ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Address: 2/222, East Coast Rd, First Avenue, Vettuvankeni, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600115 India
Time: 11 AM to 11 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,800
Cuisines: Continental, Cafe, Italian, Pizza, Kebab, North Indian
Facilities: Home Delivery, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Parking, Desserts and Bakes, Disabled Friendly, Wifi, Live Sports Screening, Valet Parking Available, Group Meal, Kid Friendly
Hub at ECR, Vettuvankeni, Chennai: DECOR
Relatively new, Hub at ECR is quite a cool space to walk into from the scorching Chennai sun. Nicely dark, it’s got decor elements I cannot help but notice. Like the dark floor with the brightly striped centre tiles. Or the differently colored metal and wood chairs. Most of the stuff is from Rajasthan, I’m told as I sit at the mango wood table with its metal base. Somehow, they’ve even managed to get their logo on the huge flat screen that occupies pride of place on one wall.
Hub at ECR, Vettuvankeni, Chennai: FOOD
Bread baskets have a deep connection with my hands. They always reach out… here, the slices are warm and toasty. I like the buttercream combination better than the pesto, for obvious reasons. It spreads easily, is creamier and has more calories… Before the basket gets emptied, the chef presents me with a goat cheese salad and a single slice of irresistible garlic bread. Bursts of colorful freshness tempt me to dig in, and I’m glad to report the goat cheese is distinct while retaining its rustic flavors. Balsamic dressing supports the spike of rocket and the rather mild artichoke presenting itself almost shyly.
The hariyali tikka turns out to be more exotic than it tastes; the mint, coriander and curd marinade has done nothing to enhance the blandness of the dense paneer. As usual,I squeeze on a dash of the accompanying fresh lemon, but that paneer is stubborn,so I let it be and move on to the beer batter prawns.They look translucent, crisp and are an even gold coated, too tempting to resist. I’m glad I didn’t because, while the beer batter tempura coating is deliciously fermented, the prawn inside is succulent. A dash of the Caroline sauce’s pungency is muted by the sweetness from the honey. Slow-cooked lamb shanks have meat that literally falls off the bone, and melts in my mouth, enhanced by the citrus flavors in the tomato gravy. Accompanying it, the polenta is moist with red flecks of sun dried tomatoes, has some olive fragments, and touches of parsley. The moisture comes from cream, while the cheese is parmesan.
Hub at ECR, Vettuvankeni, Chennai: PLUS AND MINUS
I like the peppy, happy decor here. Desserts need a little more attention and work.
