Madras Chettinaad - 4305 State Bridge Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30022

Working in suburbia, one is usually condemned to chain restaurant enclaves providing their limited version of culinary delights to the often times unknowing.  However, there are times when you can venture upon a gem in a land of stones...and that gem would be named Madras Chettinaad.

Now, let me preface this blog-post by saying first off, I love Indian food, but let's be honest...you can't just run up into ANY and EVERY Indian restaurant like it's your neighborhood Burger King (due to cultural differences regarding hygiene, for those of you that might be wondering what I'm alluding to).  Thereby, I tend to seek the advise of many before I tend to take the adventurous road to Bombay.  Quite a number of people from my job have eaten at Madras Chettinaad and have spoken very highly with regards to the food.  So when I was invited to lunch with some colleagues, I felt at ease to take the plunge last Tuesday. 

As I enter the restaurant, the decor seems pleasing enough...clean, decorated relatively nice, no odoriferous assaults on the senses...great start.  The host greeted us and led us to our table.  The place was not at all packed...only 4 other tables were occupied.  Should this be cause for alarm, I mean it is lunch time (11:20am).  The host welcomes us to proceed to the buffet and he doesn't have to ask twice.  As I walk towards the buffet, I am really surprised by the size of the spread.  When I'm in the mood for Indian fare, I usually trek to Bombay Grill on Savoy Rd in Chamblee...good food but selections no where near as extensive.  Now the mind begins to race...where do I begin...so many choices!  Okay, so let's read the labels, as they are displayed on the glass buffet cover to figure out what I want to eat.  Hmmm, mushroom rice, Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala, Goat Vindaloo, Dal, Saag Paneer...OMG, are my eyes deceiving me?...is it really so?...Yes, it is...Chicken Biriyani!!!!! This has got to be to good to be true.  I proceed back to the table...my mouth watering.  Everything looks so good, and smells even better, so I better not be disappointed because I'm hungry as hell.  I have to try the Naan with the Goat Vindaloo first...yummy.  Mushroom rice and Dal, lovely.  Now on to the main event for me...Chicken Biriyani...damn, it's DELISH!!!!  Hot (pepper hot) and spicy, very nicely seasoned.  Why is this dish so endearing to me?  Many of you may know that I'm of West Indian decent and Biriyani is like our version of Palau ( a childhood favorite of mine...always reminds me of home...St. Vincent that is).  So to find someplace that does it right, and doesn't try to water it down for the masses is much appreciated.  Unfortunately, I ate so much on my first plate I was unable to even attempt a second.  I know, I know...this defeats the purpose of going to a buffet, but whatever. 

So if you're in Alpharetta and in the mood for some Indian food, stop by Madras Chettinaad...but I offer this word of caution for the lunchtime dinners, per my very good friend...get there early (prior to 12:30pm).  Apparently during her visit, the line was going out the door and most of the buffet was finished :(