Hundreds of Mylaporeans are disappointed with the closing down of one of their favourite places for good, home-made-like food. Sri Krishnaarpanam, the popular eatery on D’ Silva Road, Alwarpet.
Disappointed Because this small place offered tiffin, lunch and snacks which were traditional and Sattvic (without onion and garlic in the preparations) and the prices were affordable.
The eatery has shifted to Kalpakkam.
K. Seshadri, the owner, told Mylapore Times that he moved out because he wanted a place close to Mahabalipuram, where he is currently residing. Besides, the owner of the D’Silva Road space was contemplating renting space to a big name and he did not want to stand in his way.
Sri Krishnaarpanam could not be missed. At first glance, it appeared to be a kutti tiffin kadai but when you stepped in and enjoyed the food or took parcels home, you became a fan of the place. Especially the elderly people residing in this Alwarpet zone and across Mylapore.
On the menu here was wheat rava upma, alongside idli, vada and dosa, lunch-time meals and later, samosa, bonda, and at dusk, an array of parathas, chapattis and gravies for dinner. A hot favourite here was the samosa, which the cooks learnt to make during their jobs at ISKCON, in keeping with the no-onion-no-garlic ethos. The same care went into the parathas and the gravies, with special touches added to make them unique—such as adding a clove to the samosa.
Seshadri worked in the hotel industry in the Middle East.
Back home, he launched ‘Sathvik on Wheels’ at a few places. One joint was located inside R R Sabha in Mylapore.
Sri Krishnaarpanam was set up in 2018 – in D’Silva Road after the property’s owner, Vidya Shankar appreciated his food and outlook and offered her space on rent he could suggest!
The Covid period was his biggest challenge as shutdown was the rule. But Seshadri’s customers stood by him; sourcing their daily food from his kitchen alone.
But the past year has been difficult – due to work on the Chennai Metro Rail project – with Luz Church Road being a key rail-line and a station located here. The traffic diversions and the traffic jams frustrated many clients and their visits dropped.
- By Kanaka Cadambi
