Succulent fare from the sea

NEAR THE busy Blue Star Bus Stop at 5/1, 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar, you will find an orange signboard of a family restaurant beckoning you. If you miss the sign, just call 6192665. As you walk down the narrow passageway, you ask yourself "Am I at the right place?" What you will discover is a small, neatly done-up place with soft-spoken stewards who welcome you in.

This restaurant is run by Ziyad Sait, whose family has an export business in sea food. Quite natural that Ziyad's restaurant is a "sea food speciality". You can be sure that the proprietor cannot go wrong in his choice of the catch of the day.

You could do away with the normal soup appetizer, but if you must have it, then stick to the sweet corn chicken.

You could start with the nibblers - fish/ prawn pakodas at Rs. 35 and Rs. 40 per serving. They can give you a right start.

The chefs at this restaurant are from Kerala.

As the dinner progressed, we were transported to that land of coconuts and the sea. The Fish Masala Fry (pomfret) and the Karimeen (pearl spot) Fry had an unusual flavour - being coated with spicy coconut crumbs and crispy fried. They cost for Rs. 90 and Rs. 80. For the main course, we tried out the Chemeen-Prawn Masala with the Ceylon parotta - a delicious combination, but a word of caution for those who need to watch their weight and cholesterol levels. You could try the Pathri instead for it is a dry chappati made of rice flour.

The Fish Molee (with a choice of seer or pomfret) was delightful and combined well with appams. Nandu Roast looked mouth-watering, but we didn't care much for the crab-meat.

You could also try out the Koonthal-squid, Kallumakai - shell fish and mussels, too.

There's an assortment of chicken dishes made in the Chinese or Indian styles, that appear in menu cards of all restaurants in the city. The choice for the vegans is rather limited, but one gets to eat the usual North Indian and Chinese preparations.

There are biriyanis, ghee rice and kebabs too, but if you wish to have a different experience, then stick to the Kerala seafood varieties, because they are authentic.

If you possess a sweet tooth, you need to move on elsewhere, for no desserts or ice creams are served. The name of the restaurant is rather unusual! Inspired by a popular Indipop number - 'Made in Sea'!

P. B.

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