Dining in a dungeon with ghouls, a date night in a coffin, drinking wine out of syringes while lounging in hospital robes… and if you have a thing for masochism, perhaps being whipped as you down bowls of steaming hot soup may be your thing. Welcome to the world of themed restaurants. These have, for years, caught the fancy of diners the world over. First it was good food, now it’s good food and ambience that matter. In a bid to reinvent and present something new and outdo others, restaurants are getting creative — some unabashedly bordering on the gross — like the toilet-themed ones that serve you in dinnerware that looks like the lavatory… Closer home in Chennai, the themed restaurant craze is not new. In the 90s we had Carnival, a revolving restaurant, then came Mocha in early 2000 with its various themed rooms, and a chirpy yellow bus restaurant. Of late, numerous such restaurants have mushroomed across the city. Here’s a list of interesting and bizarre ones that made us sit up and take notice.
Koftas behind bars at Kaidi Kitchen
Who would have thought that an evening in a jail cell with friends would get us this excited? All the more, because we have an entire cell to ourselves, while obedient jailers bring us food. Then there are a few waiters dressed in black-and-white striped prisoner outfits, bringing up the rest of our order. And for the bad prisoners there are handcuffs — props that many diners enthusiastically pose with. The vegetarian menu has Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes, with endearing names like Kaidiyon ki pyaas (chaach), Kaidiyon ki pasandar (soup), Kaidiyon ki pasand (laddu). Apart from the dishes, what you will also find on the menu is information on famous prisons around the world.
P.S. You can’t pre-book a cell on weekends.
What to order
Litti chokha — a delicacy from Bihar, these are doughy, crispy little balls with roasted chickpea flour stuffing that’s doused in ghee, Batata Harra and Amritsari Paneer Tikka
Address: 20/3, Bishop Wallers Avenue, Mylapore
Tel : 3020 5648
The secret cabin at Swiss Hutte
When a getaway seems impossible, hop over to Swiss Hutte, tucked behind the bustling Greams Road. As the name suggests, this place resembles a chalet by the Alps, and has brick walls and snug wooden interiors, with a few pieces of furniture made from old trees in their garden. Before it took on this chic avatar, it used to be a barn. And the room where you dine in used to be the milking room. The menu is largely Continental with steaks, spare ribs and lasagne, but you can also find Goan pork vindaloo and Madras Chicken Country Captain. The backdoor of the cabin leads to a lush garden, where you can organise a party and dine under the stars.
What to order
Grilled seafood and beef burger
Address : 168, Graemes Lane
Tel : 4207 4844
Meals and wheels atCiclo café
The café has now become an independent institution in the country — it’s the meeting point for business, friendship and love. Cycling cafés are a new addition to this tradition, and Chennai is home to the first cycling café in the country, Ciclo Cafe. Started by Nidhi Thadani and her husband (along with TI Cycles), the couple who also run L’Amandier, Ciclo lets customers enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of pie while your bike is being washed. If you prefer getting your hands soiled, there’s always the option of washing your bike.
Here, the decor matches the theme — there’s a reading area with books on cycling, the legs of the table were previously cycle forks, some are rims, balcony lights are wheels, and there’s an artsy chandelier with cycle chains. Sounds positively junkyard-tastic, doesn’t it? And that’s not at all, you can also decide upon which high-end bicycle you want to buy; there are brands such as Bianchi, Cannondale, Mongoose and Schwinn. And in keeping with the theme, Ciclo’s July menu had all sorts of titbits and information on the Tour de France 2015. If you’re looking for pies, quiches, pizza and coffee, Ciclo is the place to head, and if you have a cycling fetish, why not?
What to order
Zucchini, rosemary and feta tart or the chicken ham quiche. If you’re looking for something light that’s also filling, you cannot go wrong with the watermelon and feta salad or the salade nicoise. Finally, round off your meal with an espresso and a piece of salted caramel cheesecake.
Address : 47, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kotturpuram
Tel : 3085 3800
The world in a tea cup atCoco Jaunt 1728
When Coco Jaunt 1728 was launched a few months ago, there was no doubt about the theme: the invite was in the form of an airplane ticket. And when you step in, don’t be surprised if you feel like planning a trip yourself. A wall covered with visa stamps, a mural of a biker, and a menu filled with dishes from various countries will probably help. Bright yellow accent walls might remind you of sunny beaches and a big ‘CJ’ sign made of light bulbs, of Las Vegas.
With primarily Indian food, with flavours from both the North and South, there is a smattering of American and Continental food as well. The most intriguing item is the bunny chow — no, it’s not rabbit food, but a street food specialty from South Africa, originating from the Indian community in Durban. A hollowed out bread roll serves as the bowl, and is filled with a gravy of your choice. It’s styled as a bakery/cafe, and serves a variety of pastries and cakes as well.
What to order
The fries, which come with peri peri, herb and olive, Mexican and cheese and onion flavours, are a must. The chicken masala fries doused with minced chicken gravy are melt-in-the-mouth. For a dose of coffee, try the affogato. Railway mutton curry or paneer masala in the bunny chow is great when you’re hungry.
Address: T2, 4th Main Road, Anna Nagar West
Tel : 3092 5981
Dining with Tarzan atRainforest
If you ever want to dine in the jungle, you don’t have to travel far: simply drive down to Adyar. Rainforest has been a family favourite ever since it opened as one of the earliest theme restaurants in the city. A man with a crocodile casually slung over his shoulder greets you at the door — he’s just a painting, of course — and on entering, it’s like stepping into a different world. Rocky walls, creepers hanging from the ceiling, and the slightly eerie background noise of crickets chirping. Occasionally, an animal roars, startling you out of your reverie, while you’re waiting for your food to arrive.
The menu is multi-cuisine, features a lot of North Indian and Indo-Chinese flavours, and is geared towards pleasing non-vegetarians. Be prepared for a wait if you’re going on the weekend; it’s popular enough and they don’t take reservations. Weekend evenings might be a better time to visit. However, you can while away the time with the kili josiar who makes his rounds at the restaurant.
For a similar restaurant experience, you can also visit Animal Kingdom in Adyar.
What to order
Dragon chicken and biryani
Address : 41 & 42, 1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar
Tel : 4218 7222
A fun stop at The Stop
Food is no game. But at The Stop, the gaming restaurant in Adyar, there are many to play, while indulging in a bowl of steaming soup or a plate of saucy pasta. The restaurant, located in a basement, is cramped with a billiards board, an air hockey table, a playstation and dining tables that resemble ludo boards. Additionally, for those who wish to have a sit-down meal and play at the same time, there’s also chess, snake and ladders and pallanguzhi to choose from. However, despite being a gaming destination, the place plates up some popular fine-dining dishes, including grilled chicken breast, spicy paneer shashlik, honey chilli fish, and salt and pepper squid. However, it can’t be helped that the place gets a little noisy, what with raucous customers out to have a good time.
What to order
Curried saffron sauce pasta, carbonara pasta, choice of cream soup
Address : 48B/2, 1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar
Tel : 4551 1966
Tea is served atMad Hatter’s Tea Garden
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Garden is a happy splash of colours — yellow curtains, bright coloured cushions, polka-dotted tea cups, a red book shelf and a multi-coloured well, all under the canopy of dark green leaves. The garden, designed around Alice in Wonderland , also has quirky tea cups and giant mushrooms painted on the walls, and hearts and clovers painted on doors. For those who wish to avoid the heat, there are colourful umbrellas to lounge under. Or an air-conditioned alcove, if that is what you prefer.
Given the number of schools in the area, and the cheery decor of the place, the garden is a hot favourite among children, and is often hired out for themed birthday parties, book readings and high tea. Home-made pickles and jams are available for sale, along with cakes, cupcakes and cheesecakes made by city-based home-bakers.
Come in to enjoy a hot meal, or simply to enjoy the garden. Sip on a cup of the Mad Hatter’s pot of tea, or try their famous fruit slushies. Tap into the free WiFi and finish up some work, or pick a book from the little free library and read for hours. No matter where you perch yourself in the garden, or what you choose to do while you are there, you cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the riot of colours the place offers.
What to order
Grilled chicken with smoked sausages and mushroom, accompanied by mint and garlic potatoes, chilli cheese toast, tuna and salami sandwiches and tomato and basil pasta.
Address: Bungalow 14, 2 Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetpet
Tel: 2836 2163
(With inputs from Priyadarshini Paitandy, Raveena Joseph, Apoorva Sripathi and Susanna Myrtle Lazarus)
