When it comes to a hearty feast, biryani would most certainly top the list of any average Indian. More so if you are in Andhra Pradesh.
For who can resist the aromatic flavour of a meal which has rice cooked with whole spices, be it with vegetables or meat!
Bringing the different biryani flavours to the city is the newly-opened restaurant Sweet Magic that presents the traditional recipes of biryanis from various corners of the state.
So you have at least 15 varieties of biryanis, some which would be a first for the city’s food lovers. Ulavacharu biryani, Avakai biryani, the super spicy Guntur’s famous Red chilli biryani, Ginger biryani, Mutton keema biryani, Prawn biryani and the all-time favourite Dum biryani — the menu dished out at Sweet Magic has an exhaustive range of flavours from the Vijayawada-Guntur region known for its spicy cuisine. And we wonder what’s with the name Sweet Magic!
“The restaurant was first started 20 years ago in Vijayawada as a traditional sweet store. After gaining popularity in the Vijayawada and Guntur region, it went on an expansion spree to include traditional cuisine of the region. The name was retained because of its brand recall value and since all its eight branches in Andhra were opened under the ‘Sweet Magic’ brand,” says T. Rama Koteswara Rao, the General Manager of Sweet Magic (Vijayawada).
All-in-one
Located on Beach Road beside Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan, the restaurant is the first branch in the city of the popular chain.
The specialty of the restaurant chain is its wide array of traditional Andhra delicacies, sweets, snacks, breakfast and fast food counter — all under one roof.
Just like its cuisine, the restaurant’s interiors too are a reflection of Andhra’s rich history in cinema and music. So you have an imposing picture of NTR and actress Savitri at one corner and the next wall has a framed portrait of a young and handsome Kamal Haasan with a lanky Rajnikanth from one of the first films of K. Balachander. Sweet Magic has a separate section for breakfast, a separate takeaway counter of sweets, bakery products and snacks and a well spread-out restaurant area with a party hall that can host small private gatherings.
We start the traditional spicy feast with a special preparation of volcano fish and the restaurant’s signature starter dish of Fried chicken. Marinated in spices, the volcano fish is made from the sea fish vanjaram which is given a coating of fried atukulu (flattened rice) for a crispy flavour.
The kebabs — Saptes murgh kebab and Murgh kalji kebab - are equally delicious. After a sumptuous start to the feast, we can’t wait to relish the traditional biryanis, which the restaurant is famous for. So our culinary journey in the main course begins with the Ulavacharu biryani.
The tangy flavour of the horse-gram gravy is perfectly balanced and complements the biryani without overpowering it. But it is the Guntur special Red chilli biryani that sets out taste buds on fire! The strong fiery smell of the red chillies can’t be missed even before you taste it. For those who love spicy cuisine, this biryani is a must-try.
But make sure to have a glass of buttermilk with you for some relief.
We also recommend the restaurant’s Ginger biryani for its mild, sweet and spicy taste — something new for biryani lovers.
This apart, you can also select from a wide choice of curries like Gongura mutton and prawn, Nellore chepa pulusu, Crab curry and Bommidala pulusu.
The vegetarian section is equally exhaustive. For those confused with the choices — there is also a veg and non-veg thali and a special executive thali on offer.
Breakfast menu
The restaurant’s breakfast menu has some unique features as well with Guntur idli, Babai idli, Idli — ulavacharu, Upma dosa, Upma Pullattu and for the health conscious there is also the Fat free dosa, Ragi dosa and Carrot utappam among other varieties.
After a hearty meal, you can pick up the special range of Kaju sweets in the sweet counter or opt for one of its sugar-free varieties of desserts.
Name : Sweet Magic
Location : Beach Road, beside Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan
Timings : 6.45 a.m. to 10.45 p.m.