Our correspondent, Richa Tilokani dines at L’amandier in Chennai and comes away impressed.
I have always enjoyed European cuisine during my travels, so when I heard about a new European bistro in town, I was game to check it out. So on a beautiful sunny afternoon, I head to L’amandier- The European Bistro on 2nd Main Road, R.A. Puram.
L’amandier celebrates the spirit of Europe, serving home- style slow-cooked dishes made with a twist by experienced chefs. The music is upbeat and the ambience lively. The restaurant has a ground and first floor seating and I settle comfortably on the first floor to take in the view. I notice a lot of expat crowd enjoying the European fare and am tempted to try out the set menu. The set menu consists of one choice each from soups, salads, main course and dessert.
Tasty and healthy
I skip soup and start with the salade L’amandier consisting of roasted vegetables with lettuce and olive oil. It is delicious and healthy and I follow it up with green peas risotto with parmesan. I also try the roasted Mediterranean vegetable pancake and find it very yummy. I polish off the meal with a coffee and chocolate mud cake, which as the name suggests is heavenly. Oh, and did I mention I also had a fresh watermelon juice which was fresh and bursting with flavour, just like all the other dishes.
There are a lot of options for meat lovers too, like the herb-crusted Indian pomfret with couscous, the toasted sandwich of chicken stroganoff with walnuts and apples or the pan-fried herb chicken with loads of veggies. There are lots of dessert options too which I have decided to taste the next time round- like the strawberry crepe with toffee sauce. The soups are also on my to-try list – the choices range from creamy broccoli and cheddar soup, to the classic minestrone (also with chicken ) and the thyme and roasted zucchini soup for weight watchers.
Celebrating the senses
L’amandier is perfect for the globe-trotting Indian who wants to enjoy international cuisine on Indian soil. I had a great time at lunch and will be definitely going back for the much-recommended weekend brunch.
L’amandier is located at 57, Chamiers Road, RA Puram, Chennai. Ph: 044 42827882
