New Woodlands Hotel

It’s a decent city-center hotel, close to lots of iconic places. The restaurant is known for traditional South Indian food. I used to enjoy the filter coffee, but on my last visit it didn’t seem as consistent.

The restaurant has good, hygienic dishes with good taste, and the atmosphere has an old traditional feel. Room prices are reasonable, and the hotel is in a prime area. There’s parking and a lot of rooms, with party bookings available too. The spa and other amenities inside are good.

The basundi was superbly thick, with just the right sweetness, maybe even a little less. At about Rs 160, it’s good value, and hardly anywhere else has basundi like this. I also had the ghee Mysore masala Dosa, which was very spicy but delicious, especially with the excellent red tomato coconut chutney. The servers will bring extra if you ask. Prices aren’t too high for the quality and portion size.

I haven’t stayed in the rooms, so I can’t comment on them. For vegetarian lunch or dinner, though, this is an excellent fine-dining choice. The food quality is very good, and people often confuse quality with taste. To me, good quality food sits lightly until it’s digested and doesn’t cause trouble afterward. Service is good overall, and the servers are courteous. Chennai has few good vegetarian restaurants with quality food, and this one is high on the list. I haven’t tried breakfast.