Four Food, Ahmedabad

Four Food
New York Tower B,
Near Thaltej Cross Road,
S G Highway,
Thaltej
Ahmedabad
079 2685 1206, +91 93270 29369

First off, I must say, that I only eat the Kerala Food at Four Food and this review and rating is for that only, not their Chinese, Mughlai or North Indian Dishes.

In a city that is starved of "authentic" regional cuisine, Four Food is a welcome breath of fresh air. While I wouldn't go so far as to say that the food is straight out of a Malayali grandmothers kitchen, I would say that it comes out of a modern/updated Malayali woman's kitchen. There are a few shortcuts used in the cooking process, which does have a slight bearing on the food, but it is still very good.

The decor is a cross between a Mallu Mess with a few trinkets from Kerala displayed around, like the Elephant Trunk decorations and hanging lamps. Their space is huge and large and almost always full.

The appams (15/- per piece)come in a casserole and don't have the authentic crispy lace on the outside and soft pillowy goodness in the centre. But that's because they are cooked in their house and then brought to the restaurant.

The chicken stew (240/- for boneless) was a bit on the thicker side, but still delicious. the quantity was more than enough for 2 people. The sear fish masala (2 large pieces for 230/-) was outstanding and brilliant size of slices given the price of the dishes.

The Mutton Malabari Biryani is different from any other biryani available in Ahmedabad. I personally prefer the Andhra (not Hyderabadi) Biryani, but quite like this version too.

The Chicken Chettinadu (230/- boneless) and Chicken Roast Masala (230/- boneless) are a beautiful amalgamation of spices. And the Kerala speciall appalam (papads) aren't on the menu, but they served them to me on request at 10Rs a piece.

Kerala Veg specialties like Aviyal, Kootu, Toran, Kalan, Inchi Curry and pachadi are not part of the regular menu, but can be ordered in advance in bulk. They do have a unlimited veg Kerala thali on Sundays for 180/- and a non veg version for 240/-

The food is finger licking good, I always end up ordering a takeaway after finishing dinner for lunch the next day as we rarely have any leftovers on our plate at the end of the meal. Its not the best Mallu food I have ever eaten in a restaurant (Kerala and Bangalore offer much better options), but its amazing to get a taste of home in Ahmedabad.

The owner is extremely sweet and willing to accommodate requests and takes feedback well. For me, the food brought back memories of home without my having slaved over a hot stove the whole day.

Rating : 4 / 5