Chasing fritters & steak at The Hideout Bistro

Expect no-frills continental fare at Anna Nagar’s newest restaurant, The Hideout Bistro
Fish ‘n’ Chips at The Hideout Bistro
Fish ‘n’ Chips at The Hideout Bistro

During our conversation with Shivita Sivakumar, owner of The Hideout Bistro in Anna Nagar,we realised that she has planned out her first hospitality venture quite thoroughly. The city resident who completed a culinary course in Switzerland and spent two years in Hyatt Regency Chennai as a member of the hotel’s sales team established the restaurant in the ground floor of an old residential building that previously hosted a fitness centre. “We refurbished the place completely from the bottom up, right from the flooring and the upcycled interiors to the choice of colours used (predominantly white, brown and red brown),” she informs, as she gives us a tour of the place, located off the main road in the 6th Street of D Block. There’s a sizeable al fresco seating as well, sporting classic white chairs and tables, and ample plants along the periphery of the premises. Shivita further wants to grow organic plants (such as herbs) and source organic vegetables from her personal terrace garden too.    

<em>Peri Peri Chicken</em>
Peri Peri Chicken
<em>A view from the inside</em>
A view from the inside

Predictably, she was inspired to start the bistro because she loved to cook and travel. “I have travelled across Europe many times and the local food of every new place I had visited there gave me major cooking goals!” she says. However, she did need the hand of a specialist while curating the menu for her own restaurant. So she turned to Manikandan V, a consultant who has worked with other chains in the past (such as Coimbatore-based Kuchi n Kream). Serving us first with a plate of crispy risotto balls called Arancini Ala Milanese (presented with a delicious orange chilli sauce), Manikandan  tells us that despite the risk of losing out on a large category of people who prefer South Indian food, he has taken care to present authentic Continental flavours, in dishes such as Peri Peri Chicken with tartare sauce and Bolognese Fritters stuffed with cheddar cheese. There’s a basket of delectably flaky Fish ’n’ Chips as well, along with a plate of Chicken Tocadero waiting in the wings, the latter being herb-grilled breast served with mushroom ricotta farce and ample cheese and veggies. Towards the end we have a succulent medium rare steak, and follow it up with a lemon slushie called Brain Freeze that is far from mind numbing and perks us up instead. We wind up with the Sunstroke Remedy — crushed ice laced with rose-flavoured soda — that was even better and lent a satisfiable conclusion to our dinner.     

Rs. 400 approx for two. 

<em>Bolognese Fritters</em>
Bolognese Fritters
<em>Mushroom Explosion</em>
Mushroom Explosion

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