No matter how refined a foodie might get in his palate, he still shares a deep love for rural dhaba fare that seems to be the cornerstone of Indian cuisine. Quintessential North Indian food before reaching its popular fancy heights gained its fame through dhabas and many good restaurants have tried to capture the same vivacity through their menu. One of the heavyweights in North Indian cuisine category is ‘Punjab Grill’, a chain of posh restaurants founded by the famous Jiggs Kalra. Although the restaurant is no longer under his brand umbrella, it still maintains the high quality and excellence that gave the restaurant its popularity. There are several outlets of Punjab Grill dotted all over the city but the one on the upper ground floor of Phoenix Market City, Velachery is Chennai’s finest.

Menu is purely North Indian, comprising of usual suspects you hope to see on any good curry menu. While variety is not exhaustive, it lets you browse through a wonderful array of dishes. Go hungry, the food is heavy and fulfilling. As they don’t serve alcohol, Punjab Grill offers a refreshing selection of coolers. Check out what’s available. Give the drink company of few yummy appetizers. On your plate should be, ghee roast mutton boti, khumb ki tikki, fish amritsari, paneer tikka satay, murgh ki chaampein, dahi ke kebab, tandoori lobster, bhutteyan de kebab, raan-e-sikandari and chakunder ki tikki. When you reach the second course pick between, bharwan kesari guchchi, murgh makhani, Rawalpindi channa, kadhai jheenga, amritsari malai kofta, dhaniya mirchi da kukkad, saag gosht, paneer lababdar, raarhya meat, Makai palak bhurji and murgh roast fatehwal.

Opt for a dum ki biryani or a basket of flatbreads like missi roti, zaafraani paronthi naan to mop up the curries. You can’t have a complete Indian meal without indulging in few decadent Indian desserts. Have your pick amongst, rasmalai, gulab jamun, phirni, kheer, kulfi falooda and litchi ki tehri. To create the dining room of Punjab Grill, they have taken elegant earthy theme and added to it a burst of vibrant colour. By using bright orange chairs, they take an average classy dining room to another level. Structure is modern and timeless. Punjab Grill would be a good place for family dinners or a posh backdrop for team lunches. Prices are a little outside of average pockets so visit accordingly.

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