CAUTION: Beyond this point, you go minus! It meant I needed to prepare myself to experience the chill instead of the heat outside.
One step inside, there is a sigh of relief from within me welcoming the cool air.
True to their tagline- ‘at 36 degrees u go minus’, 36 degrees, a new shop on Santhome High Road, promises relief from the scorching sun. Further reassuring is the fact that the shop is one level below ground. The hard work of three foodies- Riyaz, Shiham and Shamaz, 36 degrees is a fusion of a coffee and fruit shop.
As Shiham and Shamaz explain their love for good food, they tell me how they met Riyaz in the Middle East. “It was the first time I saw an Arab waiting to get a cooked vegetable dish and I understood what Riyaz offers could be the best,” says Shamaz. They struck a chord instantly and soon the idea of such a place was born.
The more you speak to them, you realise you are talking to probably the best food reviewers in the city who know which place offers the best. It is this love for food which has brought them together.
The place promises to be a great hang out for youngsters and family. With many educational institutions and corporate offices nearby and apartments next door, it has already become a favourite place to unwind.
Aesthetically done interiors, trendy couches and the brightly painted walls bring in more freshness, the only thing you may want to do there is to relax.
At present, the shop is pure vegetarian but hopes to migrate to the non-veg platter soon. One speciality about this place is that, they offer you cream with fresh fruits which none of the other shops in Chennai provide.
Seasonal fruit juices, milkshakes, dry fruits milk shakes, faloodas, creams and the list goes on the menu. They also offer you sandwiches, subz, pizzas, burgers and brownies. Their faloodas and strawberry with cream is a must try.
Why the name 36 degrees? Shiham gives an interesting answer.
“The average temperature of Chennai is 36 degrees and we wanted to tell the Chennaiites that in spite of the hot weather, there is one place which will offer you the chill. So we came up with a tag line – at 36 degrees, u go minus.” “It’s a nice place,” tells a first time customer and as she leaves, Shamaz explains, “In Chennai, if they like the food, people will visit the place again no matter how far it is”.
36 degrees is located at Santhome High Road, Temple View Apartments. The shop is open from 11.30 am to 11.30 pm. So, if you plan to visit the place be prepared to go minus!
ammu@epmltd.com