Monkey Bar, Anna Nagar West, Chennai Restaurant

Restaurant Name: Monkey Bar, Anna Nagar West, Chennai
Phone: +919840244226
Address: 3rd Floor, Madras House VR Chennai, 44, Pilliyar Koil Street, Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, Clock Tower Street, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar West, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600040 India
Time: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,800
Cuisines: Pizza, Burger, Continental, Chinese, Fast Food, Beverages
Facilities: Home Delivery, Takeaway Available, Full Bar Available, Indoor Seating

Monkey Bar, Anna Nagar West, Chennai: Decor

Anywahere I sit, there’s no forgetting I’m at Monkey Bar, thanks to the largerthan-life dapper, groomed monkeys on walls, some with moustaches and aviator glares.

Otherwise, the space with a linear entrance is mellow, and the music is not too loud. The lighting is bright enough for you to see where you’re going and dark enough not to hurt the eye when you’re done with an evening of cocktails and good food.

Monkey Bar, Anna Nagar West, Chennai: Food

I highly recommend the Mangaa, even though it comes with premixed aam panna and canned lychee juice. This vodka-based cocktail has tang and sweetness, and a dash of orange juice, jeera powder and garnish of raw mango slivers.

The vegetarian Ghee Roast Bao has paneer bhurji in a soft casing with curry leaves fried in ghee on every bao. Curry leaf and chilli oil dip comes along, adding to the Pan Asian / South Indian fusion. The bao is spicy enough, and the dip passes muster.

Crisp butterfly shaped shells (maida batter deep fried in moulds) called Butterfly Chicken (or veg) have shredded chicken tossed in black bean sauce. Quite an interesting mix of textures and flavours. Sweetness meets spice with just a hint of the sour.

I’m still talking starters because the Baked Crab needs a special mention. It is available only when the crab is available fresh. Shredded crab meat is filled in its original shell and arrives with podi mixed with ghee. Lots of work, yes, but well worth it for the palate and the sheer luxury of eating crab without having to mess around with hard shells.

Onion Cheese Kulcha is served with pickled baby onions, green chilli chutney and chole. Not to miss the small cube of butter merrily melting on the top.

Another dish that is worth trying for non-vegetarians is called Chandraji’s Mutton Curry. The gravy is thick and is extra special because it uses makhana — roasted and ground and khada masala. To use the cliché, for want of a better description, one gentle nudge, and the tender meat literally falls off the bone. The precious recipe has history. It is generations old and belongs in Manu Chandra’s family kitchen, hence the name. Gobindo Bhog rice comes along making it the perfect base.

I decided to go for the Nutella and Old Monk Cake. No eggs needed in this one. The Old Monk does the job of softening it and shows up just as you begin to swallow your mouthful.

Plus & Minus:

Wherever the brand goes, it always includes local elements in its menu. Chennai has Reddy’s Popcorn Chicken, Nethili Fry, Tiger Beef and Mirapakaya Baji.