My Dinner Experience at Hotel Madurai Manner Mess, Anna Nagar, Chennai.

When it comes to food, Chennai never disappoints. Recently, I visited Hotel Madurai Manner Mess in Anna Nagar for dinner. I had heard a lot about this place, especially for its authentic Madurai-style food. So, I was excited to try it out and see if it lived up to the hype.

First Impressions at Madurai Manner Mess:

I reached Madurai Manner Mess around dinner time. The place had a simple and neat setup, just like a traditional South Indian mess. They welcomed me nicely, and the staff was friendly and helpful. The tables were clean, and the whole place had a homely feel. They serve food on banana leaves, which gave the authentic South Indian touch.

The ambience was good, not fancy but comfortable. It felt like a nice place to enjoy proper Tamil Nadu food without much distraction.

The Soups – A Good Start

I started my meal with Nandu Rasam Soup and Mutton Milagu Soup. Both soups were served hot and tasted really good.

• The Nandu Rasam Soup had the rich flavour of crab cooked with traditional spices and pepper. It was spicy and comforting.
• The Mutton Milagu Soup was equally nice, filled with black pepper flavour and soft pieces of mutton.

Both soups were perfect for a good start to the meal, especially for a non-veg lover like me.

Starters – Full of Variety

Next, I moved on to starters, and this part of the meal was much better. They had a huge variety of starters, and I picked a few popular ones to try.

What I Ordered

• Chettinad Chicken Fry – This was spicy, crispy and full of traditional Chettinad masala flavours.
• Vanjaram Fish Fry – The fish was fresh, well-marinated, and fried to perfection.
• Mutton Chukka – This was soft, spicy, and full of flavour. It had that Madurai-style punch.
• Soraputtu – This is a dish made from shark meat, shredded and cooked with spices. It was unique and tasty.

My Opinion on the Starters

I was quite happy with the starters. Each dish tasted fresh, and the spice levels were perfect for non-veg lovers. The quantity, however, felt a little less, especially for the price charged. But in terms of taste and quality, the starters were good.

Biriyani Experience – Mixed Feelings

After the soups, I ordered two different biriyanis because I wanted to try the variety they offered.

• First, I ordered Mutton Biriyani. They told me this was made in Dindigul style, which is famous for its seeraga samba rice and bold spices.
• Then, I ordered Chicken Biriyani, which they said was prepared in Kongu style.

My Opinion on the Biriyani at Madurai Manner Mess:

Both biriyanis were decent, but they didn’t really meet my high expectations. Since they claimed authentic regional styles, I expected rich flavours and perfect balance of spices. But the taste felt quite regular, not extraordinary.

Parotta Time – Regular and Nool Parotta

No Tamil Nadu non-veg meal is complete without Parotta, so I ordered two types:

• Regular Parotta – This was soft, flaky, and layered nicely.
• Nool Parotta – This is a type of string parotta, which is thinner and delicate, almost like thin noodles.

Both were served with non-veg curry, which was flavourful. The parottas were good, though nothing extraordinary. They were freshly made, which made them enjoyable. The curries had a nice homely taste, full of spices and rich gravy.

Sweet Ending – Elaneer Payasam

To end my dinner, I ordered Elaneer Payasam (tender coconut dessert). This was easily one of the best parts of the meal.

• The payasam was chilled, creamy, and had the mild sweetness of tender coconut.
• It was light, not too heavy, and felt refreshing after all the spicy food.

I would definitely recommend this dessert to anyone visiting Madurai Manner Mess.

Service – Friendly and Quick

The service throughout the meal was good. The staff was friendly and made sure I was comfortable. They explained the menu well, especially the difference between Dindigul biriyani and Kongu biriyani.

Even though the place was slightly busy, the food was served quickly, and they kept checking if I needed anything more. This attentiveness made my experience better.

Overall Taste – Good but Not Great

If I have to summarise the taste experience, I would say:

• Starters were good, especially the Chettinad Chicken Fry and Vanjaram Fish Fry.
• The soups were comforting and perfect to start the meal.
• The parottas and curries were decent.
• The biriyanis were a bit disappointing, mainly because I expected more authentic flavour after their claim of regional styles.
• The Elaneer Payasam was a winner, and I would go back just for that.

Pricing – Slightly on the Higher Side

While the taste was good, the price felt a bit high for the quantity served. Especially for items like biriyani and starters, I expected either larger portions or lower prices. This is something they could improve to make it better value for money.

Ambience – Simple and Clean

The ambience was simple, clean, and neat. It’s not a fancy place, but it’s perfect if you want a casual dinner with authentic mess-style food. The banana leaf serving gave the place a traditional touch, which I liked. It reminded me of family functions and home feasts.

My Final Verdict

Pros:

✅ Good variety of non-veg dishes
✅ Authentic South Indian mess experience
✅ Friendly service
✅ Elaneer Payasam is a must-try
✅ Starters like Chettinad Chicken Fry and Mutton Chukka are worth it

Cons:

❌ Biriyani taste could be better
❌ Quantity vs. price is slightly off
❌ Not the place for fancy dining – more for food lovers who focus only on taste

Would I Visit Again?

Yes, I would go back for the starters and Elaneer Payasam, but I might skip the biriyani. I would also like to try some of their other Madurai special dishes next time.

If you are someone who loves spicy non-veg food and wants to experience traditional Madurai mess dining, Madurai Manner Mess in Anna Nagar is worth a visit. Just go with the right expectations, and you will enjoy your meal.