Hotel Saravana Bhavan (Chennai, India)

Just back from Hong Kong. First to clear backlog from India. Stay tuned for food to eat in Hong Kong at later posts.

Hotel Saravana Bhavan is a restaurant chain based in Chennai serving South Indian vegetarian cuisine. In India, restaurants are called 'hotels'. Hotel Saravana Bhavan was found in 1981 in Chennai (of course). Today, it has 24 outlets in Chennai and multiple outlets all world wide including UAE, USA, UK, Canada, Malaysia, France..many more and even Singapore with 4 outlets. To be honest, I have never seen this restaurant in Singapore.

In Chennai, this hotel (restaurant) is very popular. In fact, my Singaporean friend based in Chennai told me that the coffee here is very good. Hence, since we were nearby, we had to try it.

Entrance

Cashier

This is where you pay.

This is where you make your orders and wait for the food as it is self-service.

Notice the round tables without chairs at the foreground? This is where people can just stand around and drink their coffee or tea. In the background, there are tables and chairs for patrons to eat their meals.

Menu

Look at the variety of items available! So many dishes.

Special Coffee

Special Pure Filter Coffee (INR 24 per cup)

Tata~! 3 cups of Special Pure Filter Coffee! There was another order for a cup of Special Tea. But let's start with the coffee first.

Noticed how the Special Pure Filter Coffee was served. Here's how you are supposed to drink it. Pour the coffee into the metal container holding the metal cup. (Be careful, it is hot as the container is made of metal.) Then pour the coffee from the metal container back into the metal cup. Do it as many times as required to cool it down. Reminds me of Teh Tarik. I just did it once and then tried it. The coffee was very     aromatic. Shiok! You got to try it if you are in India. I certainty want to try the coffee served by the hotel in Singapore. Moreover, it provided a fun experience too!

Foreground: Special Tea (INR 24 per cup)

The Special Tea arrived much later. Did not try it. Looks normal. I am glad I tried the coffee instead.

I got to check out it's outlets in Singapore one day and see if they serve such a coffee here. Good coffee with fun experience! Who knows, the food might be fantastic too.

Outlets in Singapore

Outlets in Chennai

Hotel Saravana Bhavan (Chennai, India)
Website 

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Starbucks Singapore (12 days of gifting)

A short post before I leave for Hong Kong for 1 week.

I purchased a Blue Star Tumbler 12 (oz) today (as shared on the Facebook page).

Today (6th Dec 2011) is Day 6 of Starbucks Singapore 12 Days of Gifting. The Blue Star Tumbler can be purchased for just $11.90 instead of a usual price of $16.90. That is close to 30% discount.

Blue Star Tumbler with coupon to redeem Starbucks Beverage

To my surprise, as I was purchasing the Blue Star Tumbler, I was informed that it comes along with a 12fl oz Starbucks beverage which I could get immediately or redeem at a later date. Wow. This is one great deal! Blue Star Tumbler at 30% discount along with a Starbucks drink for just $11.90! I am not too sure if this will be the same for the rest of the tumbler sales on Day 8 and 10. But you could try asking as this deal is value for money.

By the way, buy 1 get 1 free drink will be on 12th December the last day of the 12 Days of gifting campaign. I will be arriving in Changi airport on that day and will most likely purchase it at airport. (looks like the marketing promotion works for Starbucks)

Chong Qing (Original) Steamboat 重庆正宗老火锅

Albert Cafeteria, Chong Qing (Original) Steamboat is located along beach road. It is at the end of Liang Seah Street opposite Shaw Towers. Located among many other steamboat / hotpot outlets around Liang Seah street, competition is fierce and its price is competitive.


Chong Qing (Original) Steamboat specialises in Chinese steamboat, Si Chuan style. It has been around for a long time. went there on a Friday evening and the place was packed. In fact, most of the other steamboat outlets along Liang Seah Street was similarly crowded.

Price: Adult: $20, Children: $8 for its steamboat buffet. It includes free flow of drinks.

Soup Base

6 types of soup base for patrons to choose. We chose Herbal Soup and Tom Yam soup for each half of the pot.

Lots of variety of ingredients to choose for the steamboat buffet. Ranging from vegetables, eggs, mushrooms, fish balls, meat balls, chicken, pork, fish, squid, flower crab, potato, winter melon, toufu, prawns, clams, mussels, hot dogs and more! The ingredients were quite fresh and there were about 8 different types of dip sauce such as peanut, sesame and soya beancurd.

For $20 flat per adult, this is one steamboat worth going for. Cheap and good. But the service can be quite bad at times - It can be hard to the attention of the staff.

Chong Qing (Original) Steamboat Hotpot 重庆正宗老火锅
#01-02 Chye Sing Building
87 Beach road

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