Selvi Mess

J Arun Prakash

1 year ago

5.0

At least in the last 3-4 trips to Madurai over the last 4 years, we have always stopped in Salem Selvi Mess for lunch if we were non-vegetarian that day. This time around we stopped here and this is the first time wifey and daughter were trying the food from here. While there are a few outlets in Salem, this outlet in Reddipatti Main Road on National Highway (NH)-44 is easy to access while heading to Coimbatore or Madurai from Bangalore. we got space to sit soon and ordered a non-veg meal with an extra vanjaram fish fry, mutton sukka and chicken 65 to accompany, while picking up a kuska biryani for daughter and to be shared between the three of us. While I have had their seeraga samba short grain rice mutton biryani which is flavourful and excellent in my earlier visits, the kuska is essentially the same rice without the meat pieces. It was very good and we enjoyed it with both the mutton sukka and the chicken boneless 65. The non-veg meals essentially come with a kootu and poriyal with unlimited rice and instead of sambar it had mutton, chicken and fish gravies without any meat pieces, instead of sambar and kuzhambu. At roughly about 150 rupees it was a good deal, and tasted very authentic and spicy, very true to Salem's kongu micro cuisine. While I was not able to differentiate much between the chicken and mutton gravies, the fish gravy was distinct, mildly sour and well made. Chicken 65 was on point, the standard deal with no connection to the kongu cuisine, but as a popular side it has to be there on the menu. The vanjaram fish fry was decent, but it was not fresh, as Salem is nowhere close to the sea and it definitely must be transported / frozen for a day, lesson learnt we may not order this next time. I did enjoy the semi gravy mutton sukka with the rice which was extremely well made, the slightly pepper heavy kongu masalas did proper justice to the wonderfully cooked meat, which was a bit fatty, instead of pure meat that one would expect in a sukka. This fantastic meal ended with a nice rasam and rice, which was very tangy and literally woke me up. It may not be a right decision to eat a heavy meal and drive, but the pure hygienic home style Tamil Nadu Kongu style food is a wonderful highway travel recommendation that you should not miss, do pick up a coffee or an extra serving of rasam to drink to stay awake. Definitely recommended for anyone passing through NH-44.

Eron Kar

4 years ago

5.0

Best mutton biryani in Salem.... They deserve a better rating... The mutton fry and chicken biryani is quite good too

Krisdhina

4 years ago

4.0

Excellent food and quantity is too good. Much crowded place always as it located in the Salem - Bangalore highway. I would highly recommend! We had chance of having lunch at 3. Meals is 👌

Viesakan Vs

4 years ago

1.0

Gave waste pieces of chicken for ₹300. Rude waiters. Charged another ₹200 brain fry which was only 2 small pieces. Never going back.

Saraswathy

3 years ago

1.0

Waste of Money. Unhygienic place to eat. The food preparation places are unclean. Prizes are high not worth for money.