The review was anonymously done after paying for the meal.

The French East India Company established this city as their headquarters in 1674. The city was separated by a canal into the French Quarter and the Indian Quarter. Over the years, the French Quarter now has shrunk and is surviving thanks mainly to the International tourists that Auroville attracts. And so has the Pondicherry creole cuisine that emerged during the French rule. This time in Pondicherry, I have researched a lot to find a good restaurant that still serves this cuisine.

Housed in an old French colonial-style building dating back to the 1760s and inside Hotel de l’orient, Restaurant Chez Francis is considered one of the best restaurants in Pondicherry. It serves truly authentic French gourmet cuisine, Pondicherry Creole cuisine, and Indian food. Everything here is made fresh, with no canned product or readymade frozen dish. I am here with colleagues to finally get a taste of Pondicherry creole food.

I start with Pondicherry Roast Chicken (Rs 340) in a gravy with onion base and garam masala spices. This dish as well as the dishes that follow have a clean taste – with the main ingredient which is chicken here being the hero.

Creole Crevette (Rs 490) or prawns soaked in coconut milk is next and has a very familiar taste - similar to prawn moilee of Kerala.  Curry crusted fish (Rs 460) is most enjoyable, with the crust made from fried and ground curry leaves. It is served with a delightfully nutty coconut red rice. 

Stir fried okra (Rs 270) is made with chopped onions and cumin – the big difference from our home made bhindi is that the okra is kept al dente and crisp. With cumin being the only spice, one can taste the freshness of the okra enhanced by a smokiness that cumin powder brings.  Seafood platter (Rs 1750) with tiger prawns, jumbo prawns, squid and fish. The seafood is cooked just right and the sauce, a pesto made out of basil and curry leaves goes perfectly well with the crustaceans.

To end the meal, vegan pista and vanilla icecream (Rs 230) made out of coconut and soya milk is creamy deliciousness.

Whenever here, or even in Chennai, I would recommend you dropping in here for a wonderful French-Indian meal.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 4.0 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 4.0 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs.2000 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: Dune de l'Orient, 17, Romain Rolland Street, White Town, Puducherry

Tel: +91 9159550341