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Saravana Bhavan/Saravanaas
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Vegetarian Indian, Vegetarian [Edit]
81 Lexington Ave(between 26th St & 27th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Kips Bay, Flatiron
(212) 684-7755
Announcement
Now Saravanaa Bhavan coming to Upper West Side location with outside seating too.
- Nearest Transit:
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28 St (4, 6, 6X)
23 St (4, 6, 6X)
23 St (N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 8:30 am - 10:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
271 reviews for Saravana Bhavan/Saravanaas
Review Highlights
"The dosa I had was supurb."
(in 122 reviews)
"Saravana makes me appreciate living near Curry Hill."
(in 15 reviews)
"...is made just right, just like you were in south india."
(in 42 reviews)
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271 reviews in English
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Review from Mike L.
1/23/2012
I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy as a rule, but one of the biggest exceptions to that rule is Indian food. Saravana Bhavan doesn't serve any meat, but you won't miss it. The flavors are big, bold, yet still approachable by the general public. You won't have any trouble finding Indian food in this neighborhood, but I was pleased by the service and food I got at Saravana Bhavan.
Dosa is the name of the game here, with several different varieties and the usual spread of condiments (chutneys, etc). The food is all served on metal trays with custom wells for those condiments. They are also big enough to hold the massive yet light dosa crepe, which will make your eyes go a little wide at first until you realize the whole thing is mostly just the lentil crepe, with a normal portion of potato or other filling.
Service was attentive and fast, and the ambiance is clean, upbeat and bright. We went with a group of 7 for an early dinner, and were seated easily. There are a lot of other Indian restaurants in this area, but I think this one would be a good stop on a food tour here. -
Review from Ani J.
Vienna, VA
1/20/2012
I have been to Saravana Bhavan in New Delhi.....not sure if its the same chain though. The one back in India is stupendous. The one on Lex avenue is almost as good.
I have been there numerous times. Seating is very tight....often times you too close for comfort. Service can be improved. My regular order consisted of "Idli/Sambhar', 'Rawa Masala Dosa (masala on the side)', and 'Filter coffee'. The coffee was usually a hit of miss, so I wont recommend it. The dosa and idli were delicious.
My personal favorite is still 'Chennai Garden' (a block away). But this place is a great South Indian restaurant as well. Go to this restaurant expecting great food, but not great service. -
Review from Jatin R.
Somerville, MA
1/8/2012
I am Indian and know south Indian very well. I have been coming to Saravanas Bhavan for 7 years. The quality of the food is usually excellent. However, I am giving this restaurant 2 stars because
1) on two occasions the food has come out cold. Dosa is crispy and tasty when eaten fresh.
2) the bhatura I had during my last visit was cold and overfried.
3) the manager was defensive and unhelpful when we complained about the food.
4) They recently got a poor sanitation grading and are appealing it - hence the "Pending" status. I've never gotten sick here and have been happy with the food 90% of the time (see exceptions above), but in my view it's not worth it.
Bottom line: the food is usually very good. However, there are other options for south Indian food in the neighborhood with better service and consistent quality. -
Review from Nick W.
Santa Monica, CA
2/4/2012
I liked this place. Ample seating and satisfactory service.
Their food was very good and they offer quite a large selection, I felt the pricing was fair. If you are new to Indian food as I was tell your waiter so they can suggest an appropriate dish given whatever your tastes are. They should have something to satisfy anyone. -
Review from Matt B.
ASTORIA, NY
1/31/2012
I would come here for the food only. There is not much decor or ambiance to talk about and the service can be quite bad. Have been here a couple of times and had to wait outside for a table. Both times didn't get any indication at all from the staff on have long the wait would be.
The restaurant is quite large and very simple. This is autentic South Indian food, I love the Devil Potatoe dish here, felt like fresh ingredients .The naan is nice and fresh also.
The waiters are not polite, don't know how to give service. Was told in the middle of my meal to move to another table because they wanted our table or something, didn't really understand as they wouldn't tell me why I should move. Still worth coming here if you crave tasty vegetarian food which is hard to find elsewhere.
One time I came here and they didn't have any potatoes, all potatoe-based dishes were crossed over on the menu, which was about half the menu, so all that was left was lentil-based dishes, which made it difficult for a person like me who has lentil allergy. I can't really understand how a purely vegetarian restaurant can fail to stay on top of their potato levels. -
Review from Sue F.
New York, NY
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
3 1/2 stars for the food.
This was my first dosa experience and I have to say I enjoyed it. Lots of fun condiments along with a giant crepe-like dosa filled with fried onions. It was also quite filling. The service was not amazing, but I was not in any hurry and they did not hover...a plus. -
Review from SP K.
Ontario, CA
1/8/2012
We have been long standing patrons of Saravana Bhavans. Always prefer them over other restaurants if they happen to be in vicinity. So totally excited to check out this one when we were visiting New York. Having said that, we were totally disappointed with the quality of food and the service in this one in NY. No one bothers to show up to ask you to the table when you enter, need to wait to get the attention of someone when you need anything, they don't keep tabs on your order...
Long story short, we will think twice before stepping into one again. -
Review from R. C.
Manhattan, NY
1/28/2012
Came here for brunch on a Saturday and was impressed by their dosas and madras filter coffee. Although service could be a bit more helpful, the restaurant surely cured my hangover. I'm a huge fan! Will definitely be returning soon!
LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE -
Review from Daniel G.
White Plains, NY
12/26/2011
This was my first full on experience with any kind of Indian food, let alone Southeast so I would take this review with a heavy dose of salt. Once I get my Indian cuisine legs under me I'm sure to be a much better reviewer.
Since I'd never had Indian before the intention grew hard in my heart. So, with the help of yelp and a recommendation from a friend of a friend lunch was served for my guest and I at Saravana.
This unassuming corner eatery was pumping when we arrived saturday afternoon, almost exactly at lunch time. We were seated promptly, unfortunately though that was the only promptness in service we saw. It was a healthy wait before we were even served water, and an even longer one until we got a menu. On a good note though, once the food came they were EXTREMELY diligent about keeping our water glasses full, which given the heat on some of the items we had was a very good thing.
We each started with a soup, she with the Rasam and I with the Rasa Vada. Both came with a dark brown broth which had a nice hearty and yet slightly bitter taste. The overlying flavor here though was heat, as both were considerably spicy. I prefer my food on the slightly spicier side, but this has me sweating and keeping my water glass close at hand. While her soup was simply broth, mine had a fluffy lentil donut floating in the middle, which managed to avoid sogginess and add a nice bit of texture to the soup.
We had to do dosas next. She ordered the paper masala dosa while I ordered the mysole masala dosa (spicy). They appear quickly, and very intimidating. A trampoline sized ultra thin crepe appeared on a metal cafeteria tray resplendent with four dipping sauces. We immediately dug in, sans utensils, tearing off hunks of of dosa and sampling our difference chutneys. i wish I could describe the sauces/chutneys further, but besides the coconut one (which was my least favorite) I really can't say more. Hopefully in time and repeated samplings I'll be able to form a better review. Nonetheless the three non-coconut dips ran the gamut from good to great and satisfied my love of eating with my hands/ dipping things.
Again, the spicy little pepper next to my item on the menu did not put me off, but they ARE spicy so unless your sure you like spicy food, beware.
Why 3 stars? Well it was only my first time and I was only able to sample a few things. Also, the service really was quite bad. While busy it wasn't SO busy that we should have waited as long as we did for menus, our order to be taken, and the check.
Don't be put off by the stark interior, this places is definitely worth the trip and I will be back for more! -
Review from Namrata J.
Brooklyn, NY
12/20/2011
home away form home.
the dosas are authentic, tasty and well made.
I'm not particularly a fan of the sambhar here, as it has too many spices and robs the sambhar of its original flavor. Also, because a friend of mine makes better sambhar.
But for all others, this is surely the place to go for South indian food.
Favorite: Mysore masala dosa and ofcourse the filter coffee!!! -
Review from Eva G.
1/6/2012
It's very homely a restaurant; moms and dads come with their children for a quick comfort meal that probably, at least hopefully, reminds them of home. At the next table, couples sit for a dressed-down unpretentious experience. It wouldn't even feel strange to come solo for a bite. The nonstop bustle helped to distract anyone from noticing how sloppily I ate my thali. And, it was good.
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Review from Clemens W.
New York, NY
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
If it wasn't for the service, this place would be 5 stars. The dosas are freaking unbelievable. I probably don't know any better, but I think the crispy dosas eaten with the variety of simple sauces is just so beautiful. The little child in me imagines it's a combination between a pancake and potato chips (which were my favorite foods in disaster combinations). Hopefully, this is a healthy adult alternative.
Try it if you've never tried it. You'll probably get hungry in 2 hours, but it's totally worth it. When you're done eating, the only sadness you'll feel is that there's no more crispy chunks to peel and dip in sauces.
If anyone has any other suggestions for South Indian food, I am extremely eager to try it. -
Review from Saurabh B.
Houston, TX
12/28/2011
Decor is impressive. Food is really good.
We did had to wait a bit due to slow service. They charge extra for sambar or chutney which is unusual. -
Review from NC G.
Boone, NC
1/22/2012
Sorry, guys. Really weak service (2 servers for a crowded restaurant, brought our ENTIRE order - appetizers and entrees -- at the same time) and mediocre food. Everything on the menu is fried. Technically 'authentic' but South Indian food has much wider variety than what their menu would lead one to believe. Not the worst meal I've had, but I'm not tempted to return.
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Review from Nirav D.
11/7/2011
Very good south Indian experience.
Dosas, Idlis, Sambhar and Chutneys are all very good! Service is prompt and pricing is very resoanable! Try the Chaas (spiced buttermilk), it is one of the best I have had in NYC... -
Review from Saira K.
12/23/2011
Very clean and quiet place - good for a lunch meeting. I am not fond of vegetarian food, but I enjoyed my meal here. The rava masala dosa was just great - such an interesting texture.
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Review from Srinivas T.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/3/2012
This place used to be good...But it loses 2 stars for service or lack of it and one star for the cost. Has the management changed?
They take 10 mins to take my order...And 10 minutes to get me the check and they add 15 per cent as gratuity in advance even though we were four. They had tip listed again in the bill...not extra gratuity. if I did not check..I would have missed it. The policy is not listed in the menu.
The place is barely clean..and some waiters are scruffy. The dosas though tasty are accompanied by pitiful amounts of chutney and sambar which are not refilled. And they charge 10 dollars for a dosa?
This place is going downhill fast...and I am not going back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/19/2010
Having read a number of reviews from indians and non-Indians, I have a issues to highlight:
1.… Read more »
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Review from Suanne L.
While most of you have fond memories of mom's lasagna or grandma's matzo ball soup, I have fond childhood memories of channa batura thanks to Kristie S. and our afternoons hanging out on Oak Tree Rd. The warm, spicy chickpeas and the chewy, soft bread make this my Indian comfort food.
A few friends and I caught up over indian food Thursday, and I bet you know what I wanted to order. But when I looked for it on the menu, I despaired - it is only served weekends and holidays! Lucky for me (and all who would have faced my hungry wrath) Saravana had channa batura in stock (also goes by the name chole bature).
Did it live up to the hype? Yes and no. The chole (chickpeas) were delicious - creamy, with just the right amount of heat in a warm savory masala. The portion was gigantic - the bread was larger than a frisbee. However, the bread was a little too crispy - it was thin and shattered rather than tore. It went well with the chole, but wasn't quite right in the authenticity department. I still enjoyed it thoroughly.
Next time I'm definitely going to try the dosas - the paper dosa I tried was fantastic! Also, service was kind, although a little too busy, so do cut them some slack if they don't see you waving the first time. I had a great time catching up with friends here - I'll definitely be back to get my vegetarian fix on. -
Review from Danielle Z.
Manhattan, NY
1/3/2012
I came here with a group of friends who happened to be in the area. Since I was craving South Indian food, this place really hit the spot!
We started off with the Plantain Bajji, which I admit was disappointing. It was basically like any other deep fried food item - any plantain-ness had been lost in the cooking.
My friends ordered a variety of dosas, which were all pretty good. The paper masala dosa especially was very good. I liked the quality of the crepe - very important for a dosa! The sanbar was also delicious.
I ordered an uthappam, which I regret doing. It was too oily and not flavorful enough.
Service was ok, nothing special. One downside is that they're not open too late - I tried coming back a week later, but they were closing up.
So overall, I would come here again, but only for the dosas. -
Review from Randy S.
Manhattan, NY
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the cheese masala dosa and some mango lassi after entering a quick search on my Yelp! iPhone app - -such a great find. I can only imagine how splendid this place must be for Vegetarians if a carnivore like myself found the food to be so yummy.
Total comfort food. I will be back as the days get colder. The masala coffee smells wonderful. -
Review from Sid K.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2011
I dont like to write negative reviews in general, but this restaurant is just average. I really wanted to like this restaurant, but the food was just not tasty!
We had the idli-wada sambar, the masala dosa, and the southindian thali.
One of the first things i taste in a southindian restaurant is the sambar, and this was just insipid - thick, dal like, and very pasty. The medu wada was really good, the dosa was okay, the idli was paasable.
The south indian thali was insipid. The chapati was more like a north indian paratha with lots of oil in the flour (which makes the paratha flaky - common in north Indian parathas, but not in south Indian chapatis). Just one of the curries was semi tasty.
There were no urad seeds in the potato bhaji, no elaichi powder in the kheer, no tang in the tomato chutney, no mild kick of raw chillis and curry leaves in the coconut chutney - stuff that makes eatable food tasty.
Strangely, the sarvana bhavan in sunnyvale in california is really really good. Strange that they are run by the same management, because i would have expected them to use the same masalas e.g. The sambar paste.....
A disappointment. I really wish there were better south AND north indian restaurants in the us! -
Review from David N.
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to be honest here. I'm not a big vegetarian, vegan, or raw food person. I like my meat but I do like to forage into that territory. I was with a friend and she recommended the place so I wanted to try it.
I've always been familiar with the dosa cart man at Washington Square park but the dosas here are incredibly light. I was surprised to see it rolled like a tube with very little filling inside. First on hand the Sambar Vada was delicious lentil doughnuts in the broth that was tangy and spicy with cilantro and then the Thalis Mini meals of words I can't even pronounce but who cares because it was also delicious. The mild spiciness of it was just right and everything was so flavorful. I think good thing I had my friend to help order because for the un-initiated I would have just order randomly and hope for the best. I want to come back and try the many other dishes offered. While I'll never be a vegan or vegetarian I can appreciate that great flavors, texture without the meat. -
Review from puja s.
Santa Monica, CA
10/2/2011
A vegetarians delight! if you like South Indian food.
My stop every trip i make to NY.
Try and stick to south Indian dishes. The others aren't so good.
Example of South Indian food would be: Idli (rice cakes), dosa (rice crepes), utapam was great, mango lassi (sweet yogurt drink), bissi bella bhat- was amazing!!
the onion bhaji, chilli pakora were decent as well
do not order the pav bhaji- was very bad.
the chole batura was A-ok, but not as bad as pav bhaji. -
Review from N S.
Washington, DC
8/11/2011
This is a worldwide chain of South Indian food. From the amount of Indians that packed into this place, I can tell you they do not view it as a "chain restaurant" but as a trusted and reliable source to satisfy their cravings for home. It satisfied mine too.
Mom planned for us to eat here and I'm glad she did. While I admittedly am more of a Northern Indian cuisine fan, I am expanding into South India. Saravana Bhavan offered an extensive array of dosas. I find dosa menu descriptions extremely redundant and I'm still confused as to whether the they really are, or if they are just done poorly, or if there are significant differences that I naturally would not pick up on. Nonetheless, we had three, and they were very good as was the accompanying lassi.
I also had the chili bhaji. It wasn't hot at all which tells me they weren't using the correct pepper unless there is an extremely mild version of chili bhaji I'm not aware of.
Decor is contemporary and simplistic. Waitress was nice, but she didn't know much about the food.
Lastly, we spoke to a nice young Indian man eating alone who said he took the train from Connecticut saying it was the best spot for South Indian. When he left he ordered several additional carryout entrees, telling us he couldn't go home without some Saravana Bhavan for his wife, too! -
Review from Lenny L.
Brooklyn, NY
12/14/2011
Every time I go here, there is always a wait (which is a good sign). Food is good and affordable (App. $15-$20 per person). I always bring my "non-Indian" friends here to experience a different version of Indian food. Cons - it can be noisy and sometimes you have to go looking for a server/waiter as they tend to forget you.
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Review from Marie T.
Manhattan, NY
12/7/2011
I had the Masala Dosa with potatoes and I had so much fun eating it! When is it ever not fun when you get to use your hands to eat dinner? The Dosa was large and crispy and the I liked all the dips. It was my first time eating Dosa and I really enjoyed it. The food came out after about 5 minutes, super fast.
Decor is nothing special, it is good for a casual dinner with friends. I liked the metal plate and cup. It added to the fun of seeing all these little pots of sauces. -
Review from Muriel D.
Brooklyn, NY
8/21/2011
I have tried a few Indian restaurants, and this is my favorite.
I had the Thaly and it was fantastic, very spicy, the ingredients were of good quality, the little dessert that came with it was nicely perfumed with cardamom. Everything was light even though it was a lot of diverse foods. I loved it.
We came a rainy Sunday, the place was busy with Indian people but we were seated immediately. We kept talking for a while after the end of our meal, and nobody bothered us. I will totally go back. -
Review from Tracy K.
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Please don't make the same mistake I did and avoid this place because it's vegetarian. Don't deprive yourself (and your friends) of years of fantastically cheap NYC meals in a clean setting, excellent service, and enough space for your group before a movie at the nearby AMC Kips Bay. Not sold yet?
Saravana Bhavanas excels in dosas. As a testament to their success they just opened an UWS location and are actually an international chain. But I digress. Back to dosas.
I had a basic masala dosa (~$8), and it was a splendid sight to behold. Arriving in a 1.5' long golden roll jutting off the edges of its silver platter, it was a visual preparation for the feast to come: the hot, crisp crepe was consumed with a selection of chutneys and hearty sambar (similar to curry). The dosa's center was filled with curried smashed potatoes.
In short, if you like crepes, you will like this place. If you like a quick and hearty meal, you will also like this place! Echoing other reviews: I will be returning. -
Review from Shiv P.
Morris Plains, NJ
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
If and only for south Indian food it's the right place. Pros- delicious, spicy, quick service, true south-indian, sexy sambar, opens early
Cons- pricey, crowded, noisy, spicy and sometimes long wait time -
Review from J G.
Providence, RI
8/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So i have to first admit that I love south indian food, especially dosas. In fact, when I visit north india (which i do often), the first thing I do is go to a south indian restaurant. The scary thing is that my favorite south india place in delhi is saravana bhavan, so i had to try it when I saw it on curry hill.
I have the rava masala dosa and my wife had the paper dosa. Both came out fairly quickly and were cooked perfectly. They came with the usual assortment of chutneys and sambar (which had a nice kick to it).
Highly recommended -
Review from Vicious G.
New York, NY
9/16/2011
Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing but I selected one of the most expensive choices on the menu- something that came with a coconut curry. The first bite was good but then it started to taste sour and boring? Probably cause I was looking at the varieties that my date had with his order.
My date had the mini tiffin, which was very good. The sauces that came along with it were so fresh and flavorful. Still, my food was so unbearable that my date offered to switch with me but after a few bites he changed his mind.
I thought the service was pretty good though. At the table next to mine, a girl ordered a plain dosa and she was complaining that it was soggy. Her Indian friend touched it and agreed and she got it promptly replaced. I saw her touching the new dosa, satisfied that it was crisp. They might have just messed up on my food like hers...? -
Review from shruti s.
Manhattan, NY
10/29/2011
Well, what can I say..I have a weakness for South Indian food. Their dosas are amazing, my favorite being the mysore masala dosa. The service is mostly clumsy and careless, but I still go here for my dose of yummy dosas.
Try their filter coffee too. Very flavorful and rejuvenating. -
Review from Jaclyn L.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wanna eat with your hands and feel the spices on your fingertips?
Wanna sit reallll close to strangers as you ogle what they ordered?
Wanna taste deliciously homemade Indian food that leaves you satisfied because, you know, you can take the heat?
Saravana would then be your haven!
I couldn't contain myself when I saw their dosa selections, and quickly decided on the masala dosa while my boyfriend stayed ever faithful to his paleek paneer. We did fail to order naan on the first round of order taking, but we were able to order just in time before we cleaned up our plates. Presentation was very cozy on their tin food trays, and the tin cups always make me feel so cool! (I have my own set of tin cups at home from India!)
I had to take one star away from the service. We were ignored for the better portion of our dinner, and when we did manage to track down our waiter, he always responded with a little bit of attitude and frustration; reasons are still unknown.
Make sure you book yourselves a reservation because they will only set you with the exact number of people in your party. I wanted to sit at a table for 4 with my boyfriend to just have more room, but they wouldn't have it, and I later understood that they carefully calculated the seating to the reservations made.
Come for the food expectations only, and you will surely be satisfied with the taste, textures, smells, and look of it all; come for the service....well....don't expect much - even if you are a good tipper. -
Review from Olivia W.
Manhattan, NY
9/23/2011
This is another tough review for me to write. I really want to give Saravana Bhavan 4 stars - the food is wonderful - but the service and decor take away from the overall dining experience. It's such a shame.
I visited their new location on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Sunday night with a few friends. Then, less than 16 hours later, I trekked down to Gramercy to visit their Lexington Ave. location because I can't seem to get enough of their food. In short, I think I'm developing a Saravana Bhavan addiction. Prior to Sunday night's visit, I had never tried South Indian Food. Heck, prior to Sunday night's dinner, I didn't even know there was a difference between South and North Indian cuisine (my bad). Now, two meals in, I'm certainly no pro, but I can identify good food when I see it. The food is awesome. Their breads are light and crisp, their vegetables are cooked to perfection and their chutneys are spiced and mixed with a perfect balance of heat and flavors. Someone definitely knows what they're doing back in that kitchen. If you visit, try these four South Indian dishes to start; Onion Bajji, Mixed Veg Parotta, Poori and the Ghee Masala Dosa.
Now for the bad news - the restaurants' interiors are drab (think cafeteria) and the service is downright terrible. Also, the kitchen fires all of your dishes at once. That's fine, but there's no space to place all of them on the tiny tables. The waiters start grabbing half eaten dishes from you in order to make space. Its all a bit nutty. -
Review from Margarita H.
Manhattan, NY
The masala dosa was crispy and was as long as the table! I was glad to find some potatoes in the center. But still not very filling. It came with the same sauces as the idly. Ordered some red wine which was stale. Overall just okay. Maybe it's better for lunch or snack. Not filling enough for dinner really.
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Review from Kriti S.
Manhattan, NY
6/12/2011
This is my favorite South Indian restaurant in NYC - maybe in the US!
Love this spot despite the nonchalant service. The food is delicious and tastes wholesome despite some items being greasy - it may be because this place is all vegetarian South Indian so I can relax a bit about my food being cooked near other food (I am a life long vegetarian and get squeamish about restaurant kitchens).
I took my husband and a friend here after a trip to a Russian bathhouse today - and our dinner just helped prolong our feeling of comfort and relaxation. A perfect Sunday!
The food was filling, delicious and comforting (I imagine if I had been South Indian, my mom would be feeding me these massive dosas and uttapams). I had the rava kichdi, which is my favorite item on the menu here - it's spicy cream of wheat served with chutneys and sambar. My husband and our friend tried pakoras (fritters) followed by a rava masala dosa (wonderfully spiced and laced with green chillies) and channa bhatura (not quite South Indian - but a yummy and quite heavy puffed bread served with spiced chickpeas).
Whenever I visit this spot, I always tell myself I need to come back soon!! If you haven't tried it, you should go! -
Review from Suzi G.
10/5/2011
Though I'm a big nonveg, I can appreciate veg Indian food when it's done well. Everything I've ordered from here was delicious, however we ordered the spiciest dosa which warranted an eyebrow raise from our waitress.... We couldn't finish it - it was like a really delicate cracker with fire breathing pepper powder on it.
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Review from N D.
New York, NY
Updated - 8/24/2011
I wrote a review a while ago complaining about the service and the food. I've been back several times since and the quality of both has been mildly improved, but then came today.
AWFUL service: we couldn't place an order for 35 minutes. the food did not come out for another 35 minutes. when it did it, it wasn't for the whole table. i waited a total of 75 minutes for my food.
AWFUL food: after 75 minutes of food, i was blessed with a cold dosa that tasted average at best.
NEVER. GOING. BACK.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/25/2010
Was a huge fan of this place, however I wouldn't recommend it to anyone after their expansion. The… Read more »
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Review from G S.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2011
What a wonderful place!
I was finding it terribly hard to find a good Indian place in New York, and am so glad to have finally found this place.
The Idlys are moist, fluffy and very much remind me of a home cooked meal. Sambhar and Chutney is delicious.
Dosas are crisp, flavorful and a complete treat with the Sambhar and Chutney together.
Despite it being vegeterian, this is one of the best Indian restaurants I've been to thus far in this city. -
Review from S S.
New York, NY
11/4/2011
Very conflicted, very. Well, ok, not that conflicted.
The first time I ate here many years ago was superb. I'm no South Indian food expert but I really liked SB, a subsequent visit proved no less delicious. 5 stars each for those enjoyable experiences.
On the other hand, my South Indian mother in-law didn't "appear" to like this place at all. Though I think this was due more to green-eyed monster raising it's ugly head rather than the quality of the food. In fact, of this I am nearly certain.
However....the third and final time I ate "here" was actually a delivery order, and I must say, the food was horrid. Bland, tasteless, just awful. I was surprised to say the least. 1 star for the third time around.
So, as per my uber technical formula, 5+5+1 = 11, divided by 3 = 3.66, rounded up to 4 stars because I feel like being nice and more importantly, because my first two visits were so good. Again, this was many years ago, so I have no idea what the food is like now.
Good pick for the Bib Gourmand, at least back then. Prices very reasonable too.
P.S. Don't be an idiot and order North Indian food when you eat here.
