H.Akbar Mess

We run H.Akbar Mess over at No 2/17 Samy Street in Periamet. We are right across the road from the State Bank, so it’s a landmark that most people know. This part of Chennai is famous for the leather trade, and many of the men who work in the nearby shops and warehouses come to us for their midday meal. We don't really have a printed menu because we serve the same kind of hearty meals every day, mostly rice and different curries. It’s a fast-paced place because our customers usually only have a short break before they have to get back to work. We use stainless steel plates and the food is served hot straight from the big pots in the back. The room can get very warm, especially in the middle of the summer, but we have big ceiling fans that help a bit. It’s always noisy with the sound of plates clinking and everyone talking at once. We’ve been in this spot for a long time, and we know many of our customers by name. It’s a simple business, just providing a place for people to sit down and eat for a reasonable price. When the lunch rush is over, we spend our time cleaning up and getting things ready for the next day. It’s not fancy, but it’s what we do, and we’ve been doing it on Samy Street for years now.