The restaurants below are listed alphabetically and have been classed in four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over Rs1,200)
$$$ (Rs800 to Rs1,200)
$$ (Rs400 to Rs800)
$ (under Rs400)
These prices include a three-course meal for one, with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, as well as tax. Tipping is optional.
Benjarong
Widely regarded as the city's best Thai restaurant, Benjarong is justifiably popular. Apart from its yummy food, the staff are courteous and the interior is tasteful and soothing. It's best known for its seafood preparations, but also offers a very tempting selection of meat and vegetarian fare, from chargrilled duck to old-fashioned stir fries.
146 TTK Road, Alwarpet
Tel: (044) 2432 2640.
Price: $$
Dakshin
Dakshin has a superb selection of top-class southern dishes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It's especially noted for its seafood, ranging from fish and prawn to lobster and squid dishes. The interior is ornate yet reasonably intimate, with statues of traditional deities and atmospheric lighting. There's live Indian music daily.
ITC Hotel Park Sheraton & Towers, TTK Road
Tel: (044) 2499 4101.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html
Price: $$$
Peshawri
Sister restaurant of the award-winning Bukhara in Delhi, Peshawri also serves up delectable North-West Frontier cuisine. Predominantly cooked on the charcoal grill and clay oven, in an open kitchen, the beautifully marinated meat dishes are succulent perfection. There are also good vegetarian choices for non-carnivores. Individual platters are a terrific way to sample a selection of dishes (meat or veg). Wonderful ambience with authentic rustic décor of the region. Busy at weekends.
Sheraton Chola, 10 Cathedral Road
Tel: (044) 2811 0101.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html
Price: $$$-$$$$
Saravana Bhavan
A real Chennai institution, this ever-expanding chain has over 15 branches scattered around the city (see website for locations) and is a perfect place to feast on a marvellous range of south Indian cuisine, from the well-known staples like dosa, uttapam and idli to something more extravagant. They also do a very good job of thalis - a variety of dishes served on a compartmentalised stainless steel plate.
Website: www.saravanabhavan.com
Price: $
six-o-one
Specialising in freshly cooked pasta and wood-fired pizzas, this 24-hour informal restaurant has contemporary, stylish décor and also a selection of Indian and Western dishes. Perch at the pasta-choco bar while your dish is prepared in front of you, or indulge in the diverse Sunday Brunch. There's an admirable international wine selection.
The Park, 601 Anna Salai
Tel: (044) 4267 6000.
Website: http://chennai.theparkhotels.com/chennai_rest.html
Price: $$$
$$$$ (over Rs1,200)
$$$ (Rs800 to Rs1,200)
$$ (Rs400 to Rs800)
$ (under Rs400)
These prices include a three-course meal for one, with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, as well as tax. Tipping is optional.
Benjarong
Widely regarded as the city's best Thai restaurant, Benjarong is justifiably popular. Apart from its yummy food, the staff are courteous and the interior is tasteful and soothing. It's best known for its seafood preparations, but also offers a very tempting selection of meat and vegetarian fare, from chargrilled duck to old-fashioned stir fries.
146 TTK Road, Alwarpet
Tel: (044) 2432 2640.
Price: $$
Dakshin
Dakshin has a superb selection of top-class southern dishes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It's especially noted for its seafood, ranging from fish and prawn to lobster and squid dishes. The interior is ornate yet reasonably intimate, with statues of traditional deities and atmospheric lighting. There's live Indian music daily.
ITC Hotel Park Sheraton & Towers, TTK Road
Tel: (044) 2499 4101.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html
Price: $$$
Peshawri
Sister restaurant of the award-winning Bukhara in Delhi, Peshawri also serves up delectable North-West Frontier cuisine. Predominantly cooked on the charcoal grill and clay oven, in an open kitchen, the beautifully marinated meat dishes are succulent perfection. There are also good vegetarian choices for non-carnivores. Individual platters are a terrific way to sample a selection of dishes (meat or veg). Wonderful ambience with authentic rustic décor of the region. Busy at weekends.
Sheraton Chola, 10 Cathedral Road
Tel: (044) 2811 0101.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html
Price: $$$-$$$$
Saravana Bhavan
A real Chennai institution, this ever-expanding chain has over 15 branches scattered around the city (see website for locations) and is a perfect place to feast on a marvellous range of south Indian cuisine, from the well-known staples like dosa, uttapam and idli to something more extravagant. They also do a very good job of thalis - a variety of dishes served on a compartmentalised stainless steel plate.
Website: www.saravanabhavan.com
Price: $
six-o-one
Specialising in freshly cooked pasta and wood-fired pizzas, this 24-hour informal restaurant has contemporary, stylish décor and also a selection of Indian and Western dishes. Perch at the pasta-choco bar while your dish is prepared in front of you, or indulge in the diverse Sunday Brunch. There's an admirable international wine selection.
The Park, 601 Anna Salai
Tel: (044) 4267 6000.
Website: http://chennai.theparkhotels.com/chennai_rest.html
Price: $$$
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