Balaji Mess

We had such a great time at Balaji Mess. My kids absolutely loved it — the dosa was the highlight and disappeared almost instantly. It was crispy, tasty, and one of those dishes they’re still talking about. The happy hour for around seven bucks was a nice surprise and made the whole meal feel like an even better deal. The service was quick, the atmosphere was simple and welcoming, and everything tasted like it was made with care. We’ll definitely be going back.

The ambiance and interiors are nice, but the food was very disappointing. I ordered the veg thali and wasn’t sure what to eat the roti with since no curry was provided. The bhindi fry was extremely dry, tasting overcooked or reheated. I went here after seeing their DoorDash photos, but the dishes looked nothing like them. The mutton was undercooked, chewy, and inedible. The Hyderabadi biryani was decent, but the Ambur biryani lacked depth and richness. Definitely won’t be returning.

We walked in with limited experience of Indian food or culture and were pleasantly surprised with the food we chose! We ordered Honey Chicken (need to ask for it since it’s not on the menu, a trick we learned from a regular) and the Home Style Chicken Biryani. We also ordered Chapati. So good!

One of my favourite restaurants of all times. THIS RESTAURANT IS GOATED. Especially, the crab was AMAZING and overall, the other foods was great too. The atmosphere reminded of my childhood. DEFINITELY MY GO TO PLACE.

Ellame vera level - especially the perfectly flaky parotta and amazingly flavourful saalna - took me right back to TN. Bang for buck biryani and fish fry (felt this could’ve been spicier). Goat ghee roast was very unique - very balanced and full of flavour as well.