This review is for Alreef in Selaiyur. \u00a0Normally I do not travel to this part of the city unless it is to visit a Badminton court and shop in Madambakkam.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t

This time was no different, we were four friends who went there for some Badminton shopping. \u00a0By the time we were done, it was around 10:15 PM. \u00a0We decided to have our dinner and after reaching the main road from Madampakkam, the first place we could spot was Alreef.
\nThis is right opposite to Pizza Corner and is bang on the main road. \u00a0The name board is bright and you cannot miss it. \u00a0There is a parking for at least 4-5 cars right in front of the restaurant. \u00a0As we entered, the place looked quite good, but not very well-lit, and it was quite busy, \u00a0considering 10:30 PM at night in Selaiyur is not the same as in Nungambakkam or other happening places in the city. \u00a0Sparing a few tables, it was almost full. \u00a0We were seated immediately and that’s when the fancy part of our dinner came to an end \ud83d\ude42
\nAs we were seated, waiting for the menu, there was a power cut, 5 times within about 10 minutes. \u00a0Each time the lights would go off, it was pitch dark and I was surprised that the restaurant did not choose to have at least a few light\u00a0bulbs\u00a0on UPS. \u00a0At last, the power cuts settled down and then we got the menu and the glasses for water. \u00a0Already close to 10:45PM, we did not want to go for an elaborate dinner. \u00a0One of my friends\u00a0already had dinner and did not want to eat anything, so we decided to go for a Special Shawarma Roll and a Mexican Shawarma Roll each for the three\u00a0of us. \u00a0In the meanwhile asked for a soup, a little spicy, and the waiter suggested Chicken Pepper soup. \u00a0We ordered\u00a0two by four\u00a0and that was served\u00a0soon. \u00a0I had the first spoon and it was a little too salty to\u00a0my liking and the pepper was too strong. \u00a0Chicken pieces in it were tasty and well-cooked. \u00a0With every spoon, the pepper only got stronger and it was a sure-cure for a person with cold and a blocked nose \ud83d\ude09
\nThe shawarma rolls arrived, and we started to tear off the outer paper, saw that the kuboos (the flatbread) was dry and was brittle in some places. \u00a0The chicken shawarma was good, no complaints. \u00a0Couldn’t see any major difference between a Special shawarma and a Mexican shawarma, other than extra filling and more mayonnaise.
\nThe menu card had a huge collection of icecreams\/faloodas and so decided to have a falooda and that was good. \u00a0I couldn’t find vermicelli or the sabza seeds, but there were dry fruits and cut fruits and jelly. \u00a0It tasted good !
\nThe\u00a0prices were reasonable, the shawarma roll was Rs 85, the soup was Rs 75 and the falooda was Rs 120. \u00a0The bill came to a total of Rs 1124 including taxes. No service charge was included.
\nI was\u00a0surprised that with a name like Alreef, the Arabian section of the menu was very little. \u00a0It had elaborate dishes in Indian and Chinese, but nothing in Arabian, except the shawarmas. \u00a0When I asked if they had Kozi rice, they said they have jeera rice \ud83d\ude42
\nOverall, just another place, and definitely not in the same league as other well-known Arabian restaurants like Zaitoon <\/a>and Sea Shell.<\/p>\n