One of the best things about traveling is getting to experience all kinds of different delicacies. When you’re home, no matter how much you go out or get take out, you always drift to the same favourites. Even with today’s world of Uber Eats, Swiggy, Zomato and all the other food delivery apps right at your fingertips, the conversation will inevitably land back up with ‘So what do you want to eat? I don’t know, what do YOU feel like eating?’
That’s why traveling and going out to eat is great! You get to check out a new spot, maybe even try something new and find your next favourite place to grab a hearty meal (are there any other kinds of meals anyway?). As far as Kuttikkanam is concerned, I’ve found my favourite spot. In fact, I’d even venture to say I’ve found THE spot!
Open Kitchen is a lovely pet friendly restaurant that brings modern twists to traditional dishes, located on the main road leading up to Kuttikkanam junction, you’ll find that no matter how busy it gets, the amazing staff and management will always welcome you!
For us in particular, this was a great change of experience as another restaurant, which happened to paint itself as a marquee place in Kuttikkanam (and located opposite to Open Kitchen) was very rude in telling us that they couldn’t serve us as they were ‘too full’.
Don’t get me wrong, I completely sympathize with them, as we mentioned in our Kuttikkanam Vlog, there aren’t that many places to go and grab a bite with a family in Kuttikkanam so I am sure it was extremely busy indeed, but there’s a way to say it, and let’s just say the way the other restaurant did it was akin to how you would treat an unwelcome visitor that drops by on a lazy Sunday afternoon. You know the type. Actually, I would say they treated us even worse!
I’ve always believed in blessings in disguise and this would be just the case. When we looked across and saw Open Kitchen, our hearts sank a bit, the parking lot was so full that cars were being parked on the side of the road. We were traveling with two children, and after a visit to Panchalimedu, we were starting to get quite hungry.
After the courteous security guard guided us to a prime parking spot, we went in and saw that it was in fact, quite packed. We expected the team to come up and say ‘Sorry we can’t seat you anytime soon, or the next 30 minutes’, but instead of that, we had the Operations Manager, Mr. Prasanna Kumar come right up to us and assure us we’ll get a table very soon!
He stuck to his word and soon, we were seated and ready to order! There were a lot of traditional dishes but also quite a few new ones, or let’s say ‘new takes’ on classic dishes and it wasn’t just the food that had something new, the menu itself is built for the modern society where moms and dads have one hand on the child and another on their smartphone.
The Ambience
You can’t go wrong with a nice cool breeze and fog wafting in through the window, in fact, if you’re in Kuttikkanam, this is exactly what you’re hoping for!
There seems to be an attention to detail throughout the place, be it the missing panes that will let in just enough of the cool breeze to make you feel nice and cozy by never at any point making you feel too cold.
Then there’s the Menu.
I’m not talking about the contents of the menu, but the way the menu is done itself.
Placed neatly on your table are QR codes you can scan that links you to the menu, but worry not, for the technologically challenged they still provide hardcopy versions of the menu, so if you prefer to keep your phone in your pocket, they have you covered!
The Food
Speaking to the contents of the menu, it had a lot of variety, and usually that means you hear the common phrase ‘oh yeah, we don’t have that anymore’. But again, Open Kitchen surprises with seemingly every item on the menu being available (in addition to another 10 or so ‘specials of the day’).
After we had ordered the fog really kicked up and for people that are constantly used to the heat and never the cold, it was a truly enjoyable experience. My nephews even tried to see if they could inhale it and ‘feel the cold’. While waiting for your food to come, you’re able to browse through the small supermarket section for chocolates and other snackables. And as you may have guessed it, I was on the case. Bagging myself some tasty treats to enjoy after the meal.
And then the food came, each item filled with more flavour than the last, and we being a family of Foodies made sure to order all sorts of different items on the menu.
Mixed Kathi Roll
Beef Kathi Roll
Veechu Porotta
Chicken Kathi Roll
Tandoori Chicken with Naan
Tandoori Chicken with Rumali
Tandoori Chicken with Rice
Lime Sodas (Salt/Salt&Sweet)
You’d think with a list like this, we’d be paying some premium $$$ but that’s what really surprised us, all of this cost us less than Rs. 1,200. We were wondering if they had made a mistake and missed a dish on the bill but they simply smiled and reassured us of the sum.
Again, this is literally one of only TWO places right near the junction where families can walk in without a care in the world and sit down for a nice big meal, they could overprice on each and every item and we wouldn’t have complained or even noticed it. To be absolutely honest, with the ambience and location, we expected it but Open Kitchen continued to surprise us!
Needless to say, Open Kitchen is truly a place that stays true to its name – Open and Welcoming to all, and if you miss out on visiting the spot during a trip to Kuttikkanam, you’re truly missing out on what could be one of the most delicious meals to be had in the region!
If you’d like to get in touch, they have a facebook page that will make your stomach growl with desire! – Open Kitchen on Facebook
They have their own resort / farm stay which sounds like an absolute amazing place to visit. Maybe that could be the next trip to Kuttikkanam? Only time will tell! I’ll tell you one thing; I’m already yearning for that juicy Kathi Roll!
No Comments