"Though several spots with Chennai in the name have laid claim to serving the food of the former Madras, they more often provide a general South Indian menu. Masala Cafe takes a deeper dive into the regional cuisine of the city. Offered as an appetizer, poondu kuzhambu is a spicy red vegetarian gravy to be eaten with lacha paratha, a flaky flatbread. Other recommendations include kozhi milagu varuval (black pepper chicken) and egg murtaba (a crisp stuffed pancake)." - Robert Sietsema