From Kodambakkom???. Review on Liberty Park Hotel, Kodambakkam, Chennai

Here it goes.

About the Place

Liberty Park hotel is in Kodambakkom(which was called Kollywood cos all the film stars used to stay here). Liberty Park hotel is bang next to the Liberty Theatre, which is probably the best landmark. To reach here, take the first left turn after the Kodambakkom bridge, in case you are coming towards Vadapalani from the city. Tell any auto-wallah to take you to Kodambakkom Liberty theatre and you won't miss the place.

Parking is ample and you don't have to worry about that, there are separate parking spaces available for two wheelers and Cars. There are no parking charges but the security will come and hang around you till you give him some tips.

What's Here

I go to Liberty Park quite often cos its just 10 minutes walking distance from my house. I go there when even I don't feel like cooking or have friends visiting me, who feel like having a beer. There are 3 joints at Liberty Park where you can hang around. I will list them one by one:

The Pub

Yeah man, this is the pub. Unlike in Bangalore, the pubs in chennai are more like Bars, with low lights and less music. But the ambience is quite good and you get all the drinks over here. From Kalyani Black Beer to Screwdriver in Cocktails. The beer cost 80 bucks which is quite expensive (but normal in chennai). The complementary snacks are quite good and they normally serve 4-5 different items and its re-filled promptly. Do ask for the Masala Idly in case they don't serve you, they normally give it only to 'elite' customers. Some 'snacks' are also available like Dragon Chicken which is a sizzler, and quite good for 100 Rs. Standard Tandoori fare like Resmi Kabab's, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka all priced at around 75-80 bucks go really well with beer. You can try traditional andhra items like Chicken Fry as well. I normally request the Chef to make me a Double Cheese Omlette with Green Chillies which is terrific(30 Rs). So, its a ok place, good ambience, good food and peaceful and not that expensive. If you are around Kodambakkom, you can visit the place if you are with friends and just want to drink some beer and relax.

Banjara

This is an Air-Conditioned Restaurant. Its got a separate kitchen and serves traditional north Indian stuff. The Roomali Rotis are quite good priced at 20 bucks. The best dish would be Murg Makhani(Butter Chicken which is boneless and priced at 80 bucks. Limited 'supposedly' Chinese stuff like Gobi Manchurian etc also available but you can go only for the north Indian dishes. Can venture into the dark and try out the 'Today's Special' which is normally some unheard of thing, probably an experiment by the Chef, but turns out quite ok at times. All the dishes in the main course are priced at around 80-100 bucks and I feel that it does justifies the quantity and quality. Deserts like Banana Split are also available but I personally didn't try out anything other then Fresh Lime Soda with Sugar & Salt (Give proper instructions for this one, else you will get a soda with only sugar or salt.) One drawback, they don't server alcohol in here unless you are with Family and their definition of family is that you should have at least one girl in the group, now I really think a lot about this 'reasoning'. So normally I go to the pub and then to the Banjara if am with friends. Good ambience but really bad music. Worth a try.

Roof Top

Frankly, I never noticed the name of the place. I think its the Roof Garden or something. I go here whenever am alone cos booze allowed and smoking allowed. You can look at the stars and drink beer. Separate kitchen again and food here is much spicier then other two places. Food is also bit cheaper then the Banjara but one drawback is they give only two papad's as complementary snacks, others you need to order. The place smells of Tandoori chicken and its the most popular dish over here, you can watch the cook making the same. The booze cost the same as in the pub, 80-85 for a beer and 60 Rs for a 30ml of booze, which is quite expensive and I normally go for only beer. The ambience is natural, cos there is nothing to see except the stars and the sky and the occasional moon. Quite pleasant I tell you. Do try it if you are alone. You get almost all the stuff mentioned in the previous two places and they will get your order from another kitchen if the food you ordered is not available in their standard menu.

Loo and Credit cards

Taking into consideration other Loos I have seen in the course of my bachelor life, the loo over here is surprisingly clean. And they do accept credit cards and the bill doesn’t matter. I mentioned the loo cos I have the habit of peeing a lot after drinking beer, and a clean loo really addds to the complete 'booze' experience.

The waiters are very friendly and they keep track of regulars and serve them 'extra' stuff, like the Masala Idly I told you about. They are nor fussy over tips and I give them along with my bill when I sign my Credit Card and they don't mind (at some places, they strikeout the 'Tip' portion of the Credit Card Slip and come to you as a result you are forced to give some 'cash' tips)

What I feel and Overall Rating

That's it guys and gals, do visit this place if you are at Chennai, and are in ornear Kodambakkom. Or you are planning to visit Chennai and plan to stay in or near kodambakkom, but I feel that you need not try very very hard to visit the place cos it doens't warrant so much 'exposure', its just a average-above average restaurant which you can find anywhere in Chennai. Its special for me cos its where I go when ever I feel blue.

~~~~Ratings~~~~

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Live Long & Prosper

Ranjith