It is Madras Day – the day a city celebrates its birthday. And what is a birthday without a party and great food?
Take a look at some of the oldest eateries in the city.
1. Ratna Cafe, Triplicane
Started in 1948 by a man from Mathura, Triloknath Gupta, the family still manage this very popular eatery.
2. Rayar’s Mess, Mylapore
The Rayar’s Mess has been around for more than 75 years in Mylapore.
Breakfast at Rayar’s Mess is usually idli, vadai, pongal served with a variety of chutneys, including the famous kara chutney, sambar and molagai podi.
3. Karpagambal Mess, Mylapore
My earliest memory to the place was when it I could not say no to a sweet, Vasudevan recommends kasi halwa, but we finally have wheat halwa. There is also rich badam halwa for those who want to binge further.
4. Mami’s Mess, Mylapore
Customers flock to buy Kozhukattai, a sweet dumpling made with rice flour filled with wheat and coconut. Although it was renovated recently it is still more than 50 years old.
5. Jannal Bhajji Kadai, Mylapore
In a little lane around the Kapaleeshwar temple is a small green grilled window on the wall that serves sinfully delicious bhajjis. You stand here and eat to your heart’s fill, be it bhajjis or upma or idlis.
6. Kalathi Stall, Mylapore
The headlines here scream of Rajinikanth and Sachin Tendulkar but what it does not scream about is the recipe of the rose milk which Mani and his family has safely guarded for over 80 years and sells it here fresh.
7. Novelty Tea House, Mint Street
Novelty Tea House started as a tea stall in the late 50s by Chandrakant Moolchand Shah and it is now managed by the third generation.
8. Mehta’s Vada Pav, Mint Street
In a little stall, barely enough to house a man and his delicacies, is one of the oldest stalls here which sells vada pav and mirchi bhajji.
9. Kakada Ramprasad, Mint Street
One has to try out two of their most famous specialities – the aalu tikki chaat and the hot hot jalebis.
10 Anmol Lassi, Mint Street
The board says “Anmol Mohit Patiala, specialist in Kesar Lassi.” The man at the shop also serves masala butter milk.
(Written by Lakshmi Sharath, the article originally appeared in The News Minute. It has been edited for length.)