Rooftop bars and restaurants are always a keen attraction in a city like Chennai, where the evening air fills with music, good food, and a great ambiance. When you think of the perfect evening, it conjures up thoughts of a beautiful dim-lit restaurant on the top of a tall building. Koox Rooftop at the Novotel, Chamiers Road is a cut above all of that with its impressive décor and French Club style interiors but this is not what makes this place so happening. It is, in fact, their collection of signature cocktails and mixes and their mind-blowing menu that takes the bow.
Their sushi boats and their assortment of small plates of seafood and fish Carpaccio and Salmon Tartare all through their open grill boxes sizzle barbequed meat satiated my appetite. Quality of the food is something I always look out for in hotels and this was nothing less than a top grade. The ambiance was just so classy with blue glass décor, high tables, comfy bar chairs, and winged sofas. Bubble Wap a drink delightfully laced with rose petal powder, was one of the most delicious cocktails I have ever had in Chennai, to start with.
However, this was just the beginning of my delicious evening, with the music set right to suit the edgy vibe and the cosmopolitan menu which had a vibrant mix of Schezwan and Japanese cuisine. Moving on I tasted, Sushi boat and Koox’s signature Sushi plates and a wide variety of seafood, crunchy and soft rolls, raw fish plates with vegetables and sauces which trigged the taste buds and had a truly ethereal experience. Koox Crunch a mix of shrimp, crab, avocado, with a special sweet chili sauce and Kari Kari sweet potatoes was absolutely yummy.
Robota Yaki Grills is a specialty at Koox in which exotic marinated seafood and meat are grilled over hot charcoal and served with Nikuman, a Japanese steamed bread bun with wasabi dip, Smoked Ponzu sauce, and Schezwan chili sauce. I chose Indian Rock Lobster, Pork Chops, Lamb Chops, Crab Claws and Tiger Shrimp for the grill and the taste was out of the world.
After all these grills and starters came the main course, truffle fried rice, dry pot chicken and some Chinese greens which were sumptuous and delicious. The best thing about Koox is they have beautifully curated the vegetarian menu with all kinds of flavors and fusion of Japanese along with subtle flavors of the Indian palate.
One can enjoy the scenic view outdoors which is perfect for parties and get-togethers under the stars. The setting overlooks the quiet neighborhood of Alwarpet. Lastly, I sipped the Cinnamon Whisky cocktail that tasted a bit like Eggnog. One can never say no to desserts. The Baked Yogurt Brule was soft, silky tart layered with a buttery crunchy melted sugar, which was a real delight. And that was the end to a perfect dreamy evening in Chennai with a completely different buzz.
This rooftop is the perfect place to spend some time with your loved ones or to venture into something different in Chennai than the regular biryani or fried rice bandwagon. Head to Koox to experience its wonderful array of tasty treats and those classy cocktails.
Where: Novotel Chennai Chamiers Road, 11, Chamiers Road, Nandanam City Centre, &, Anna Salai, near Boat Club, Nandanam, Chennai. | 044 24302333 / +91 78248 08019
Meal For Two: ` 3,500
