Of all the regional cuisines of India, I like Chettinad food the best. The reason is simple, like the Chettiars of this region; the cuisine is robust, punchy and rich (pun intended). Their distinctive style of cooking is unique not only to South India but even to Tamilnadu. The predominance of meat and seafood is an overwhelming factor attributable to this form of food. Annachi unfortunately contradicts this maxim to its very core. The food is so pitiable that it cannot be classified in any category leave alone Chettinad. This is one big hyped up restaurant, which is just afloat because of it is strategic location. Indiranagar is a happening place infested with people who eat out regularly and hence a restaurant as abject as this has managed to survive.
The menu is elaborate but it is the quality of the food that is galling. I haven’t tasted a single dish that could be termed as good. The food arrives cold and the portions are small, if you are a large crowd your food bill is bound to hit the roof. The Biriyani was merely overcooked yellow rice and undercooked chicken whose age could as well as been my grandma’s, it lacked character and above all the aroma of a good Biriyani. The curries are all bland and watery without a semblance of anything Chettinad about it. The service is probably the worst of the lot since the waiters seem to be sauntering about aimlessly without any sense of purpose. One has to either yell or frantically wave at them to attract their attention and moreover they are terribly stingy with the helpings. Perhaps, the owner has given them strict instructions to go easy with the servings.
Stay away from this place if you like Chettinad food. Ponnusamy on Residency Road (next to Imperial Hotel) and Koramangala (next to IBP Petrol bunk) is an excellent option. Aiyanar on intermediate ring road is another restaurant, which is infinitely better than Annachi. Try these and you wont return disappointed.