The Piano restaurant at Hotel Savera leads a double life; as a leading multi-cuisine and as venue of the biggest and most variegated buffet in Chennai. It is a warm, friendly restaurant that visitors immediately take a liking to. The long, low-ceilinged room is spacious and cozy at the same time. Along the right-hand wall are dim, intimate alcoves; on the other side are tall windows and, under them, the long stretch of tables holding the buffet - the "Non-Stop Gobble Fest", as the ads call it. It is open three meals a day and rivals the regular menu in popularity, but, as it draws from and expands on the dishes listed in the menu, we will first explore the menu.

The Piano serves continental, Indian and Chinese food, offering a selection of dishes that represents every region that "constitutes" each cuisine. The Continental menu includes a cocktail (Rs.125) and fruit juices (Rs.55), salads - Russian, Chicken, Marie Louise, seafood and more (Rs.40 - 105), Soups - Minestrone, French Onion, Consomme Royale and more (Rs.55-75). The main courses include the delightful Fish Florentine (poached fish topped with cheese sauce and baked, served on a bed of spinach for Rs.140), Baked vegetable Princess (Rs.125), Chicken a la Kiev (breast of chicken stuffed with garlic butter and crumb fried for Rs. 140) and Italian spaghetti, orecchiette and macaroni served with a choice of Carbonara, Neapolitaine and Bolognaise sauces (Rs.140 each). And very filling sizzlers; Hawaiin Steak (Rs.145), Green Pepper Steak (Rs.145), Cheateu Briand (double fillet steak served with vegetables, for Rs. 190) and more.

The "Indian Masterpieces", beginning with the vegetable dishes (Rs.90-130) include Paneer Makhani and Hariyali, Tadka and Kali Dals, Channa and Aloo dishes. Chicken dishes (Rs.150 - 255); Murgh Masalam (full chicken with kheema served with pulao rice), Andhra Roast Chicken Shahi Kurma (tender boneless chicken cooked in rich cream sauce). There are three mutton dishes (for Rs.135 each); Mutton Badami Pasanda, Kadai Gosht and Kashmiri Roganjosh. Seafood dishes (Rs.140-350) include Malabar Prawn and Punjabi Machi Maseldar. There are a wide variety of Tandoori dishes (Rs.125-255), from Paneer Tikka to Machili Irani and Kababs of chicken, fish and sheek. Of course, no Indian food menu would be complete without rice preparations; Piano's offerings include biriyanis and pulaos (Rs.110 - 160) and a very intriguing Kashmir Nut Pulao.

The "Chinese Legends" start with soups; vegetable and meat, hot and sour and sweet corn and Dancing Grab Soup! (Rs.70 - 95). Then, the main dishes of Prawns (Rs.350 each), fish with red chilli and Peking Sauce (Rs.150 each), Vegetables sweet and sour, in garlic sauce, cashew nut Kung Pao (Rs.95 - 105), Rice and Noodles (Rs.105 - 150) cooked Schezwan and Hakka styles with eggs and chicken and American Chop Suey.

For dessert there is Cream Caramel, Jazz and Hot Fudge Sundaes, Praline Upside Down, Fruit Salad, Ice Cream, and more (Rs.65-70)

The Buffet, the business executive's time saving, spot-decision meal, is at the Savera vast, irresistible and very economical. The Lunch spread consists of 2 soups, 13 salads, 6 meat dishes of fish, seafood, chicken, mutton, pork and beef, 14 vegetable dishes, dal, 3 types of rice, 2 rotis, noodles, vada, a Chinese dish, a continental dish and 14 desserts. Also juices, tea and coffee are available. The breakfast and dinner version are fractionally smaller. The buffet costs Rs. 140 for breakfast, Rs. 195 for lunch and Rs. 215 for dinner.

The Piano Multi-Cuisine Restaurant is at Hotel Savera, 146, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Chennai - 600 004. Phone: 827 4700 

Arun Masilamoni

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