Born in the land of kangaroos, Patissez is an Australian chain of cafes that specialises in freakshakes — sinfully rich and gigantic milkshakes with ice cream, fresh cream and various other toppings. The chain made its entry into Chennai when two culinary experts decided to take a franchise of the cafe and add a full-fledged continental menu to it.
Chennai:
The non-vegetarian options like keema pav with onion rings, and grilled chicken thighs don't impress as much as the vegetarian, because they are commonly available. The flavours are balanced well but don't offer anything new — they lack the surprise element. The red kidney beans and bacon soup, however, is a must-try and is so filling that it's almost a meal by itself.
Moving on to the main course, the vegetarian again outshines the meat options. Instead of going with the typical Italian pasta preparations, the chefs have experimented with unusual combinations like red chilli pesto — which tastes heavenly with ravioli, as opposed to the common penne or spaghetti. It comes with slices of roasted aubergine, which add to the wholesomeness of the dish. On the other hand, the bangers and mash, which is sausages with mashed potatoes and vegetables, could be a tad disappointing because the sausages seem store-bought. One couldn't ask for a better version of mashed potatoes, with their melt-in-in-the-mouth creaminess. The fish-based main course called nutty butter fish, that comes with a lemon butter sauce, scores more than the previous dish because of the addition of shrimp, mushrooms and other vegetables to the sauce. The pizzas can be avoided because the toppings don't seem too enticing.
Undoubtedly, the best part of the menu are the freakshakes and neatfreaks (smaller portions of the former). The mega-size portion might make it tough for one person to finish, but on the bright side, none of the variants are overwhelmingly sweet or nauseatingly rich. The most unusual shake would be the sea salt, because in it is combined a sweet milkshake with the right amount of salt. The strawberry cheesecake shake called Cheshire Cat is a must-try too.
Located in a bustling mall in the city, the restaurant welcomes diners into its colourful space decorated with artwork and bright lights. The menu has been carefully curated to suit the palate of both Indians and foreigners and each dish has an interesting twist to it. The appetizers provide the perfect insight into what one might expect — ranging from zucchini fritters, fried spinach ravioli and soft paneer-filled pita pockets. The fritters are definitely one of the best, fried until golden-brown and seasoned with tangy and spicy powders.
The non-vegetarian options like keema pav with onion rings, and grilled chicken thighs don't impress as much as the vegetarian, because they are commonly available. The flavours are balanced well but don't offer anything new — they lack the surprise element. The red kidney beans and bacon soup, however, is a must-try and is so filling that it's almost a meal by itself.
Moving on to the main course, the vegetarian again outshines the meat options. Instead of going with the typical Italian pasta preparations, the chefs have experimented with unusual combinations like red chilli pesto — which tastes heavenly with ravioli, as opposed to the common penne or spaghetti. It comes with slices of roasted aubergine, which add to the wholesomeness of the dish. On the other hand, the bangers and mash, which is sausages with mashed potatoes and vegetables, could be a tad disappointing because the sausages seem store-bought. One couldn't ask for a better version of mashed potatoes, with their melt-in-in-the-mouth creaminess. The fish-based main course called nutty butter fish, that comes with a lemon butter sauce, scores more than the previous dish because of the addition of shrimp, mushrooms and other vegetables to the sauce. The pizzas can be avoided because the toppings don't seem too enticing.
Undoubtedly, the best part of the menu are the freakshakes and neatfreaks (smaller portions of the former). The mega-size portion might make it tough for one person to finish, but on the bright side, none of the variants are overwhelmingly sweet or nauseatingly rich. The most unusual shake would be the sea salt, because in it is combined a sweet milkshake with the right amount of salt. The strawberry cheesecake shake called Cheshire Cat is a must-try too.
Patissez
Address: 2nd floor, 142, Phoenix MarketCity, Velachery
Contact: 70106 91203
Timing: 11 am to 10 pm
Cuisine: Italian, Australian
Must-haves: Zucchini fritters, red chilli pesto pasta, Heartella freakshake
Star rating (on 5): ***1/2