Birthday Lunch with a View: Dining at Berrypeckers!

After getting thoroughly hugged by nature during our Longwood Shola trek, our family was ready for part two of the birthday treat—a slow, satisfying lunch in the hills. Because what’s a celebration without some hot food, happy chatter, and a child running wild in a park?

A Pretty Gazebo

Welcome to Green Nest Resort, Kotagiri

We drove a short distance to Green Nest Resort, nestled among the tea gardens of Kotagiri. The first thing that struck us was how well-kept and peaceful the place was. Neat paths, manicured lawns, and the kind of calm that only comes when you’re surrounded by 50 shades of green. The staff greeted us with warm smiles—genuine ones, not the kind that say “we’re forced to do this.” Always a good sign!

Let’s Talk About the Food

We settled down at Berrypeckers Multicuisine Restaurant—a bright, welcoming space with huge windows and views that made us forget the WiFi password (which honestly, was a good thing). We ordered a mix of South Indian staples and Indo-Chinese crowd-pleasers.

Highlights from our lunch:

Pepper Chicken Soup

Chicken 65

Schezwan Chicken Rice

After-Lunch Shenanigans

With full tummies and fuller hearts, we stepped out to explore the resort grounds. There was a neat little play park where Baby R did what he does best—climb, slide, and burn every calorie we just fed him. Meanwhile, we walked around, breathing in the cool air, letting the quiet soak in. Birthday or not, this felt like the reset button we didn’t know we needed.

This wasn’t the loud, balloons-and-streamers kind of birthday—but it was perfect. It had forest trails, birdsong, good food, better company, and a child laughing in the sun. If you’re ever near Kotagiri or Ooty and looking to celebrate something (or nothing at all), I highly recommend this combo:

1. A guided trek in Longwood Shola Forest 🍃

2. A soul-filling lunch at Berrypeckers, Green Nest Resort 🍛

📍 Quick Info:

• Location: Green Nest Resort, Kotagiri

• Restaurant: Berrypeckers (open to non-residents too)

• Kid-friendly: 100%

• Ambience: Calm, green, and surprisingly upscale

• Perfect for: Family outings, slow birthdays, post-trek hunger

Next year, I might still be working on my birthday—but I now know that a couple of hours in the forest and a good meal can make even a regular day feel worth celebrating.