Madurai in India, is a 2500-year-old city that was essentially built around its gorgeous Meenakshi Amman Temple. This temple is a stunning example of Vijayanagar temple architecture with its intricate carved pillars, elaborate gopurams and stone carved idols.

After visiting this massive temple complex, there are many choices of where to eat. One of the better-known local food spots is Amma Mess located in the heart of the bustling city.

Owned by a local resident Senthilvel who opened this in honor of his mother (Amma – means mother in Tamil), Amma Mess offers homemade delights in the form of “meals”. Served on a banana leaf, you can order the set “meals” which includes rice, lentils, vegetables and a variety of the day’s special seafood and meat choices. You can also order a la carte dishes. Some of the specials there are bone-marrow omelet, crab masala, pigeon fry, brain masala, rabbit biryani and so on.

Here is some of what we ate: