Restaurant Chef Pillai

RCP is a great choice for connoisseurs of authentic Kerala cuisine. The impression that ome gets on entering the establishment is that they take the culinary experience very seriously. The walls of the restaurant are decked up with photos showing Chef Pillai woh numerous celebrities such as film stars,(mainly Malayalam), cricketers and politicians. The decor also consists of items that reflect Malayali culture. The main dining area is comfortable with options for families, groups or couples. One drawback is lack of a printed menu. The menu is required to be scanned which is not convenient for groups and for the elderly. A printed menu would be highly desirable. Our group ordered Kerala toddy, Sulaimani, Buttermilk and Virgin mojito for drinks. The Kerala toddy was made of coconut with a dash of ginger and it was delicious. The rest were well prepared and tasty. For food, we ordered Malabar nool paratta, Kuthari choru, Thalassery biryani, Nikkah biriyani, Chayakadda pothu Kootan, Chicken ghee roast, Mutta appam and Ashtamudi fish curry. The Nikkah biriyani, Nool.paratha and Ashtamudi fish curry were delicious. Chicken ghee roast had a slight sweetness to it, which we felt was not comparable to the Mangalore ghee roast. Thallaserry biriyani had a subtle sweetness, which was true to the original , and excellently made. RCP has some innovative Kerala inspired desserts. We tried and found the palada cheesecake and unniappam falooda to be good. Coming to service, the staff were very coutteous, pleasant and helpful. But the service was very slow. The few serving staff seemed overwhelmed when the restaurant was full. This increased the wait time substantially. The price point is also on the higher side, but this is justified by the quality of the dishes served. Valet parking is available, which is absolutely required, as the place is located on the busy main road opposite to Phoenix Mall. On the whole, it is an excellent choice for those who wish to savour authentic Malayali cuisine.

I have been a fan of Chef Pillai ever since it opened in Bangalore and have visited multiple times over the years. Unfortunately, my visit today was extremely disappointing. The first thing I noticed was that the entire staff seemed to have changed, and with that, both the service and food quality have deteriorated significantly. A large number of items on the menu were unavailable, which was surprising for a restaurant of this stature. The service was chaotic. There was no one attending to the tables, and almost every table around us looked irritated and frustrated. We weren't even served water until we asked for it three times. To make matters worse, the food arrived before the plates. The hygiene standards were equally concerning. The plate-clearing area has been set up openly near the lift lobby, with leftover curry and food debris visible all around. It was unpleasant and certainly not what one expects from Chef Pillai. Coming to the food itself, the quality and taste have dropped drastically. The porottas were cold and felt like they had come straight out of a packet. The curry was mostly cream with very little substance, and the chicken did not taste fresh. Even the signature Fish Nirvana, which has always been one of my favourites, seemed undercooked. The masala tasted raw and was smeared all over the fish, making it feel as though it hadn't been cooked properly. Overall, this no longer feels like the Chef Pillai that I had come to love. It's really sad to see such a decline in quality, service, and hygiene. Sadly, this will be my last visit here.

Had an amazing dining experience at Chef Pillai! The food was absolutely delicious and full of authentic flavor. But the real star of the meal was the Jaffna Crab Roast — honestly one of the tastiest crab dishes I’ve ever had. Paired with rice, it was simply heavenly. The masala, spice balance, freshness, and rich flavor were on another level. Even thinking about it makes my mouth water! Definitely a must-try dish for anyone visiting this restaurant — don’t leave without trying the Jaffna Crab Roast. We also tried some prawn dishes and other seafood items, and everything was excellent. Great taste, quality, ambiance, and overall experience. Highly recommended for seafood lovers!

Long wait time as tables doesn’t clear as fast as it should be due to delayed service. Try booking prior to get the tables. Service is no where near a fine dine experience.Now talking about food quality & presentation is nice, portion sizes and prices are never justifiable. Starters are single serve and prices are on the higher side the one we ordered was Sambharam kadumanga Pani poori . Highlights of our order was nool parotta and fish nirvana, which we personally liked. Ambience is just average and wash areas are nothing like a premium restaurant. Overall, it’s worth giving a try for the sake but definitely not something you wish to repeat. They have valet parking facility. Weekends will be crowded so better book your tables in advance.