Ninan’s

8 Reviews on “Ninan’s”

• Pradeep Raghavulu

  There are some places in this city that has a steady and loyal customer base which has seen many years, with some of them even spanning a few decades, if one were to believe the people running the place, yet having said that, I don’t find it untrue either. This place being located in the heart of the city viz., Parry’s Corner on the N.S.C. Bose Road reflects the hustle and bustle nature of the place it is located in around the lunchtime mostly. Furthermore, most of the loyal customer base would be the many advocates who have their offices in and around the place being located right outside High Court of Madras premises, of which this writer is a proud member of. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the YMCA complex, almost resembling a canteen or a mess having quite the Spartan interior with no unnecessary riff raffs, at the same time maintaining the place in quite a clean manner. The busiest time here would be around lunchtime and the service is especially quick considering how most of their clientele being advocates have to rush back to the Court for their hearing, lest their lateness incur the wrath of the Judges’ in whose hands the fate of the case rests. Somehow Ninans’ understands this better than most, with their staff being very quick in rattling off the menu available for the day in somehow coherent a manner and quicker when it comes to bringing the food by.There is not much to say about the menu. I don’t remember the last time I asked for a menu in Ninan’s having never had the need for that. They have usual suspects in the nature of biryani, both chicken and mutton along with egg. They also mutton/chicken/egg/chicken 65/fish fry curry rice with a handsome helping of rice, some sautéed vegetables, papad and pickle. The meal dishes are usually accompanied by rasam and buttermilk. Of course, they also have chapatis as well, of which I am not the biggest fan. It is safe to order the biryanis or the meal. The fish fry can be a hit or miss some days, even more so with the chicken 65 as well when it can get all crunchy with just bones sometimes. The food can be very average at times and nothing to rant about especially considering the fact that it vacillate from average to real good to sometimes utterly bad. There have been many an occasions when the fish fry retained its weird smell which is indication of it not being cooked properly or worse ill tempered fish, the chicken can get chewy sometimes and so is the case with mutton. Yet, I have to state here that the same is not always the case. It is for this inconsistent nature of the food I rate it low. The biryanis retain a consistency and that is saving grace. But, the reason for its popularity would be its location and quick natured service and though the food may be a hit or miss sometimes, the promise of hot, cooked food can be sometimes be more enticing than the taste or flavour, when you have a case pending in the High Court dangling over you a like a Damocles’ sword. It is further part of High Court tradition that if you ever come to High Court, then you can always stop by this place for a quick bite.

  May 22, 2020, 10:59 pm

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