton Chennai
What’s popular: Midnight Buffet
Where: Est, the 24X7 cafe Lounge
Why: The buffet has a spread that includes starters, main course items and desserts. The biryani (vegetable and lamb) and the pastas (Penne Arrabiata in tangy tomato sauce and Spaghetti Bolognese in cheese sauce) are not only filling but are also convenient to eat or take away. Guests have the option of pre-ordering their meal a la carte from an extensive menu including appetisers, curries and rice-based dishes before going up to party at Q Bar.
When it’s available: 12 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Price: For vegetarians Rs. 1650 and for non-vegetarians Rs. 2000 (including taxes)
Other favourites: The steak sandwich (Tenderloin, bell peppers, onions and melted cheese)
Address: Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Guindy
Contact: 2225 5555
The Raintree, Anna Salai
What’s popular: Curries with roti
Where: Up North
Why: While those at Madera have the option of ordering burgers, sandwiches and kati rolls at the bar, guests at High, the rooftop pub, can head over to the North Indian restaurant for their fill of Punjabi food. The spice-laced curries like dhaba gosht and paneer lababdar are popular, and are eaten with tandoori rotis. Alternately, you can make your own sandwiches at The Kitchen on the ground floor.
When it’s available: Up North till 11.30 p.m. and The Kitchen till 1 a.m.
Price: Approximately Rs. 2,500 for two people
Other favourites: Mah ki Kali Dal and Punjabi dhabe di dal
Address: 636, Anna Salai, Teynampet
Contact: 2830 9999
Park Hyatt
What’s popular: Lamb adana kebab and chicken satay
Where: The Flying Elephant
Why: The smoky, spicy flavours in both these dishes appeal to the taste buds after a hard night of partying. As the music and dancing winds down, the satay is easy to eat, while the adana kebab, that comes with Turkish bread, salad and a garlic dip, is the more filling option.
When it’s available: Till 3 a.m.
Price: Chicken Satay at Rs. 665 and Adana Kebab at Rs. 955
Address: 39, Velachery Bypass Road, Raj Bhavan Colony, Periyar Nagar, Velachery
Contact: 7177 1234
Crowne Plaza
What’s popular: Potalam rice
Where: Cappuccino
Why: Specially created with after-party guests in mind, it has a base of ghee rice cooked in coconut milk, with chicken curry, chicken 65, mutton sukka, onion sambal, brinjal and cucumber, topped with a boiled egg, wrapped in a plantain leaf and baked. The various flavour combinations are everything one craves for at the end of a long night of drinking and dancing, combined with a dose of much-needed carbs. There’s a vegetarian option as well.
When it’s available: Saturday nights
Price: Rs. 800 for Veg and Rs. 900 for Non Veg (including a beer each and taxes)
Other favourites: Aloo paratha, Southern Railway Lamb curry
Address: TTK Road, Alwarpet
Contact: 3020 5533
Taj Club House
What’s popular: Thai veg green curry with steamed rice
Where: Club House, the all-day diner
Why: The combination of spring vegetables braised in coconut milk with lemon grass, sweet basil and Thai curry paste is simple and light, yet filling. It’s an easy-to-eat rice-based dish created for the ravenous post-party crowd.
When it’s available: All day
Price: Rs. 625 plus taxes
Other favourites: Curd rice, pizzas, pastas, dosai
Address: 2, Club House Road, Anna Salai
Contact: 6631 3131
