The Peshawri Experience 2 weeks ago we went to the Peshawri at the ITC Grand Chola - A friend who 'owed us a lot' wanted to 'treat' us for a good meal and we took the opportunity to 'make him pay for it'!!! This was our first time at Grand Chola and was wondering what all the 'pradakshanam' business was all about... the customary circumambulation of the entire hotel before you reach the lobby was a little too much. However, after a long drive, we finally reached the lobby and there were a nice bunch of smartly dressed dudes and dames who were trying to explain the restaurants etc... and my good friend Sriram decided that he would burst into chaste Tamil and throw them off guard... but lo and behold... they were equally comfortable in Tamil, Hindi and English... flawless accents in them all! After an analysis of the offerings we ended up at Peshawari. It was just after 8pm and there was no other guest in the restaurant. We took advantage of that and asked for a corner table. Make sure that at least half the people in your group are 'fit and fine' and can sit without a back-rest. For a 5-star specialty restaurant i found that odd. The 'stools' are not comfortable for your bottoms and backs. Then the menu came.. everything sounded awesome... and we ordered the food... basically a platter of their selection of (chicken and mutton) kebabs with our beer (they did not have draft). All the kebabs were excellent - feast! When the smart looking sardar came to serve us the kebabs he said "At Peshawri we believe that the food is best enjoyed with your fingers... so we do not supply any cutlery". We were fine with that... truly enjoyed licking our fingers... but the table at the other end of the room insisted on cutlery and the staff insisted they will not give them any. Strange eh? For the main course we ordered the Dal Bukhara and and the world famous Paneer Makhani (butter masala)... both were excellent. The Dal Bukhara is truly their signature... awesome! The Khasta roti was good. The rumali was good. But the Pudina Paratha was a disappointment - it was a wheat, tandoori roti with pudina powder sprinkled on top. I have had better pudina parathas! Like typical South Indians (Madrasis... tambrams... goltis) we decided we needed to close the meal with some curd rice (thair saadam / perugannam) and we tried to order some rice (even if it was basmati) and some curd (even if it was raita).... They did not have any!!!! The restaurant does not serve any kind of rice... or curd! In Madras... how dare they??? Anyway... in short... excellent meats... veggie was also good... Food was really, really, really tasty... must have cost a bomb (my friend picked up the tab) but I sure would like to see better seating and a little flexibility in the service and menu.