Kattumaram

A friend owed a birthday treat and we ended up picking Kattumaram, a seafood specialty restaurant that specialized in cuisine from coastal Tamil Nadu. The place is located near the Park Sheraton in Alwarpet.

A train ride and short walk got us there. It is a small place with a narrow stairway and a seating capacity of about 30. The place was deserted when we reached and we picked a table under the AC. Soon we were feeling cold, but placed our order. We saw a few guests passing our level and going somewhere upstairs. Our waiter stared at their backs as if they were aliens and we were pretty sure they would be back in no time after finding an attic with old stuff at the top level. However, they didn’t return and that piqued our curiosity. We enquired and found that there was a roof top. We asked the waiter if we could also sit up and asked him to have the order delivered upstairs.

The rooftop was a mass of bamboo and looked very warm and welcoming. A kattumaram or Catamaran was placed over the stairway, but I managed to spot it only after a while. One would have guessed that the artifact which gives the place its name will deserve a more central location. But obviously, they were hard pressed for space.

Coming to the food, we ordered Yeral Thengai Soup (Prawn & Coconut soup). When it arrived, it tasted disgusting and I still have strong suspicions that they just heated up some water used to wash the dishes and served it to us.

For the main course, we chose Sigappi Nandu Biryani (Crab Biryani) over Vimalakka’s Kozhi Biryani (Chicken Biryani). Though Sigappi was mentioned to be one of the great Tamil cooks on the menu, a search on Google throws up few results and it takes a time to actually find a plausible reference to Sigappi being a cook.

We ordered a Moonru Meen Kuzhambu ( Fish curry with 3 varieties of fish) which claimed to have three varieties of the most delicious fish or something to that effect. A Kolachel Yeral Varuval ( Fried prawns) made up for accompaniment.

Food arrived and the portions were disappointingly small for the price they charge. A dish on average costs about Rs 120. The biryani is enough for one. But we shared. The biryani was alright and no great influence of Sigappi could be felt. The Moonru Meen Kuzhambu was delicious and we ended up licking the gravy off our fingers.

My Tastemasterly instincts had been pricked by the King fish advertised in the menu, and after seeking permission from the Treat-giver, we ordered the Kanyakumari Vanjiram Varuval ( Fried King fish). They serve a decent sized portion of fish-steak. The fish had a different taste to it, and though it was delicious, I have had better. Pick of the day remained the the Yeral Varuval followed by the Moonru Meen Kuzhambu. The soup is something I’m trying to forget.

The bill came to about Rs 600 and we skipped dessert. They don’t offer much. One thing I found attractive about this place is that as after-meal refreshment, they serve Supari (flavoured betel nut) and Kalkand (sugar crystals) along with the sweetened Saunf (Fennel) that is usually served in restaurants. It had been a long while since I’ve seen this offered and I was glad. We made our way down the narrow stairway and caught a bus back home.

For the rating:

Ambience: 4
Taste: 3
Value for Money: 2
Service: 3
Overall: 3
Verdict: Can try once.

Though it is advertised as serving some of the best seafood from all over Tamil Nadu, if I want really delicious fish, I’d rather go to Besant Nagar beach.

Cheers!