The Pasta Bar Veneto in Egmore | Chennai
What you see ' The Pasta Bar Veneto situated on the 1st Floor of Alsa Mall surely gets your attention if you are cruising down Montieth Road in Chennai. The restaurant is owned by Fifth Avenue Hotels & Resorts and the first branch was opened in March 2010 followed by the 2nd in October 2010 in T Nagar. This little bistro is typical of an Italian food joint cum cafe with pictures and artifacts of the great food cities of the country. Seating is compact and cozy and interiors are simple. The ambience is unassuming and you feel at home instantly. Soft rock music plays in the background. The restaurant also has a trendy Espresso bar counter. The hookahs lend a Middle Eastern touch to it.
What you get ' This pasta bar boasts of its most treasured recipes passed down from generations in Italy ' just as good as the well kept secret of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The menu is a delight with little trivia about Italy and its food, and makes for interesting reading while choosing your dish. The non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes are color coded. The names of the dishes are in Italian with English explanation. You could also take the assistance of the cheerful manager to pick a dish.
We started with Sesame Chicken (crumb fried chicken), Salsicce alla Griglia (sausages seasoned with spicy mayo) and the Bruschetta al Pomodoro (toasted bread, tomato, garlic, olive oil), all served with delicious dips. We then had the Pomodoro e Basilico (tomato soup with basil and cream) which was strong in basil flavor and came with fried square pieces of bread. Fabulous!
Our main course dishes included Primavera (tomato sauce, roasted bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes, olives, vegetables, zucchini, olive oil and parmesan), Maccheroni di Pollo alla Pugliese (macaroni, grilled chicken, chicken salami, cheese sauce, tomatoes, parmesan, sun dried tomatoes). The latter is a baked dish and extremely rich, layered with each of these components. We also had the Grilled Tuna Salad Sandwich (tuna, lettuce, mayo, roasted bell peppers, cheese, onion and olives). Each of the dishes was lip smacking and sumptuous. You could try pasta too and pick from penne, fusilli, spaghetti etc. Thin crust pizzas (try the Toscana one), Lasagna and Crepes are also available.
For dessert, we had the Mud Pie and Cheese Cake, both of which were sinful. Their most recent must try dessert is the Light and Darkness ' just melts in your mouth! In refreshments, non-alcoholic Mojitos are available. These are fresh and a great drink to wash down a good meal. The Smoothies are a good choice too and you can get it made with less sugar. There are coffee varieties, milkshakes, sodas, iced teas and coolers apart from hookahs that are quite popular.
Our verdict ' Pasta Bar Veneto is a great place for authentic Italian cuisine. You can forget about being on a diet when you are here. The milkshakes could do with some improvement though. The music tends to get loud but can be turned down if requested. The ambience is ideal for an evening with friends and family as well as for a dinner for two. Good value for money considering the size of the portions. Parking space is available in the Alsa Mall complex itself and if full, you would have to park on the main roads. Service is quick. Perfect for a takeaway order especially if you are on the go.
What you pay for a meal for two ' Rs. 500-800
Anytime between ' 11 AM ' 11 PM
About the Author:
Samyuktha Anbunathan is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Chennai City information. Please visit the website to get all possible information about Chennai Shopping & more.
