Chennai, the bustling metropolitan city of South India, is also known for its rich heritage and regional cuisine. In recent years, the city’s culinary landscape has been gaining international recognition, and several restaurants have been globally recognised. Among these, Avartana, the flagship restaurant of the luxurious ITC Grand Chola, has again made history after already making it to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024.
Recently, at the Condé Nast Traveller x Zomato Top Restaurant Awards 2024, Avartana, Chennai ranked first. With its progressive South Indian cuisine, Avartana has undoubtedly captured the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts worldwide. Expanding its presence, Avartana also introduced itself in the capital city of India, Delhi, at ITC Maurya.
What’s Special About Avartana, Chennai?
Avartana" means "rhythm" in Sanskrit, symbolising the restaurant’s approach to creating a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation. Founded in 2017 with a vision to showcase South Indian food in a contemporary, refined manner, Avartana’s culinary team has successfully transformed age-old recipes into modern masterpieces that have successfully bagged international recognition.
“At Avartana, everything from the décor to the cuisine presents South Indian traditions with a modern twist. Think lamb congee with aubergine yoghurt, idiyappam with asparagus and coconut stew and finger millet vermicelli with tender coconut ice cream. The lights are shaped like banana flowers, and there's a mural of a Kerala canoe crafted in mother-of-pearl,” writes Condé Nast Traveller to emphasise the unique blend of aesthetics and cuisine.
Menu At Avaratana, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai
Avartana offers five tasting menus, each with a blend of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
- Maya, meaning magic, with its seven-course meal
- Bela, meaning pure, featuring a nine-course meal
- Jiaa, which translates to hearty, is the chef’s special eleven-course meal
- Anika, meaning graceful, is the elaborate thirteen-course meal
- Tara, which literally means star, is the thirteen-course seafood special menu
Finely curated by Chef Nikhil Nagpal, each course on all the tasting menus is meticulously prepared to give you the best of South Indian flavours with a progressive touch. Some of the signature dishes from each of the tasting menus are Potato Crackers with tamarind ghee glaze (Maya), Spiced Aubergine with byadgi chilli emulsion and sago (Bela), Crispy Chilli Potato with pineapple and mint (Jiaa), Raw Mango Pudding with ghee candle (Anika), and Seafood Fritter Rice with sesame and palm nectar (Tara).