Dining at The Hyatt Chennai

The Hyatt Regency opened its doors last year in Chennai. All the floors are not ready yet, which can make for some rough edges if you choose this hotel for a business trip. However, what tilts the balance in it favor are its excellent restaurants. The hotel is home to three restaurants: Stix specializes in Chinese cuisine from the Sichuan region and street hawker-style cooking from the East; Focaccia serves up home-style Italian food from the southern part of the country; and, Spice Market which provides you an all-day dining experience in a pleasant and airy setting.

When I entered Focaccia, I did not expect to be delighted. The menu options seemed conventional enough, but the execution on these simple dishes by Milanese Chef Pauletto was exceptional. This was easily one of my memorable dining experiences in Chennai.

They started me off on fresh Focaccia drizzled with olive oil as I sipped on my glass of Syrah. The minestrone soup was hearty and full of authentic Italian veggies.

The spinach gnocchi was out-of-the world. Exceptionally rendered, these soft dumplings of spinach and ricotta was heavenly in the palate. Served in a bed of white sauce and olive oil, this dish was the highlight of this dinner.

The pan-seared wild sea bass was served on a bed of baked seasonal vegetables and lemon sauce. Again, an expertly turned out dish with impeccable texture, taste and flavors.

They insisted I try their tiramisu which I did. They brought out a huge dish of tiramisu and let me serve as much as I wanted to. I only could take a couple of spoonfuls given how full I already was. Which was a pity, since the dessert was every bit as good as the rest of this dinner was.

I had dined at Stix during my earlier trip but neglected to post my experience here. Focaccia was still not open then. I ran into a hotel employee who was familiar - he used to work at the Trident which I frequented before the Hyatt opened. On his recommendation, I walked into Stix. The chefs here were transferred from The Grand Hyatt in Beijing. Specifically, from Made in China, a restaurant that I love and have reviewed here.

I asked the chef to give me anything he wished. He made me a delicious egg-drop soup with crab and tofu, followed by a fried rice preparation with wok-tossed tiger prawns in XO sauce. Everything was fantastic and I hope to be back here for more soon.


Spice Market is interesting, not so much because of the food but because of the interesting statues that dot the restaurant showcasing how crazy India can seem when it seamlessly melds the ancient with the modern.



Net-net, I think the Hyatt Regency Chennai is a must-try destination of any foodies looking for a brief stopover in Chennai.