MYLAI KARPAGAM MESS

Mylai Karpagam Mess.... One of the not so plush but a tasty south indian eat out. This would be a small place located in East Mada Street, opposite to the Kapali temple main entrance & the Bharati Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore. There would be about 9 tables in the Non Ac and 2 tables in AC room . As stated earlier the restaurant is not plush and hence do not expect any kind of ambience or a smart waiter. What is so special about this restaurant that makes me write about this is food quality and taste. Especially the keerai vadai (Vada made with Palak/keerai) and the Sweet Poli are just mouth watering even as I think about it. The dosas are crisp here and idlis are as soft as cotton. I am normally a north indian food fan, however, this restaurant pulls me on all the south indian dishes.
This is one of the few restaurants in Chennai which have maintained / improved on taste over the years. I have been a vistor in this restaurant since 1997. In the last 12 years I have not seen a dip in taste at all. The owners of this restaurant have spent very little on improving the ambience and promoting the restaurant but have focused a lot on quality of food. Very clearly the reason why it has repute among all the Mylaporians over the time.
Since the food products by itself have become expensive, some may rate this restaurant as an expensive one. But as they say, quality is priceless.

What lot of them may not really be aware that greats like Carnatic Singer T.V.Sankarnarayanan is a frequent visitor to this restaurant (I saw a newspaper cutting showing his picture of eating in the restaurant). Some of the big shots come in big cars and park it near Kapali temple and walk up to have a small bite in this restaurant.

All the veggies those who want to taste a quality tamil food , check out this place out. The suggested menu would be Sweet Poli, Pongal, Keerai Vadai and then the Degree Coffee.