Sabha Canteen in Chennai: Where to go, what to eat

Chennai music season is back, much to the delight of fans as well as serial canteen hoppers. As per the Marghazi tradition, festive canteens run from 7am to 11pm at places serving tiffins, elaborate lunches and filter coffee.

with locations closed by the pandemic, the concerts went online in 2020 and 2021. Although some canteens opened at locations last year, the mood has been subdued, with an emphasis on masks and takeaways. this year, gatherings echoing againGrateful for a return to this normalcy with caterers and spectators that we once took for granted, as well as cups of steaming hot filter coffee and elaborate Ella Sapad (The traditional South Indian wedding feast is served on a banana leaf). The big hit this year is the traditional South Indian wedding feast.

Gold plate by Arusuvai Arasu Catering at Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha. , Photo credit: Johan Satyadas

Sri Parthasarathy is in charge of the Arusuvai Arasu Catering Canteen, at Bima Sena Garden Road, in the Swami Sabha. “We’re back in Meeting The scene a decade later, and we want to live up to the expectations Rasikas,” says N Sridhar, son of renowned wedding caterer late Arusuvai Arasu Natarajan, who is at the helm of affairs. Their lunch, served on a “royal gold platter” as they call it, draws large crowds despite a lack of parking space and inevitable queues. “We include some of my father’s signature items like Kokkai (Ivy gourd) curry, bitter gourd roast, yam roast, PachadiNatarajan’s daughter Soumya Ramesh says. In the evening, try their variety Dosa And Kuzhipaniyaram Thattu IdliAloo Bonda, and an array of halwa are the main attractions here.

VR Catering Services, Ullagaram wedding caterer V. Ramachandran’s son R. Vijayakumar is working round the clock. (He says he hardly gets three hours of sleep a day now). He got the opportunity to run the canteen at the prestigious The Music Academy for the first time this year. Here too, Ila Sapad, is a major crowd-puller with an efficient, team serving the customers in a seamless rhythm. “My father was in the catering business for four decades, and we flourished. So even though I had done my MBA in finance, I took over the business from him,” says Vijayakumar. work begins at 3.30 a.m., with his 75 employees boiling milk, brewing coffee, and making breakfast for most Idli, Dosa, Pongal And Vada,

A range of Chettinad tiffins and snacks are made daily from 4 PM to 10 PM at the live counter of Narada Gana Sabha. Photo credit: Johan Satyadas

“In the evening we offer traditional items like Puttu, Kozhukattai And IdiyappamVijayakumar says, “Every day we prepare a Chettinad-style kulambu and a kind kozhukattai, VR Caterers is known for their Payasam, and they offer a variety, including Idichi Pizzanja Payasam Or chadchadyam (payasam made by grinding coconut and squeezing the milk), coconut and rice Payasam And Kadala Payasam,

“I don’t make flywheel Because there is no season for jackfruit. I believe in sourcing local and preparing seasonal vegetables. Just for novelty’s sake, I don’t use vegetables and fruits that are not in season. Going seasonal has its advantages,” says Vijayakumar.

Enthusiasts enjoying food at the Sangeet Academy canteen. , Photo credit: Johan Satyadas

Shree Sasthalaya Catering Services at Narad Gana Sabha on TTK Road focusing on Mini Meals. “It includes three types of rice, a vegetable, a sweet, papad and pickle,” says owner K. Ramesh says. “This year, our live Chettinad counter is doing good business till midnight,” he says.

Canteen Chettinad is popular for Vella Paniyaram, Kuzhipaniyaram And payment, served with Avial, “Due to popular demand we make Idli for breakfast and dinner, and offer it with Kumbakonam Cuddapah (coconut milk gravy made from a mixture of vegetables, moong dal and spices). our signature khoya jungri And Ashoka Halwa is available on all days,” he added. “Since food tastes best when eaten hot and fresh, I discourage people from picking up parcels through delivery services.”

Even when other Sabha canteens were not functioning due to the pandemic for the past two years, RK Venkatesan of Sastha Catering Services, Porur operated the canteen at Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Mylapore. “This is my sixth year at the Sabha canteen, and this year the number of takeaways is less because more people prefer to eat in,” he says, adding, “We have also set up a canteen at Kalakshetra for the first time this year. And there is only evening tiffin and dinner. try their idli with v paid offfor breakfast, and in the evening, their vethala (Betel leaf) Bajji. The new launches this year are Strawberry Kesari, Ginger Kesari and Litchi Basundi.

Mini Meal at The Music Academy by VR Catering Service | Photo credit: Johan Satyadas

All of these caterers take pride in the coffee they serve, and since coffee is such an integral part of the cuisine here, they control bean sourcing and roasting. Although the competition is fierce, of all the canteens we tried, we enjoyed the coffee at Music Academy the most. Maybe because we could relax over a cup of joe while listening to live concerts playing on stage, just a door away, immersed in that familiar bliss marghazI’m in the mood again.