Rangoli, Saravana Bhavan, T.Nagar, Chennai

Every time there is a plan to go to Rangoli, I tell myself that I am not really hungry and I don't need the Thali. Then something happens when I see the Thali menu card and I count myself into the Thali gang, and always come out a happy soul.

This place would top the list for authentic Gujarati/Rajasthani food when it comes to taste, ambience, service and choice of thali and a-la-carte. The thali starts with pudina-jal jeera pani, dhokla and two other short eats (veg cutlets, kachodis, etc.) served with mint and sweet chutney. Then comes the main course with rotlis, theplas, puris served with about four sabjis (paneer, aloo, bhindi, mixed vegetables, etc.), two dals, kadi, curd, two sweet dishes (kheer, shrikhand, halwa, etc.), marinated bajji mirchi, butter milk and sweet paan. Each of these dishes have a distinct and authentic taste. Some of the dishes have the typical Gujarati sweet taste. Its your lucky day if the thali includes the Moong Dal Khichdi. If not, for those who do not plan to frequent this place, would highly recommend ordering this dish. This hot khichdi served with warm ghee just melts in your mouth.

By now you would be holding on to your tummy and greed makes you want to somehow polish off every last bit of the khichdi. You shake your head vigourously when the waiter wants to serve you plain rice.

The a la carte menu offers a great variety as well. Baingan bharta is recommended.

The service is suprisingly pleasant, unlike the other restaurants in Saravana Bhavan. With Rajasthani puppets, sketches and bright colours, the ambience is cheerful as well.

Mansukh's,T.Nagar,Chennai

If you are looking for some authentic Gujarati/Rajasthani meals, this is one of the few places in Chennai. The meals includes dhoklas, rotlis, puris, sweet and normal dal, kadi, three sabjis, khichdi, plain rice, curd rice and a sweet. All served piping hot and unlimited. There are times when one of the sabjis goes overboard with masala and oil, but thats only with respect to their other dishes and not comparing them with the other run off the mill North Indian restaurants around. Ideally go there for a Sunday brunch, eat your heart out, come back home and sleep.

Mansukh also makes decent chats, and some quick meal deals like roti and sabji of the day. Their Aloo Parathas are sinful. They also sell good sweets and Gujarati snaks like Khakdas, Theplas, Ghatiyas.

The only minus point is the parking space or the lack of it.

Martins Corner, Salcette, Goa

Being one of Amitabh Bachan's and Sachin Tendulkar's favourites, and our guest house care taker highly recommending it lead us here for dinner. Just when you think you are lost in almost a jungle, the lights, music and cool breeze just hits you suddenly.

Martins Corner symbolises Goa, Mario Miranda cartoons, live music, cool breeze, beer, port wine and good food. I wouldn't say the food is amazing, but its the entire experience that uplifts you and gives you a true Goan holiday feeling. If you like sweet wine, don't miss out on the Port Wines in Goa, with Martins Corner serving you a good one.

Kailash Parbat, Harrington Road, Chennai

My memories of eating at Kailash Parbat, Colaba, Bombay took me to this place. And it did not disappoint me (us) one bit. The chaat platter was refreshing, the pani puri crisp and healing. Ragda patties taste good, wish they were served hot.

The bhatura platter was a big hit. 4 varieties of bhatura in a platter served with some awesome chole. We over-ordered the bhatura platters (thanks to one of the waiters misguiding us that the bhaturas are in the size of rotis), and hence need to go again (and again) to try out more things.

There is an express counter for a typical come, have chaat and go experience instead of the sit down dining restaurant upstairs.

My next visit gave an opportunity to try out more things. The Paav Bhaji was too salty, hopefully just an accident on that particular day. The Jaipuri Biryani is really delicious with a wonderful taste and flavour to it. The Awadhi Biryani wasn't too far behind, but could go less on the oil front. In fact, overall the food is quite greasy.

Chaats @ Adyar, Chennai

‘Parathas @ Adyar” would have been a more apt name for this little place serving, parathas, chaats, other north Indian dishes and the omnipresent Chinese.

They have a good variety of parathas like aloo, mooli, gobi, methi, etc. Gobi paratha is quite unusual, with shredded fried cauliflower (serves the purpose for gobi Manchurian as well) stuffed in the paratha. Parathas are serves with dal, sabji, pickle and curd, each one simple and tasty.

The chaats were quite disappointing with the ingredients not being too fresh and an overdose of the sweet chutney. It was quite like the chaats available in all south Indian joints, not what is expected out of some north Indians running the place.

The ambience is no-nonsense, come, eat, go types.

Overall, a good place to go dig into some good parathas.

Location: Off MG Road, Adyar,Chennai.