Chicken curry with Idli might sound bizarre to many but Kozhi Idli, a small outlet at Avvai Shanmugam Salai, cashes in on this unusual combination. The speciality of this place is that it serves only two dishes – idly (three in quantity) and chicken curry and for the vegetarians, they serve idly with onion and tomato chutney. However, one can choose between pepper kozhi kolambu and chilli kozhi kolambu. The concept is the brain child of B. Mahesh, who ventured into the food business through this dish. “I started this outlet due to a pure passion for food. I have travelled and I realised that Chennai needed a place where South Indian food is seen in a different light. I wanted to serve only a couple of dishes but of good quality. Our margin is low. It is only Rs. 60 for each plate and one has to pay Rs. 10 more for extra portions,” says Mahesh. It is a 250 square feet shop and has no seating space. One has to either stand and eat or utilise the take-away services. “We wanted to give it a fast-food kind of treatment. The response has been great and it encouraged me to open another outlet in Adyar,” says Mahesh, who plans to open 10 more outlets across the city.
(A column about neighbourhood restaurants.)
