Apr 08, 2002 08:39 PM
3798 Views
(Updated Apr 08, 2002 08:45 PM)
You may be wondering why Peace in a review about a restaurant. The reason is that its the only reason why I go there and there is nothing else which is special about the place.
Woodlands is actually a drive-in restaurant in Cathedral Road chennai. The most striking feature of the restaurant would be that its 'insulated' from the maddening noise of the traffic by trees that surrounds it (and hence the name Woodlands??). I was surprised when I visited the place for the first time, never thought there could be a place like this in the middle of the city.
Now lets get into business or the review or whatever :-)
There are 3 sections in the restaurant
Drive in
Where by you can go and park your car and the waiters would come in collect your orders, and you can eat sitting in the car. I don't do that anyway, what's the point??? But there is ample space of parking.
Indoors
Mind you, this in a non-ac section and very terrible during Madras summer. There is enough space for 200 or so people inside but the waiting time is too long. No other choices during the morning rush hours, you have to sit here if you want breakfast.
Outdoors
Naturally, I sit in this section, and it feels great. The trees surrounding you, and the silence somehow calms you down. But, there are only limited seats(wooden chairs rather) but its worth it. This section is open only in the evenings though and its also the best time 'visit' the place.
Food Fare
All kinds of popular South indian food are available here, But only Veg of course. The Sambhar served over here is supposed to be very good.
During the evenings, they have some other kinds of food, I don't know what cuisine they fall in. The popular ones are Chilli-Cheese Toast which is basically, a slice of bread coated with cheese and green chilli.
Cheese balls, basically they are minced veg and cheese rolled into balls and deep-fried.
Pizza's, don't go near them , they are not good at all!!
I would suggest you try the normal South Indian stuff, like Idli, Dosa, Vada , etc or the sambhar variety, sambhar idli, sambhar vada or the not-so-south-indian poori's which are quite good and stay away from the above mentioned Cheesey Stuff.
Yes, you get Ice-creams and soft drinks and all that stuff, but I would suggest that you end the meal with a cup of South Indian Coffee which is quite good.
Prices and Others
The food is not expensive and felt that the quality/quantity was reasonably ok. The prices of the Cheesy Stuff are unreasonable, which is one more reason to stay away from them.
One more thing, there is an indoor park where the kids can go and play, and its quite popular as well.
Conclusion
I don't go to woodlands to eat, rather I go there to 'relax' after a hard-days work. This is also a popular destination for people-in-love and you can notice them hanging around amidst the trees.
If you are at chennai, and are feeling irritated by the noise and all, I suggest you pay a visit woodlands drive-in and relax. I am sure that you will enjoy the serenity. As a restaurant, it not that great.
But If you want to eat Great South Indian food in Chennai, there are plenty of other places to choose from.
Rgds
RR
PS:Didn't have anything else to write, and my hands were itching, so wrote this. Do comment. I know there is nothing much in the review, but I will love the comments
