Followers of my blog will know that I am a great supporter of the vegetarian offerings along Syed Alwi Road. With that being said, the different (lesser known) Little India streets also offer suitable reasons to visit. Norris Road, for example, has a number of very cheap and authentic Indian eateries. Mani Iyer Mess is one that has recently cropped up. The restaurant is hardly non-Indian customer friendly, with a non-English alphabet menu on the wall. During the afternoon they sell only white rice or briyani set meals, with more options becoming available in the evenings. This place is 100% vegetarian.
Mani Iyer Mess
Location: 21 Norris RoadContact: UnknownOpening Hours: UnknownUpon entering I asked 'do you have bhattura?', to which the waiter replied 'the bathroom is there'. Lost in translation. Since I didn't fancy eating the bathroom, I decided to opt for the
Briyani Set Meal. When ordering meals like this, you must be aware that at any point in time, you can request for the dishes to be replenished. Therefore, in reality, this is an unlimited buffet-style set meal. All the food from this eatery had very strong turmeric flavour. Turmeric is usually a background spice in Indian cooking. However, for this case, the turmeric flavour was very profound. The dishes were flavourful and not too salty - But, I found the spice level a little too harsh. Price wise it represents terrific value for money.
Price: $5.00. 7/10Conclusion - If you're looking to experience truly authentic South Indian 'home style' cooking, then I can assure you that Mani Iyer Mess is definitely a place to visit. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review - This may not be somewhere a non-Indian will feel comfortable, for many reasons. But I encourage everyone reading this, to have an open mind and give it a go!Overall RatingFood - 7/10Ambiance- 6/10 Service - 5/10 Value - 8/10
