Saravanaa Bhavan

It looks like the real deal here if you're a vegetarian and like Indian food, especially dosas. Everyone in the crowded space looked very happy with their food. I'd probably rate this place a 5 if we ordered correctly (did not get enough variety of flavors and textures). Hence one less star for service that steered us wrong. I'll come back better prepared.

The dosa experience was quite enjoyable, as the dosa itself was well-prepared and delicious. However, the masala tea did not meet my expectations, as it lacked the rich flavors I was hoping for. Additionally, the price of the masala tea seemed a bit on the higher side compared to what I would typically pay. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall experience was pleasant and satisfying<br><br>Staff were nice and welcoming and they deserve special mention !!

We had a very satisfying family meal at Saravanaa Bhavan in NYC. The restaurant is a good option for authentic South Indian vegetarian food, especially for families looking for familiar Indian flavors in New York.<br>The highlight of our meal was the Kheema Idli, which was soft, flavorful, and nicely spiced. The texture was excellent, and it stood out as one of the best dishes we ordered. The Mini Tiffin was also a great choice because it gave a variety of South Indian breakfast items on one plate, making it ideal for sharing and tasting multiple flavors.<br>We also tried the Paneer Butter Masala with naan. The paneer curry was creamy, mildly sweet, and family-friendly in spice level, while the naan paired well with it. Though Saravanaa Bhavan is primarily known for South Indian cuisine, the North Indian dishes were enjoyable too.<br>What we liked<br>Authentic South Indian taste<br>Family-friendly atmosphere<br>Good vegetarian options<br>Freshly prepared food<br>Wide menu with both South and North Indian dishes

I have yet to go to a dosa place that I didn’t like a lot but that being said this place was excellent. the paper masala dosa was crispy probably 6 ft.² and the masala was flavourful and oniony, the way I like it. I liked the different chutneys that came with the dosas, especially the red one and the coconut (the dosas with some masala and a ton of coconut chutney slathered on is a 10/10 bite) but I am a little bit too weak for the spice of the sambar. I would definitely come back, because the service was fast and the food was filling and tasty, and I like the vibe. The dosa was also significantly better than the one from madras dosa company, which had soggy dosa and not flavorful masala. It’s awesome when restaurants have metal plates to serve food on, I just like it lol

Standard South Indian food from a seasoned veteran, consistent, familiar flavours that stay true to the brand.

I can sip all the apple cider and hot chocolate at NYC Christmas markets, but it only feels like my winter day once I get my mollaga bajji and filter coffee. My kinda Thanksgiving Day ritual. 🥲

We were quite disappointed with the service during our visit. We ordered an additional food to our South Indian Meal — just an extra serving of rice is all we requested — and ended up waiting for over 15 minutes without anyone checking in on us. No one came by to inform us of any delay or issue.<br>After waiting, we had to call another staff member ourselves to ask about the order. To our surprise, she told us that the person who originally took the order had completely missed it, and she could now ask the chef to prepare it. Since we had already waited quite a while and didn’t want the kids to wait another 15 minutes, we decided to cancel.<br>Later, the original server came by and said the delay was due to a large number of customers that day — but that explanation didn’t really help, especially since he had been serving other tables that arrived after us.<br>Overall, we were very disappointed with the service. The only consolation offered was a complimentary coffee for the mistake which we didn't want to take it, but the experience left us quite dissatisfied.

Our server Rahsaan was absolutely incredible! Extremely helpful. The food was absolutely delicious. Forgot to get a photo of my garlic shrimp before eating but it was amazing. Will definitely return.

Really good South Indian restaurant. Good variety of items. Staff is helpful and nice. Food came out pretty fast and it was so good. Big sizes too. Would recommend!

I am mesmerized by the food and super great service from Saravanaa Bhavan, when visiting NYC make it a point to visit here and enjoy the amazing food they have to offer.. True value for your money is this place. Thank You to everyone who works hard to keep this place alive, and have the best chef

Sometimes there is a bit of a wait on the weekends but this and the other location on Lexington is my favorite brunch in the city. Service is always quick and kind.<br>Stick with the South Indian classics and you can’t go wrong!<br>Dosas, chutneys, and sambar are consistently well executed and have great flavor. The potato filling is also excellent.<br>Some favorites: chili onion Rava dosa, Masala dosa, potato bonda, onion bajji, and mini idli 🧡 great for vegans - everything is clearly labeled !

Some of the best South Indian/Vegetarian food in NYC. Excellent selection of dishes, low on spice and oil. Fantastic service and very friendly staff. Highly recommend this place!

They have actually made efforts to up their food serving with better quantity & quality. The dosas have gone bigger with loads of chutney & masala fillings. Mysore sada and mendu vada are my choices. Food is always served fresh piping hot and tastes delicious 😋 On my recent visit they have renovated the whole restaurant for better seating & Ambience.

This is now our go to place for South Indian food. Typical udupi setup/experience, small seating space, probably accommodating about 40-50 people at any given time.<br><br>Sarath, our friendly server always welcomes us with a smile and is quick to take down our order. It's your staple food and you can't go wrong as long as you stick with the classics. Our little one absolutely enjoys their Ghee Dosa and the Sambar Vada is absolutely delicious.<br><br>They can probably reduce their portion sizes (and with that their prices), so yeah, this place is slightly on the more expensive end and paying $8.75 for Mango Lassi is just unfair!<br><br>Noise level is on average side. Service is quick and depending on what you order, food arrives anywhere between 2 to 15 mins.

Great food. Vegetarian options. Good flavor. Loved the masala dosa. The paper one is so big !<br>But little burnt. There’s a bathroom. The space inside is nice. Close enough walk to metro and Central Park.<br>Wasn’t busy for lunch. The service is good. I liked everything. Would come back to this chain. Maybe just a bit pricey compared to other places.