Among the various South Indian food varieties, the Chettinad style holds a special place in the taste buds of food lovers. Of the various Chettinad cuisines in Chennai, 'Kaaraikudi' tops the chart among favourites. On entering the gates of the restaurant, one is welcomed by two huge statues of 'Iyanaars', which is a symbol of the Chettinad community. The door to this restaurant is made the traditional way, resembling the ones in Kaaraikudi. Once inside, the appetizing aroma and the traditional interior decors are extremely laudable. The waiters are dressed in authentic dhotis and kurtas. This 40-seater hall has incredibly attractive interior ornamentation. The artisans of Kaaraikudi district have made the designs and wall hangings and the tiles & marbles used to fabricate this hall are from the villages of Kaaraikudi. 

The menu contains some of the best mouth-watering delicacies found in the city. In fact, some of the recipes here are not available anywhere in Chennai. There are half dozen dishes in the chicken section alone. Starting from 'Chicken Roast' to 'Chicken Kuzhambu' and the special 'Chicken Kaaraikudi', no one can complain about the tingling taste of these dishes. The same holds good for all the varieties. Kaadai Varuval, Rabbit Chukka Fry, Pigeon Varuval, Turkey Roast are some of the exotic varieties in the menu. Kaaraikudi may not sound as a vegetarian's food paradise, but the menu does hold some good selection of vegetarian delicacies. 'Pakoda Kuzhambu', the ever-favourite 'Vathal Kuzhambu, are some of the dishes from the vegetarian kitchen. 'Vaalaipoo Vadai' is one of the tastiest of the vegetarian preparations. 

From 7 in the evening, the kitchen also produces delicacies such as Kal dosa, Kothu Paratha, Kheema dosa, etc. All the chefs in the kitchen are from Chettinad, so that there is authenticity in the dishes prepared Briyani varieties are fast moving, for there is a great demand for it. The food is spicy, and is served in traditional south Indian containers. The desserts available here are quite different too. The carrot halwa, in which 'Vettiver' is added, is quite a delight. The restaurant plays evergreen songs from old Tamil movies for its customers. The prices of the dishes are quite affordable and the food is worth the bill. In short, with Rs.500, a family of four can have a hearty meal.

The restaurant is open from 11 in the morning to 3:30 in the evening, and again the kitchen functions from 7 p.m. to midnight. The place is crowded from 12:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon and 8 to 11 in the night. Kaaraikudi also undertakes outdoor catering. If any non-Indian wants to have a taste of authentic south Indian food, Kaaraikudi is just the place for him. For all those who are tired of customary food, check out the delicacies Kaaraikudi has to offer, and you will not be disappointed.

Kaaraikudi,
84, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai,
Chennai. Phone: 8111893

Reported by Ezekiels