Had been wanting to visit this place forever. Food, ambience, service all are just amazing. Loved how Liz served everything to our personal liking. And cherry on the top was strawberry cheesecake. Loved it.
Went to this restaurant on 5th Jan for lunch. The place is awesome. An ideal place to relax on a Sunday. Eli comes to the table with all the items she can serve you for the day. Good taste good and really homely. Served beer.
The portions were decent. The prawns was lovely. 3 little more than medium sized prawns came with Chattichooru. At Rs 600 we felt it was over priced.
We ordered a fish curry meal, beef cutlet, pork , chicken Biryani, pasta veg , non beg pizza and vattappam with mutton stew. We enjoyed the food and the experience.
Like I mentioned before the price is slightly high. However, hats off to Eli who does the cooking herself and she ensures we get home cooked fresh food.
Eli’s kitchen was a discovery for me! Nestled right inside the Mamalla beach resort, you will find a lovely open space, with books, potted plants and tables made of doors. While we were waiting for our food, our host Eli played some Bob Marley music.
The food was a mix between Malayali and Balinese ( I’m told that Eli spends 3 months in Bali a year, so the influence is definitely noticeable). Everything was very tasty. The Balinese pork curry and Vattai appam combination was especially good.
Amazing food by the Chef who loves cooking. Such a peaceful place. I would visit as often as I could.
We ordered a in-house wine and a cocktail orange flavour with whiskey. Which was amazing.
Followed by our prawn with rice, fish fry and squid masala. Every single dish was exceptional.
And to top all of these came the banana chocolate pancake, an Irish cream cheese cake.
Everything is great at Eli’s. The food, the care and warmth.
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A gem in mahabalipuram
Discovered this place on Zomato and decided to visit. From the time we stepped in it felt we were at home with the personalized hospitality and most importantly the non hurried atmosphere...
The place is spacious and got an 80s vibe to it... From the Friends episode posters to the music, the hanging seashell windchimes, relaxed couches, books etc..you actually forget after some time where you are.. Eli is personally there cooking in the background... So you really feel you are at a friends place rather than a restaurant... It is interesting to hear her story and her journey... Adds that extra zing to the experience....
We ordered the chilly beef, prawns with rice, chicken in mushroom sauce and finally the Irish cream cheesecake... All the dishes were yummy... The chicken in mushroom sauce was especially yum and so creamy....we also had the gooseberry home made wine... A must have...
When here in Mahabalipuram, Eli's kitchen deserves a visit... A place where you dont need to play by the restaurant rules and yet get yummy food....
Happy eating!!!
The owner is very friendly and ensure that you are served hot fresh food. Do call her in advance to find out what the day's special is, which is basically the catch of the day. The homemade banana and grape wine tasted amazing. She also makes authentic kerala delicacies including pork. The desserts can be improved though.
There's nothing better than home food. But this woder woman creates magic when it comes to food. It's a must visit place when you're in Mahabs and a worthy weekend drive from Chennai.
Must try dishes
Beef Cutlet
Bread and Chicken Stew
Pork Chatti Chor
Prawn Chatti Chor
Corn Spinach Queish
And the lemon grass tea
The desserts are amazing too.
Be it a friends gathwering to a large party, she's got it all covered. Follow her page @eliskitchen.mahabs For updates.
This is nice nature driven outback you can relax hear birds chirping menu is small but good owner her self cooks and checks if you like it .. u can have some beer and has smoking area aswell. Dont expect some big seafood buffet this is more like moms kitchen set in nature you will love it .
Heard from few people about this place . I waited for a while to visit since I haven't got chance to go there. How ever I made it yesterday. Elis kitchen is a beautiful place to dine and chill along with friends. They serve some beverages aswell if you wish to order some check out what they have. Let me tell you about the food... I don't think words are enough to praise the quality and the quantity and the taste. Each item or the dish that we ordered satisfied our hearts totally. The taste of the food is topclass and fingerlicking delicious. We spend about 6 hours here and felt so tough to go back home. When you are here please don't rush things ... Ask take suggestions and order what they have I am sure it will be worth . One more good place to my list in Chennai. I would highly suggest this place and looking forward to visit again.
Favorite dishes. The prawns and chicken stew with appams they are yum.
One thing to remember : Tuesdays closed
It might be a little hard for the tourists to find this hidden gem. But once you visit it, you are gonna visit again. The cafe approx 2 Km from Mahabalirpuram Bus stop.
Place is beautiful and surrounded by trees with birds chirping around.
They have a revolving menu and food variety depends on the fresh catch of the day. They get their fresh catch from the ocean or freshly harvested vegetables and fruits around Mahabalipuram.
I tried a few chicken dishes and all of them were amazing. The food is so so delicious and far better than food served at any 5 star hotel, for instance 'The Leela palace' hotel where i stayed for 15 days on an official trip.
Alcohol is also served and she makes amazing cocktails. If you are a beer lover, must try 'Hopper'.
Mango deserts are so so yummy and a must try if available as it all depends on fresh catch of the day.
You can talk to Liz and order based on her recommendations. I am sure, you will never regret visiting this place once.
Eli's kitchen is just a brilliant experience. The ambience is eclectic and heart warming. But the best thing about the place is chef Liz who puts her years of travelling experience around the globe, into her cooking. If you're looking for some great food and fresh vegetables off Liz's garden, just show up and you will have the time of your life. I surely did. I would highly recommend Eli's kitchen to anyone.
P.S.- Liz also makes fresh seasonal fruit juices, seasonal fruit based desserts and cocktails which are just phenomenal.
ELI wat a women.. she made our day so special.wonderful food and had an amazing experience here and food is to die for .. coming to food beef cutlets so yummy we couldn't stop eating and prawn ,chicken pork everything so special ...she has done an amazing job by decorating our table ,I really didn't expect this much and really thankful for her for making my man so special on his bday..loads of hugs n kisses to Eli❤️
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Visiting Eli's kitchen was an unplanned suprise to me. We went for a long drive in ecr and stopped at the mamalla resort for late lunch, and there I found this treasure♥
Totally fell in love at the First sight with this beautiful, cozy place. They had tables and beds for the seating. The owner of this place Liz,such a sweet person was also the chief chef.
So Liz handed over the menu to me, which was handwritten (I'm a sucker for handcrafted stuffs😍).
And they do serve alcohol.
They have a rotating menu,which was impressive. Only the fresh catch of the day will be available. They're also known for their slow braised pork and Kerala cuisine meal.
So here's the list:
•Kumquat(Liz suggested on ordering this)- It was a refreshing drink with an acquired taste. I would highly recommend this drink rather going with the regular lemonades.
•Kerala meals- It was a wide spread of sambar,rasam,veggies,pappads, Kerala style fish curry. It was one of the best Kerala curry I've ever had. It's a must try🤤
•Bali's special Pork- It was the first time I tasted pork(finally gained the guts to eat it🙈). Believe me,it was too yummy. I would say that was the best food i had there. The pork was braised for 12hours and cooked to perfection. The meat was so tender and the masala was a brilliant mix.
Felt it was a little overpriced but definitely worth it.
•Fish fry - Perfect!
It started raining when we were almost done,and I don't have words to explain how beautiful the place became♥️Liz was so friendly with a big smile, sharing stories of her life.
Overall it was a lovely experience at this place.
Do visit!
Ambience-5/5
VFM-4/5
Service-5/5
Food Quality-4/5
Lovely ambience .. nice place to chill ... catch up with old friends .. warm host .. scrumptious food ..these are what makes Eli’s kitchen special . Beef cutlets .. fish fry ,fish curry ,Eli’s special brinjal fry, prawn fry with chattirice are some the things we loved ... a definite visit again.
Wonderful food from a Wonderful woman! Had an amazing experience here and really, the food is to DIE for! Bit far off for the city dwellers but I really would recommend to take the drive and I'm very positive you won't be disappointed
Loved every bit of it ❤️
Great ambience, mouth watering food, a lovely and lively host. This is the place to have an authentic delicious Kerala cuisine if you are anywhere around Mahabalipuram. A big thumbs up.
Eli is an extremely gracious host with a happy soul. Have been here thrice now and love it completely. The prawn and rice is amazing, beef cutlets are soft and melt in your mouth. The food is comfort home food in a beautiful ambience. She was kind enough to make chicken and mushroom in white sauce for my husband who couldn’t have spicy food. Overall you will leave here well fed and with a happy soul :)
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An evening to cherish at Liz's brilliant cafe warrants nothing short of a five-star rating.
I went there with my wife with no recommendations and came back with every bit of my expectations fulfilled.
The cafe in itself is so artistically decorated with artefacts that you normally find at home. Wind chimes, dream catchers and an ironing table that was turned into a hanger-cum-stand for plants. Moreover, you are surrounded by greenery (creepers, plants and even a tree right in the middle of the place with beautiful lamps hanging off the branches) that made me feel right at home and at peace.
Add the couches, mattresses, teapoys and we felt like we walked into a welcoming aunt's place. And the hostess, Liz, was just that. She was so attentive to our tastes with suggestions and whipped up a spread in no time.
But what sets Eli's Kitchen apart is that you are not rushed through the place like many restaurants. We had a lovely and relaxed conversation with her after the food and she even encouraged us to take a walk to the beach and come back at our own leisure (the beach is so beautiful but this review is not for that). We spent a good amount of time there and loved each second of it, which is what you expect at such a place.
Now coming to the food (the most important part). We had the most awesome beef cutlets (crunchy, meaty and packed with flavour) and followed that up with a prawn dish recommended by Liz. That was the standout dish of the evening (not to say the rest were mediocre. it was just a class apart). The prawns were cooked with restraint which meant the natural sweetness of the meat was retained while the spices did make their presence. The rice, cooked in prawn juices, was the perfect compliment to it.
Next up, we had a beef stew and appam. Cooked down in coconut milk with pepper, the stew was delicious and went so well with the appams.
We also had a mackerel fry which looked so full of masalas at first glance. But the meat was so soft and tasty that we demolished it within minutes.
All this alongside a cold one and homemade wine (terrific wine, btw).
Not to mention that she was sweet enough to bake a lemon cake for my wife (it was her bday) and have a cake cutting ceremony after the food.
My wife could not leave without giving her a hug.
Here's to plenty more evenings at Eli's kitchen and plenty more mouth-watering dishes from Liz.
Bottomline: Insanely delicious food apart, at Eli's kitchen, you are not just another customer who will be rushed through the place like in many places.
The board at the entrance sums it up - 'Cooked with love, serving soul food'!
This place is inside mamalla beach resort .... beautifully decorated place ..... it's run by a lady who cooks d food.....the food is brilliant....we ordered their most famous prawn rice .....mutton n chicken starters.....
In deserts ....gulab jamun cheesecake was the best ....they have homemade wine to offer as well......
It's a good place to visit....
Had an amazing experience at ELIs recently . The simple set up surrounded by greens makes it a perfect place in a sunny afternoon . The host who also is the chef is very friendly , suggested us a few dishes we could try . We tried prawn fry and pesto pasta (the best part the ingredients are from their garden) and it was delicious. So i would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody who is visiting Mahabalipuram. Hope to visit again and try some more dishes from E.L.I ‘s kitchen :)
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Earlier today, while eating obviously, I got reminded that I hadn't written about a place that I tried recently and really wanted to let the world know about. The place I'm referring to is Eli's Kitchen - a joint about which a lot had already been spoken about by many foodies. I had always wanted to try this place and this time, things fell into place!
Eli's Kitchen, which used to be inside Mahabalipuram, has now moved to Mamalla Beach Resort which is a couple of kilometres before Mahabs on your left if you're travelling from the city. It was pouring heavily when a friend of mine and I reached the place. Hotel Mamalla wasn't easy to find in the dark and the weather made it tougher to spot the place. The hotel doesn't even have a lit hoarding, so u can imagine. Eli's Kitchen is located right at the entrance of the resort, which is actually about half a kilometre from the main road. The place looked simple with long steel pillars holding the asbestos sheets and a small hole on the ceiling accommodated a beautiful tree. There aren't any walls, except the one behind the open kitchen, and the place, especially while raining, makes you want to fall in love with the simple set-up. Light hangings from the aforementioned tree make the place brighter and cushion topped wooden furniture gives it a laid-back feel.
The owner of the place who also doubles as the chef was extremely friendly and apart from recommending and cooking the dishes, she also ended up becoming someone with whom we spoke for a long time even after we got done with our food. As far as the food is concerned, we ordered two juices - a tangy fruit based one and a Kumquat (avocado-based) followed by Eli's Special Prawn Fry, Syrian Beef Fry and Parotta. The drinks were served with bamboo straws and we emptied it in no time. The food was so good that I was so busy with it that I didn't even take a picture of the Prawn fry. They were large fried prawns with their shells on, served on a bed of matta rice (Keralan one). I've never had so many prawns in a single dish and though it was a pain to remove the shells, the spicy, lip-smacking taste made it worth the effort. Moving to the Syrian Beef Fry which a lot of friends recommended, once again, the quantity was humongous. Slow cooked for hours together, it was evident in the meat which had a melt-in-the-mouth consistency. I wasn't a huge fan of the parathas but who cares about them when the sides are so amazing.
Thanks to the downpour, the place was flooded with mosquitoes and we were given a mosquito bat to sway them away :P . If I had to nitpick on a negative point, the washbasin is outside the place, so we had to walk out in the rain to access it. But even then, we were given umbrellas. On the whole, it was a lovely experience and the food, not only tasted yummy but also felt like home food. The abovementioned items cost us Rs 1470 which might look a bit steep, but considering the quantity, which would've technically fed three people and the impeccable taste, I'd say it's VFM. On the whole, it was a lovely experience and I can't wait to get back.
RATINGS BREAK UP:-
Location:- 3.5/5
Parking:- 4.5/5
Food:- 4.5/5
Customer Service:- 5/5
Price:- 3.5/5
Cheers to women empowerment Eli home cooked food with farm vegs and fish. Lovely Onam saddi. Sumptuous food and ate to stomachs contentment gud family dinning place
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A special day made memorable ❤️
They have shifted from their previous location and are now operating from Mamalla's beach resort.
Liz runs this amazing place beautifully. She has self styled the place with wooden chairs and tables, comfy cushions. Decorated with dream catchers and wooden articles, the enormous space is completely open and perfect for a beautiful day.
There’s a tree in the middle of the restaurant floor and they have made an opening in the roof to let it grow ❤️ again, it's decorated tastefully.
There's no set menu. So, Call up a day or two before and check what's available or let her know what you'd like to have.
Orders:
Beef cutlet: with coconut oil and ginger, this is the best beef cutlet or to be accurate, the best of any cutlets I have tasted. The outer layer was crispy and the meat was cooked to perfection.
Beef chukka: I found it a tad chewy and but my partner thought it was perfect. Another empty plate!
Bali pork: The pork ribs had been slow cooked for over 8 hours with 6 types of sauces which gave it a whole new taste. It was served with veggies of choice on raw pasala keerai (edible). It was too sweet- which is how it’s supposed to be and pepper was provided along. With a dash of pepper, it was HEAVENLY( I have replaced the word I wanted to use considering this is a public forum :P) I wanted to kiss Liz for that and that's exactly what I did! I ran to her, gave a hug n a peck on the cheeks 👻
We were too full and decided to take a walk. Did I tell you that the sea is just 50 odd feet away? No? Well, it is! After a good 1 hour at the beach, we returned to the restaurant and she said that she was making Pazhampori ❤️ a piping hot plate of crispy pazhampori was placed in front of us in a jiffy. Loved it to pieces.
And yeah, we didn't stop. I am a sucker for sea food and I ended up ordering a plate of mackerels.
Again, super crispy on the out and oh so soft on the inside. A perfect plate of home style fish fry.
Pricing: 4650/- incl few cold ones. Definitely worth every single penny.
Ps: her food is predominantly of home cooking style. So, no chance of over doing the masalas. Just a perfectly soothing mix of aromas and flavours.
Pps: We spent about 7 hours there! So IMHO, it’s perfect for a beautiful date/ family outings.
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I have been following them on Facebook for some time. Finally me and the husband visited ELI's kitchen today and had a great lunch. They had duck roast as a part of the Easter special menu. We ordered a portion of duck roast and appams and prawns fry which came with a side of masala rice. Food was extremely delicious and we ended up licking our fingers :-)
There was Kerala beef, pork, fish etc. but we could not taste any of that (which shows how generous the portions were). Our love for kerala cuisine has grown stronger after today's lunch. Coming to the dessert....there was a fusion dessert called gulab jamun cheesecake. Since we were feeling full, we decided to order a single slice and share it. We loved it! The cream cheese was soooooo fresh and the gulab jamun was a great twist to the original cheesecake flavor.
I'd like to talk about the ambience a bit. The restaurant is open from all the sides (but with a covered roof) and a tree right in the middle of it. All the decorations are done very tastefully which gives a it a cozy look. We also liked their concept of home kitchen. Lizz takes care of her customers very well. At the end of our meal she asked us if we liked the food and also had a friendly chat where we got to know more about each other and she also gave us a useful cooking tip!
To anyone who reads this review, I'd say do visit this place with your friends/families. Cheers!
Karthik Venkatasubramanian
+5
Great food prepared with Care. Great ambience. Good Service. Not to be missed for a quiet time and some great food. My friends and I had a great time on Easter April 1 at Eli s Kitchen !
Loved everything about ELI’s, right from the decor to the home away from home atmosphere. The hospitality of the owner Liz who knew exactly what to order for us and conversations with her and eating her awesome food was absolutely delightful.
We tried the Syrian beef with their special Malabar paratha which was fabulous and the beef would just melt in your mouth, We also tried the pork..cooked perfectly with the right amount of fat..just the way it should be. Washed all the yummy food down with a House special orange drink (I forgot what was it called) and finally their deserts are mind blowingly awesome I tried their Lemon Cake with cream cheese icing..just thinking about it wants me to go back to ELI’s again have more aw some food and surfing conversations with liz.
Finally landed in a perfect place for homely lunch .
Pork belly :10/10
Prawns :10/10
Fish Gravy :10/10
cocktail : 10/10
The only issue was ...security and the reception staff were rude in mamalla beach resort . I was shocked when they said ..I need to take permission to go and eat . I am hearing this for the first time ..... 😲
Other than that everything was awesome and will go back soon
...
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A chance visit to Mamalla Beach Resort landed me at Eli's Kitchen. A charming, light and airy beach cafe whose decor equally matches the personality of the owner - Liz, whom, I had the pleasure to meet. Liz is chilled out, very friendly, attentive and not to mention extremely charming!
I found myself on a lovely spot in the garden area, breathing in the warm, salty beach air with a smile on my face, overlooking a family of ducks going about their routine.
Liz suggested either the Nasi Lemak(A malaysian favorite) or the Kerala fish curry with rice and a vegetable dish for lunch. I Chose the latter. The food arrived a little under 20 minutes. Served by her lovely wait staff, my first thought looking at the food was - 'wow, It looks like mum's cooking!' The food had a very non-pretentious, earthy feel to it. With fresh ginger pieces and kokum in the fish dish, it was an "Authentic" stamped Kerala fish curry!
After lunch, soaking in the ambience, I managed to get some work done and was later joined by Liz for coffee and a soulful chat about travel and our varied life experiences.
On the whole, Eli's Kitchen is a sweet refreshing experience both at a gastronomical and at a soul level. A 'must-visit'!
Highly Recommended!
Delicious food cooked by Eli herself. Produce sourced by Eli herself. Comfy huge space. Love it and can't get enough of it. If you ask me what I would like to do every weekend, I would say take a drive to Eli's kitchen just to relax and enjoy the yummy food.
Excellent food.her pizza and kerala thali is mind blowing.f you call her and go she even caters to your specific requirements.very very friendly staff and fast service.eli gives her personal touch to all the food and makes sure she makes her customers very comfortable.
Eli's Kitchen, has now moved & I have followed! Formerly in Mamallapuram itself, Eli's is now at Mamalla Beach Resort, just outside the town off the ECR, the signs are small & can easily be missed the first time going, but once you know where it is you will never forget! The food is scrumptious, the setting peaceful, quiet, light and airy & the host so passionate about her cooking, cafe and life in general you can't help but leave with a smile 😁
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A review can simply not do justice to Eli's kitchen yet I write one to urge people to visit this foodie's haven...We were there for dinner last night and were craving for some finger licking yumm food. We tried the kumquat drink which Liz recommended and what a burst of freshness it was! My friend tried the homemade wine which was really nice too.. For mains we had crisp hot dosas served to us right off the tawa with fish curry and pork roast for the meat lovers and a tangy coconut-mango chutney for the vegetarians ( 2 of us). Liz also let us try her Dal which hit the homestyle note bang on and made me eat a few too many spoons of rice just for the love of it... Stuffed like Thanksgiving turkeys but not wanting to give up on our dessert, we had the mango cheesecake which was again topnotch..the slight hint of salt in the base along with the airy flavourful cheese cake topped with a slice of freshly cut seasonal mango was nothing short of poetry! The USP to Eli's kitchen is Liz herself who makes you feel at home with her welcoming smile and sunny nature. Thanks to Joe for entertaining the kids while we ate in absolute peace with the sound of the waves calming our senses ! In a nutshell, there couldn't have been a better end to our weekend getaway!
For those of you who want to visit , to get to Eli's kitchen , you have to take the second right after Moonrakers on Othavadai street and take the 1st left thereafter. This place is tucked away at the end of the street on the left hand side! Don't judge this place by the approach to it, it is that way for a reason you will uncover when you have your first bite! Thank you Liz for the wonderful evening. We would love to come back soon😋
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Facebook and social media makes for a great marketing tool and sometimes you feel like buying all the products they push at you , sometimes you feel like the product you are sold by these companies to other businesses . That's the open truth , but sometimes you just go with the flow and numerous quotes and photos of trips , relaxation , taking a break from life and lifestyle . Those memes and motivational quotes help too , to inch your way away from your prescribed life , to something more and trust me , there is a lot more out there !!!After a long hectic months school , gym and of course work and not having a 'ME' time , just made quick plans for a mahabs trip , not for the temples (which i still havent explored) , not for the surfing (which i still havent tried) , not even for drinks (yeah , true story) but for the food .Checked with a couple of guys at work and they were in on it , after hesitating a bit , but then mentioned what else they offered at Eli's that they couldn't refuse , beer . So skipping PTM at school ran all the way to each pickup point to fetch the 2 other guys , as one couldn't make it on a Sunday !!! . Reached in about an hour and a half thanks to the improved roads on that stretch . Improvement in handling pedestrians and crossings would help too , but hey who cares a damn about safety or rather other people these days !!! One reason you need to get out and re-evaluate life and price of life !!!Finding the place was quite easy since we parked way before the beach and chose to find the new place on foot . Still have this thing in my head that mahabs is just this tiny snow ball , centered around these hamlets turned restaurants !!!
Food cooked with passion. Tasty. Fresh. Hostess and chef, Liz Thottan takes good care of people's tastes... I think she quite understands your preference by looking at your face. Small place... Can seat about 20-25 people on a crowded day. Apparently a favourite among the surfers.
Sea food is awesome !!!
No added ingredients
In other words Very Authentic
Beef steak was also really good
The way we are treated as a guest makes us feel home away from home 🏠
Kudos to Lis
Beautiful view of sea with fishing boats setting their sail, breezy and lush green atmosphere, awesome collection of A.R.Rahman competing with the sound of waves and lip smackingly delicious food. What more one can ask for? A blissful dining experience is what you get at Eli & Joe's Kitchen in Mahabalipuram.
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I'm quite clear when it comes to lunching options in Mahabalipuram. I don't opt for swanky places that cost a bomb nor am I fan of mediocre places that use the same red coloured batter to fry all their seafood/food. Thank God, I found out about Liz Thottan sometime in December. And when she opened her Café a few months back, I'd been itching to go back and dine there.
Amazing food, friendly people and the Ambience (Sea Facing) comes free with no extra cost. I wasn't disappointed on any count in my experience this time too. Liz is an amazing host and she makes sure you've had a hearty meal before you leave.
There's no fixed menu and that's what I think is her USP. 😃
The Order: We opted for the Buffet (₹450/head) and a plate of Beef Cutlets (₹300) and a Kumquat Drink (₹120).
I was missing the Kumquat Drink, after I first had it at Liz's place last time. So, obvious choice, I went for it this time too. Though my friend wasn't a great fan of it, it did suit my taste buds.
The Buffet was Rice, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry, Egg Curry, Crab Roast, Black Dal, Raitha, Appalam and More (Butter Milk) - Kerala Style Food. I skipped the Fish Curry (as I had it last time) and tried everything else. Must say, very satisfying meal. Loved the Chicken Curry absolutely. The More with hint of Chillies - Wonderful! The beef cutlets were outstanding. I've never had something like that before. Crab was too good except for that big chunks of Ginger that I got in between.
If I'd even got a clue of how this meal was going to end, I would have happily skipped my second helping of Plain Rice with Crab - That French Toast with Nutella was to Die for or probably to Kill for 😉.
My mom is an amazing cook but she can't make few things like, Kerala Style food at home. So, I guess I'm in safe hands of Liz when it comes to craving for such food. She makes some great Pork Chops and Beef Steaks/Burger, I've been told. In my list is her Thalassery Biryani too.
Location: Enter Othavadai Street, Cross Moonrakers - Second Right and then First Left. The last house on your left. I've added a Picture of the exterior, as I couldn't find a signage outside.
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What actually impressed me about E.l.i's Kitchen is, the concept. The menu is a surprise, like a rotating menu, depending upon the fresh catch of the day or whatever supply (Read Meat) she gets that day. Liz cooks fabulous food and serves it with lot of love and smiles. It's just like how you would call up your close friend or relative and tell them you are coming over for a meal. The experience is something similar to that.
The Ambience needs a special mention. E.l.i's Café is located at the Fisherman's Colony in Mahabalipuram. The café is closer to the sea. Food is served with an amazing view of the sea and the BGM is that of the waves. Calm and serene ambience along with good food - What else can one ask for.
The Order:
Liz took the order for drinks as soon as we arrived. I went with Liz's suggestion and order Kumquat - it was simply awesome and I loved it completely.
We opted for the buffet. The food was similar to what one will have at their own house.
There was a choice of Kerala Rice and Normal Rice.
Fish Curry: One of the best Kerala style Fish Curry that I've had. I usually avoid the fish in the gravy. But, this one was exceptionally good and the fish which was a variety of Snapper was surely catch of the day.
Fish Fry - Barracuda: The freshest fish fry, similar to what my mom cooks at home. I bet, no restaurant can beat this one.
Ridge Gourd Prawns Curry: This one was just awesome.
Pumpkin Erissery: Only Vegetarian food that I devour in Kerala Cuisine is Erissery. This one was divine. I don't remember how many helpings of Erissery I had.
Kerala Sambar: My sister who tasted the Sambar, loved it. I don't have an inclination towards Sambar when Fish Curry is around.
We were given Pappadam and Fried Milaga Vathal too. Liz did offer us dessert but we were full already.
Cost: Rs. 350 per head for the buffet. Drinks costed extra.
Overall Experience: Amazing experience, that no 5-Star hotel/resto can give you. Highly recommended for the days when you are inclined to have home food in a laid back set up. Worth travelling to Mahabalipuram just for this. To me, it was something that I'd never done before and all of us including the kids loved the experience thoroughly.
Food cooked with passion, cleanliness and loads of smile and laughter. The setting, an open kitchen with open restaurant and more often the retro 80's in the background.
HOMELY n COMFY - jus the place to hang out in, without a care in the world ... a fixed menu of handed-down south indian recipes and a dash of the occident ! Just chill out and laze..for the hippy in U who's not in a hurry...Liz is what your MOM would have stirred up in a jiffy back home! As a vegetarian - i have my culinary limitations, still would head there every time...home is where the heart is!
Beautiful home cooked food.
Dined on the rooftop terrace and had a lovely time.
Food was very rich and delectable. We tried the:
-Jumbo Tiger Prawns with rice,
-fall-off-the-bone Pork Ribs with some side bread (be sure to soak up all the juices on the plate with said bread),
-Beef Cutlets,
-Baby Shark mince,
-Fish Curry with rice &
-Malabar Parotta.
Prices are high but quality is worth it. Liz made us feel like family.
Thank you kindly & keep up the good work!
My husband and kids enjoyed one of the most amazing meals we have had in India! We have tasted outstanding food from all over the world and Eli’s kitchen is right up there!
We love the way Eli sources the finest local produce to cook with and the way she can elevate their taste with traditional flavours.
This was an outstanding restaurant with an impeccable host and a beautifully memorable ambience and experience. Worth every rupee and more.We will most definitely be back.
Lovely home cooked food in Eli's home (naturally) tucked away a couple of small blocks from the main drag. (don't be put off by the closed gate, that's to keep the dogs out). I had red snapper one night and pork vindaloo on another, both were very good. Eli is really friendly and likes to chat with guests ☺️
I had the most amazing experience with Eli and my friends. The food was next level with the most amazing view of mahabalipuram. I am a vegetarian and the vegetarian dishes that came out were some of the best I’ve had in India. Eli has such a way with food and it honestly warms your heart and soul. I will be going back every time I come here. I cannot recommend highly enough!!
Thank you Eli❤️
Our family trips to Mahabs aren't complete without a meal at Eli's and we love the place so much that it's almost a tradition for us to stop there, catch up with Eli and her pets and belt some extraordinary food. Eli's prawn chatti choru is to die for. She's such a great host that she specially makes a non spicy version for my child. We love everything we've tried at Eli's, and especially her pork and lobster - out of this world. Eli's kitchen is an embodiment of your favourite malayali aunt's kitchen - food carefully made with a whole lot of thought, passion and love. Can't wait to visit again!
Thank you so much for the wonderful experience in mahabalipuram. This evening has a special place in my heart because it ticks all boxes.
Hospitality by Liz & Abdul, impeccable.
The food cooked to perfection by Liz, the ambient music from the ocean and we got slightly lucky with some fireworks while we were sipping the delicious homemade wine.
I'm definitely coming back soon with favourite people who will appreciate this place Liz has created for us.
Good food, a great place to relax. Chef Eli, puts her heart and soul into cooking. The best variety of sea food. She loves to have a chat with the customers, which makes you feel at home. The decor and surroundings have a personal touch. It's like having your Amma's/ammachi's food..!!
What a hidden gem!
Eli makes incredible home cooked food, with specials and desserts every day. Could not take photos as we were mesmerized by the food and dug in immediately.
There's a lovely roof top seating for the evening.
Thanks for a wonderful time, we will definitely be back.
PS. There is also a room for rent, a cosy homestay.
This is our regular joint at mahabs. Amazing food. Eli and Abdul are the nicest hosts on the planet and great food. Love Eli's beef cutlets and the desserts. If you come to mahabs, you should have dinner here. Worth it. And they have a cute dog called bunny who gives a lot of love. You feel at home here.
Must visit place in Mahabalipuram. The host Eli was really friendly and we will get a homely feeling. They have got a beautiful menu and these dishes you cant find any where else. She is an expert in sea food and Prawn chatti choru is her best. Try squid with porotta also. She creates magic when it comes to cooking. the cakes were also great. This place is ideal for Sea food lovers and I personally wont recommend this place for vegetarians or vegans. This place also got see view.
Located along side Mamala beach resort..found this place on google maps. Was staying at a nearby resort and happened to drop in for lunch. Run by a lady named Eli. We had a spanish orange drink..a snapper served with salad and desserts..banoffee pie and a water chest nut with coconut milk drink. Totally worth it. The owner takes the orders by herself and she ensures our appetite before the order, so we dont mess up with the order. Well put up..she has a story for everything hung in there..even the table. Overall a great experience. Must try place in mahabalipuram.
Eli is a chef and a host par excellence... what an ensemble of taste she creates with her dishes. It's Lip-smacking good. .. you will fall with love with the place and experience.
"An Exquisite Culinary Journey 🍽️✨ | Indulged in a gastronomic delight here. The flavors were a symphony of taste, each dish meticulously crafted to perfection. The ambience was enchanting, creating a canvas for a truly memorable dining experience. A culinary masterpiece that ignited all the senses. Highly recommended! 👏🌟 #FoodieFinds #AmbienceMatters#seafood-delight
Thanks liz ❤️
Most amazing culinary experience in Mahabalipuram, amazing amazing amazing
All is on point from the excuisite beef cuttlets to the pork, pasta and not to forget for the sweet tooth, deserts are to die for! ♥️✨
A must go to if you come to town
Had a lovely time at Eli's Kitchen, she serves the best food and she's a great host. If you are into soul food this is the place to be.
We had the beef cutlets, pork in white wine, fried fish, prawns and rice and for dessert we had the chikoo cheesecake and knafeh. We also sampled her homemade wine, it was lovely.
Good ambiance. A good place to hangout. Have fun and enjoy some good kerala food. Liz was a great host.
Awesome sea food with the wonderful host...owner..Chef...We had an amazing time and one of the best sea food that we had...
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