Kerbside pickup
Yes
Saravanaa Bhavan in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
No-contact delivery
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff wear masks
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great coffee
Yes
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Breakfast
Yes
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Breakfast
Yes
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Catering
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Tourists
Yes
University students
Yes
Planning
Accepts reservations
Yes
Payments
Debit cards
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 212-684-7755
Site: https://www.saravanaabhavan.us/
Site: https://www.saravanaabhavan.us/
Opening hours
- Monday:9AM–10PM
- Tuesday:9AM–10PM
- Wednesday:9AM–10PM
- Thursday:9AM–10PM
- Friday:9AM–10:30PM
- Saturday:9AM–10:30PM
- Sunday:9AM–10PM
Saravanaa Bhavan in other cities:
Comments (199)
The dosas were so nice and crispy. All the chutneys tasted amazing. And the filter coffee was delicious. Lovely service through and through!
An amazing place to eat Indian food in New York. It is located near 20th Street and Lexington Avenue. Its a great place to eat some authentic South Indian food with Dosas, Pav Bhaji, Bisibele Bhat, etc. The filter coffee is a must try :)
For those who come from Chennai or Tamil Nadu in India, hitting Saravanabhavan would be one of the very first things to do on their NYC bucket list and we were no exception. Authentic South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant. Great Sambar Vadai, Dosai with Fresh Chutney and Sambar, and Filter Coffee - Just like how they would serve in Chennai. There were Tamil songs playing in the background, which definitely added to the experience and made me order a second Filter Kaapi. :)
Things that havent changed in the last four years- Service. We waited and waited and waited for anyone to acknowledge us. All the while, people coming in after us just walked past us and got seated 🤷🏻♀️Things that have changed- Kaima idly. Absolutely not the same. Not in terms of taste or texture. Couldnt see the onions and tomatoes as I usually did, back in the day. I used to dig their Kaima idly and was so disappointed to have dry-ish crispy idli that werent a match to what they served before.- Kara dosa. The presentation and the taste. While not bad, it wasnt the one I used to die for.The gulab jamuns werent properly warmed up.The rava kesari didnt have that perfect texture.Im not sure if the change in taste was only for that day or temporary, owing to staff shortage but I was disappointed, to say the least.We always went there for the good food, knowing the service will not be as good. Not sure about the food there either, now.
Delicious and authentic. Food came fast and was not greasy like you see in other restaurants.Would give 6 stars if I could. I got the Pav Bhaji Dosa and Mango Lassi.
As someone new to South Indian fare, I could not get enough! We ordered the thali, masala dosa, and channa bhatura. Every dish brought a host of unique flavors and textures that was so wonderful both by itself and when mixed & matched with the other dishes. We all left stuffed and satisfied.My only complaint about the food was that some of the thali was notably salty, as if someone had spilled salt into the dish. That being said, the dosa and channa bhatura were delicious, and I would order them again.Also, as mentioned by other reviewers, the service was lacking. We (a group of 4) stood around for quite some time without acknowledgment from the staff. They didn’t seem in a rush to seat us despite there being two empty tables. Luckily the food was well worth the wait!
Worst experience and none of their food tasted like South Indian food! Ordered few items along with meals. One of the side dish that came with the meals got spoiled and smelled really bad. I made a complaint with the waiter, neither he nor the person he reported showed any repose. Up on asking for Manager, we were told he left early for the day. We were given two cups of sambar as compensation for the rotten side dish! The waiter was busy and brought a person to hear my complaint but seems to be he is not in a position to say anything and was just telling the same thing again and again that these are made for lunch and will get spoiled by dinner time!!! I don’t know why they served it knowingly! We will not visit here again and don’t recommend this place to anyone. I think this place is like North Indian (taste) version of Saravan bhavan! Really disappointed:(
One of the best place in NYC for high quality indian foodOur family’s favorite restaurant for south indian foodThey have wide range of tiffin items (mini idli, idli, different dosas to poori, chapathi) and also different rice items (tamarind rice, lemon rice, sambar rice, bisibelebath, yougurt rice and many) and beverages(madras coffee, tea) and many more varietiesBest and must try is their South Indian thali. This is served at normal spice level.Ghee roast dosa is their bestsellerSambar and chutneys given on side with tiffins are super deliciousTheir desserts are also deliciousStaff are friendly and helpfulRestrooms are neatHighly recommended
Had the breakfast combo. Delicious and authentic. Fast and friendly service. Made my morning for sure :)
After sarvana Oman it’s Sarvana at New York —same Menu -but note they serve alcoholic drinks —I think the only Sarvana in the world serving —fod top class as usual place full around lunch time and to top it up all filter coffeeee
We went for a Friday morning breakfast at Saravanaa Bhavan. When we went there werent many people so we got seated quickly. The server greeted us and for breakfast we started with Mango Lassi and Buttermilk. For food we ordered Onion Uttapam, Ghee Onion Rava Masala Dosa, Onion Chilli Rava Masala Dosa and for sweet we ordered Rava Kesri. The service was quick and we got the food quickly. We got the drinks first and then we got our food. The food was delicious, mouth licking and amazing food. One of the best south indian food restaurant in New York.
If you’re vegan try this indian place. 80% of their menu is vegan and its so filling. Try the paper dosa, they will come out longer than your arm length
Lexington Avenue has many Indian restaurants and most of them serve Non-vegetarian food. Saravana Bhavan stands out for authentic South Indian vegetarian meal.You get to have variety of south Indian food items and my favorites are authentic South Indian Rava masala dosa and coffee. Dosas are nice and crispy and thats how I like it. Take a bite dip it in Sambar and feel the taste... Yummm!A must visit vegetarian spot if you are in the area.
Always an amazing place for some authentic South Indian food. Service is quick, food is delicious and prices are very reasonable.
Thali was decent .. didnt like the rice .. spaces are cramped for having 2 thalis on a table .. salted lassi was too salty :) good location and fast service .. still like the NJ location food better
Standard order every time visit here Chole bhature and filter coffee, was good. Pav Bhajji was okay
The food is amazing. Fully vegetarian, but that shouldn’t matter as everything I’ve ever tried here is tasty. It can get a little crowdy as the day continues and there may be a little line. Check it out early lunch to avoid the lines and you will not be disappointed. The main seating section is simple so don’t go in with expectations of some super fancy place. This is the no frills, good prices, amazing food place. Which for me is all that matters!
Been here multiple times, food is consistently great. Not to mention the service is attentive and on point.
Impressed with their dosas and desserts! However, we were disappointed with the pav bhaji and cholle bhature. Its okay compared to the hype around it, will try different dishes next time!
Hands down the best South Indian food Ive had in NYC. I can say that with the outmost confidence as Im a South Indian myself!Order anything from their entrees - you cant go wrong. One of the rare Indian places in NY (US) where you find authentic Indian food - which is flavorful and not necessarily spicy. Tired of people attributing a single flavor profile (heat/spice) to our very complex, nuanced and flavorful Indian cuisine.
Authentic dosa and affordable fare in the heart of the city. The staff was extremely attentive and quick with taking orders, clearing plates and getting the bill even though the place was bustling with customers. I don’t understand the other reviews complaining about the price, I felt the prices were pretty low compared to most other restaurants in Manhattan. The ambience was a little lacking, but clearly the quality of the food and service makes up for that.
Very delicious dosas and and for good price… nothing fancy but food is delicious especially south indian food… definitely worth going back
This is a must go if youre in the midst of a South Indian craving. This is truly an authentic and fresh Indian restaurant. Every plate of food that they brought out was full of flavor, spices and joy, truly some of the best Indian food in NYC. In terms of spacing, it is a little crowded and somewhat stuffy because of the huge rush of people for their food, so if safety is of your concern, this isnt a great spot for you.10/10!
Kaima idli and paneer dosa were awesome. Mango rasamalai was too good. Did not like pav bhaji at all. Definitely will visit again for dosa, vada and idly!
I think that the atmosphere and overall vibe of this place could be improved, but the food was truly phenomenal! I brought my mother who was visiting and hasnt had a lot of Indian food, and she really enjoyed it! I will go back.
Superb vegetarian Indian food, big portions at a great price. Great service
Filter coffee, Ghee roast and Rava Kesari is my usual order in Saravana anywhere in the world. Its the most authentic, closest you can get and super delicious. They never disappoint you. I loved it here, very neat and quick. Great staff and the location is easy to locate. Wish they have branches in Midwest. 👍🏼
Taste is really good, particularly all chutney varieties and Sambar.Ghee roast and paper roast are very crispy like puppet. Paper roast is value for money.Mini tiffin dishes also good, but they can give coffee or tea with it. Coffee is missing, so we ordered separately 😋NOTE: Please note Covid vaccination card is required to enter any restaurants in nyc. We didn’t aware of that. But we have soft copy, so no worries.
Great food and service. Maxion was very helpful and caring. The pongal and dosa varieties are to die for. Will visit again :)
The filter coffee was amazing!!The food is also good and authentic and the bhatura is huge and tasty!
It’s a one of kind vegetarian chains keeping almost same taste all over their restaurants. So you can have masala dosa here in NY and Chennai are almost same taste. Good place but not a big one. Staffs are very courteous. Sometime feels too much Ghee/oil, but it’s fine..
Great south indian food. But the place was really noisy.
Good food! my boyfriend was waiting for me for half n hour in the restaurant, they gave him a nice seat with no expectation to order instantly (although he did). Really good food as always, ordered the 14 mini idlis, rava dosa was good too.. I had to ask for extra portions of chutneys so maybe plz increase the amount of chutneys! Also ordered the curd vada- plz put more sweet chutney, could barely taste it (had to order extra sweet chutney again) and plz do not add chat masala on top! South Indian food doesn’t really have chat masala on it. Good food though!
Not so tasty. There was something about the food that didnt give that satisfaction. It was still not too bad though. There was no chaat items included in the menu.The servers were kind and helpful. Orders did not take a long time to come to table.
It was the first time I visited and didn’t really expect much. We ordered the business thali and rava masala dosa and being a south indian myself, both of these items were really good! At least one of the best I’ve tasted in the area!
Awesome variety and very well made Dosas!
Absolutely amazing! The place is beautiful and staff are super friendly and the food is delicious.we ordered Southindian thali and Mini tiffin (dont go by the name mini) and were supriesed to see the quantity.I love that you get a lot of food as well for the price. It’s definitely not like other expensive restaurants and you only get a small amount of food. I am definitely going back.
Authentic south-Indian vegetarian restaurant, right down to waiters being too busy and sometimes outright forgetting your request.Food is exactly as you’d expect and chai is served in the famous stainless steel cups.Definitely plan your visit ahead of time, because it gets quite busy during lunch. Go here for your idli, vada, sambar, dosa fix and as long as you manage your expectations, you will have a great time!
Food was very tasty. But staff were rude. They have 2 sections: 1 with AC and 1 without AC. Even though there were spaces available in AC section, staff(he was wearing hat and was shaking his head saying no) denied initially. Not sure why he denied. Later when I asked a different staff they allowed us in AC section. Not sure why they were denying us at first place. I would have given 5 stars if they were customer friendly.
I am a South Indian and I am at fault for having ordered food online from them as there is no way a dosa can reach anyone perfectly yet they could have packed the dosa and masala separately which is basic common sense in my honest opinion. It was a messy goop when it reached me and the wada came perfectly but it was smelling of stale oil so I couldn’t eat it. Maybe that’s why they insist we eat these dishes immediately at restaurants but even after a day the wada my mom or grand mom makes will still taste the best. Disappointed!!
Sampled a variety of entrees here. Been here few times before but the quality has really declined. Service was horrible and the dosas were cold.The prices were atrocious as well - upwards of $13 per dosa on overage. Definitely would not recommend to anyone.There are other spots which are way better in taste, service and average prices.
Best dosa in the city! The rava masala dosa is to die for and don’t forget to try the almond halwa! It’s delish
Really good southern Indian food. The Mysore Dosa is pretty spicy. The ghee roast is perfect. Filter Coffee is a must have.
We placed a catering order for a party and needed it ready by 9.15am soon after the restaurant opened. Sweta and the staff were excellent! They were super responsive and patient with back and forth questions while we menu planned, items were ready when within minutes after we arrived. We ordered idli, vadai, biryani - everything was very tasty and fresh! Sweta was very responsive about allergen information for our party too. Highly recommend for a morning catering event.
If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I found this to be a terrible place to eat. I dont understand, dosa is such a simple food, and they make it terribly. Additionally, the chutneys and sambar are sub-par. I suggest this team go back to learning how the dosa is made, it is all in the ingredients and the fermentation of the batter - I dont recommend eating at this place. If you are in the mood for dosa, best to go the Indian temple in queens.
Very mediocre. This place is cashing on the reputation and brand of Madras Saravana Bhavan, where the competition amongSouth Indian restaurants is extreme. Apparently, the same management opened in multiple US cities under the same brand, but serving really mediocre quality and small portions. I will never visit Saravana Bhavan in future.
Authentic South Indian taste..! Price on a higher side, never mind once in a while
A bit disappointed with the quality having made it a point to check it out on a my visit to NY after a long gap. Ordered a parotta which seemed like it was made by reheating ready frozen stuff you find in an Indian grocery store and the side dish that went with it was worse and offered with aloo! Understand NY is costly place but not only pricey but quality was poor.
I have been to many Saravanaa Bhavan but this was not the best. Taste was ok. They fill a lot of potato masala and dosa becomes soggy by the time its brought to table. Little masala will enhance flavour but too much of it makes halwa out of dosa. I still loved the coffee and Badam halwa. Badam halwa was not great compared to Saravanaa bhavan near Amsterdam street as per my husband.
Good food. Had amazing tiffin thali.
Overall good authentic food. Service is hit or miss, they missed couple of things in the order. We had Thani, Masala Dosa, Idli , Vada and Tomato Uthappam. Everything tasted great except Uthappam. Uthappam is little burned. Expensive compared to other restaurants in Lexington Ave.
Great South Indian food. Though unlike India, Sambhar comes in a tiny bowl. I was not aware about the free refill policy, hence hesitated to ask for it. That bowl cannot accommodate drumstick, a basic ingredient of Sambhar.
Expensive but tasty.Also pleasantly surprised that they sell alcohol here. Dishes taste pretty authentic compared to their counterparts in India. Highly recommend onion Rava Dosa.
The ongoing pandemic has definitely taken a toll on a lot of businesses and public places since a consumer’s mindset to buy anything outside of essentials or to visit a public place like a park or beach, has crippled down significantly. Now by living with what has become the new normal, it is commendable on how these businesses and public places continue to remain open and cater to the general public by following the safety standards. It is now all the more important that we as customers, support these heroes during these dark hours to mankind.Everyone knows Saravana Bhavan for their high quality South Indian delicacies back in Chennai and other places in India and their above the budget cost of meals. This place is no different on these aspects. A usually busy place being empty due to the pandemic was not a great sight and unfortunately we already had our stomachs full after a late lunch and had appetite only for desserts.We were waited by a kind woman who gave us the table, menu card and the time to decide on that we wanted to order. We ordered Rava kesari and Badam Halwa that were oozing with rich taste and ghee and were a delight to the eyes. Wish we could have planned a full dinner meal but alas we could not!PS: They were playing some lovely Tamil songs of different generations from Ilayaraja to the latest and that was a treat to any music lover who can listen to random songs from a Radio channel while on a car drive.
We ordered a south indian meal and the quality of the food really disappointed us. Very late service, food was served after 30 mins of waiting and the food items did not taste good.
For starter, mains and a drink in London, £15 pp. In NYC its £35 pp. Absolute rip off, especially because of slow service too. Dodge this place if you can!!! Attached photo is for London Rayners Lane branch
Had tasted hot idly Vada served with two kinds of chutney, delicious sambar and chilly powder( milaga podi) mixed with Gingelly oil. Also tried out their combo tiffin and steaming tasty aroma coffee
The rasa vada was extremely hot. The other dishes we had were satisfactory. The prices for the yoghurt rice was extremely high.
Great dosas, the weekday lunch special tiffin lunch is excellent, small variety of flavors; I have read lots of reviews on the service of this joint and its true ... they are not the friendlies bunch ... but we love their food ...reedit review: May 2021 post covid ... the staff is all changed now, and the service is friendly.
Authentic South Indian Style Dosas! Delicious filter coffee, friendly staff!
Kind staff. Clean ambience.The ghee onion rava dosa was super.Nice sambar and chutneys too.Loved their buttermilk too.Hated the kaima idly and parota its not the way it should be.Ghee podi masala dosa was also okay.The staffs here are well mannered, very polite.
Kudos to the best efforts to bring the HSB Chennai taste as close as possible in NYC. Giving four stars since I miss the veg chops with parota.
There was hair in the curry. Terrible and slow service. When asked for carry out box, they presented a piece of aluminum foil. Add 20% gratuity without even asking. Sorry and sad.
Excellent quality and superb taste
One liner, good authentic south indian food.I always prefer dosa, wada, idli uthapam kind of food when I eat vegetarian. Here is the place in NYC to have that kind. Most of the taste are good, especially Sambar is awesome with idli, Poor, Dosa, Uthapam, Wada.Food - 4/5Service - 3/5Quality - 4/5Price - 3/5Service I felt a little slow, and price too a little more.
Great food taste, very authentic. A few dishes were late to arrive, but the food was fantastic.
Food was pretty good and authentic. Would recommend if you’re missing Indian food !
Casual and authentic South Indian restaurant. Famous chain that started in India with locations around the world. All vegetarian and full of flavor. Went with someone more familiar with the cuisine which was very helpful.
This was my first time eating southern Indian style food, and it was a fun experience eating with your hands. My vegetarian friends really liked this place but all of the dishes would have been better with meat. The dishes with potatoes in them were the best!
I just couldnt get enough of the south indian thali. Super yummy 😋You wont be disappointed and the service was pretty fast too.
Excellent Indian restaurant.I love Indian food.This is the best Indian restaurant I have been to in the US
Our favorite south Indian restaurant. This is at Lexington Avenue. If Im not wrong there are over 25 Indian restaurants around Lexington. Nice and well maintained Sarvana Bhawan. We had dias idli and vada. Sambhar is too good. All Saravana bhavan south Indian tastes same across the world internationally. 3 pax around $52.
Worst service ever... ordered pongal and got kichadi.. when I asked the server for reason . He said pongal will take time so chef gave u pongal 😂😂Take out order will take guarantee 1.5 hrs .. in nyc they dont care of service ..
Great food, good service. Would recommend it to anyone who wants to try Indian food for the first time. Brace yourself for the spices though.Also, end your meal with a filter coffee.
I always visited Saravanaa Bhavan if I am nearby to this restaurant. I have enjoyed meal at Chennai, Delhi, Singapore, Malaysia, US etc.
Great food. Dont love the sambhar there but the dosas are delicious.
Delicious! I love the assortment of curries/sauces they serve. This place is high quality and an authentic Chennai India experience. I dont understand why it is not rated a lot higher.
Great place for southern food. Dosa and vada are very good, and they have good service.
Great Taste, Authentic Indian style 👌Went there for a quick bite and extremely satisfied.
Went for the classic masala dosa and onion rava masala dosa... Taste was great (70-80% of India taste). They were out of rasmalai, so we ordered gulab jamun (not good at all)
Charging extra for a small amount of sambhar or chutney 😳😳🤔why?They shouldnt
I have had mixed experience here, bissibeda bhat is average, but dosas, idlis and chatnies are good.Edit: after lots of more trips I can say that chapati is really really good thali is good too.
This place advertises as a vegetarian restaurant but theres one or two vegan items, but you have to be careful because even though you give the order for vegan, cow butter (ghee) might still be included in some of the dishes.all jokes aside the food was very well prepared. The spices were well balanced. The best part of eating here is the price compared to other places I have been. Service was great.
Brought my parents here today. They enjoyed the 2 hours we were there. From the type of water cups they had to the Masala Dosa. Really reminded them of the good ole days of South India from where they grew up til their 20’s. Worth the time.
Place is located at a great location it is not too far from 23rd St path station. Staff is polite and helpful. Food quantity is great must try dish is Kima idly. There are multiple other options as well to try. Its a bit crowded with all covid norms followed.
Loved the madras coffee. It was really a cute presentation with a new experience for my coffee adventure. Channa Baturra was awesome. The poori bread was huge and less oiled. Do not forget to squeeze the lime over the channa and to add some more aroma and flavor definitely ask for the tomatoe chutney on the side. Really enjoyed with friendly staff and good service. They don’t take reservations.
Its a south indian restaurant. Nice taste. We tried parotta (by default it was Wheat), Ghee and paper roast. It was same taste as like in their Chennai branch
The dosas are perfectly crispy. The chutneys are very flavorful. I wanna try everything on the menu.
Great place to get Dosas and other South Indian cuisine. Dosa is a thin crepe make of ground rice and it can be filled with spiced potatoes and you get that with lots of chutneys and sambar. This is a vegetarian restaurant and you can get everything made vegan if you ask them.On the weekends there is always a few mins wait to get seated but they are generally really good and usually everyone there is to eat a tasty quick meal and leave.The place is nice, the food is great and the prices are good. @traveleen_gurl
The idly/dosas are the best here! Excellent combo platters available - the South India Thali and the Mini Tiffin are some great options. Ive tried pretty much everything South Indian on their menu and its all very good! Always love coming here for some awesome comfort food.
Excellent authentic South Indian cuisine. Ate here with my husband and had a very enjoyable experience. Really loved their masala tea, Mysore masala dosa, and raitha.
Very good service.It was last minute, still took efforts to provide food by calling back. Very good customer service. Finally got some food for parents at the last time in NewYork.Good vegetarian options with lot of dipping options for rice pancake (idly)
Dosas and thalis and just good Indian cooking altogether . This is our go to place when in the hood , we love it . The food is authentic as it gets and it is freshly made. The dosas are the signature dish here , try them!
This food was excellent. Sooo tasty. It is a little crowded since the place is small. But the waiting staff provides great service, and will get you seated as soon as possible. Best Dosas ever! The coffee was very tasty also.
My all time favourite South Indian restaurant! ❤️ Really great preparation, do try the red tomato chutney.
Somehow missing the authentic taste of Chennai Saravana Bhavan, but come on.. at least you get to taste Saravana Bhavan food in the heart of big apple. Not so big in spaces and always you feel congested as this place is packed most of the time with customers.
The most happiest I’ve ever been since in the US!!
Great, authentic southern Indian vegetarian food. Spicy enough so that you feel it but can still taste your food!
Food is good here. Ordered onion rava masala dosa, milagaipodi onion masala dosa, Mysore bonda Dosa’s are good and Mysore bonda is also good. The place is very hygienic and these people are maintaining high standards
Vegetarian Indian food. Mini meals , masala dosa were good than Their own branch in Irving, Texas.
One of thest places in the city to have South Indian food.Food quality is great! Service is okay.
Thanks to Saravana Bhavan helped me to get to taste South Indian dishes in US. Prices were high, taste was ok. It’s just next to Times Square.
Nice Indian restaurant. Food was prepared fast. Asked the waiter to give us separate checks before we ordered, sure enough he didnt and then we had to split up charges for 4 people multiple times because he messed up the credit cards.
Unfortunately the worst Indian food I’ve had in a long long time. I got the Chola Bhature and and it was difficult to find a Chole in the creamy sauce they had immerse them in. The Bhature were fried in old oil and had a weird stench to them. Also, take a look at the two masala chais that I got for our ride back home. I am not sure if they were thinking If my wife and I would lap that up on our Drive home. No cups or nothing. Totally ridiculous!
No frills place offering arguably the best dosas in Manhattan. Note - this is a proper dosa wallah. No reason to go if you arent looking for dosa!
Me and my wife had masala dosa and idli vada combo with filter coffee , everything was amazing , I will visit again.
Good place to eat authentic south Indian food in NYC. Have been here multiple times and its been good experience so far. This time we had Mysore masala dosa, cheese masala dosa, dahi vada and filter coffee. Everything was definitely a bit in spicier side, especially mysore masala dosa. Also Dahi vada had way too many black peppers and it would be a big hassle to remove them while eating. Overall it was a great experience as usual.
I heard about this South Indian chain from my friends who hail from Chennai and the very idea of a global chain for dosas and idlis intrigued me quite a bit. However, after trying it out, I feel it is not anything special compared to the other Indian restaurants which specialize in South Indian food. I had the masala dosa which along with the potato mix or masala came with coconut chutney, mint chutney, sambhar and tomato chutney. A decent food experience but not a masala dosa to die for.
Decent taste and portion. Of course not the best in town and a bit on the pricy side.
Delicious and authentic South Indian vegetarian food. A wide range of breads, doughs and pastries serves with a variety of flavoured sauces. Great Indian comfort food! Also highly recommend trying the traditional Indian filter coffee - served with a bowl and a cup so you can pour it to cool it down.
Too spicy, low quality indian food, and very expensive. The staffs are very nice though.
They are the best for their pure veg South Indian food. 1 star less for the little hard parota but it was tasty 😋
Masala Dosa is good.
Authentic, delicious south indian food. Dosa and sambar is our favorite!
Cant get enough of it.delicious food.its incredible to see how staff works here to meet customers expectations on a very busy day.the wait was worth it.
Decent south indian meal, I would not say excellent though. Sambar was not authentic south indian sambar. Other than that, paper masala dosa, onion chilli rawa masala dosa and onion chilli uttapam. Uttapam and paper dosa were decent. Rawa dosa was a little burnt on the corners. Overall a regular south indian udupi restaurant in the middle on the NYC.
A wide variety of Indian classics, set in a minimalist space, with plenty to eat for the whole family.
Good vegetarian food. A lot of varieties to choose from. Thali has good sides and right amounts of rice and chapati for 1 person. Good quality dosa. My kids enjoyed them.
Authentic Tamil Nadu cuisine. The best place for South Indian food.
Good location, varieties of vegetarian foods, Dosa that I ordered was very tasty, friendly staff, Covid checks were in place, a great place for a lovely meal in a quiet and clean environment.
Great place for South Indian food. Great value. The last orders for food is 9:30 pm, although closing is 10 pm. Highly recommended for South Indian foodies.
It is a clean place for vegetarian fare with good food and portions. I found the interaction with the staff very disinterested.
One of the place to eat south Indian food in NY. Variety of Dosa and Uttapas. They serve thalis as well which is really heavy. Must visit restaurant with family for authentic south Indian taste.
Expect a great wait time. Food was yummy as usual😉. This place is always crowded and wait time makes us frustrated. They can expand the hotel or move it to a bigger location 🤷🏻♀️. Overall, a good place for South Indian food!
I used to go only for the food quality and consistency. The service was never good, actually the staff is very arrogant. However, even the food quality has declined of late. The Idlis were stale when we visited recently.On Sep 30, 10.45am, we went there. Am aware that they have a set-menu for breakfast. When I asked for it, couple of waiters feigned ignorance !! I had to insist for it (photo here). Later I figured out that the combo (set menu) prices are a tad cheaper and hence they dont want to show it to customers. Greedy folks.
Love the dosas here. Always hits the spot on a Sunday afternoon. Their food is legitimately flavorful and spicy. I am not a vegetarian but I keep coming back here. I have not been dissapointed. The service is generally good and attentive. I would recommend if youre in the mood for very good south Indian cuisine.
Over priced..!! No one to place the people in line.. there was a person before us went to take place order to go.. but they took our table and we had to wait for another 20 min in cold. Taste wise south indian thali is waste. Go to Sri Ganesh Dosa House very good Dosas and idlis..!!
Located among various Indian restaurants in New York saravaana Bhavan defiy stands apart for its South Indian menu.We were here at an odd time of 3.30pm and this was the only place serving food.Though the options were limited we were happy that food is available.We ordered for mini meals ( though it was maxi in size.)It included hot ven pongal..bisibelebath..bagala(curd) bath..one poriyal which was carrot that day.. appalam..rava kesari with chutneys and. Sambar.The food was palatable.We ended our meal with satisfaction and good filter coffee.The only negative is the food is little pricy.
Really the best South Indian food I’ve had anywhere in the world. (Yes, including in India.) They make me a vegan thali or dosa combo and it’s always delicious and spot on. It’s quite spicy food, but tasty, well made, and fresh.
This is my to-go hangover curing brunch spot and more like to-go weekend hunger curing place.haha. I love that it’s a 10 min walk from my place and I also love the dosas here. Their filter coffee is good too. The prices are at par with NY Standards as compared to dosas/food that u get in temples in Queens and NJ but still reasonable for a good sumptuous meal.The menu has a variety of authentic food from southern India and is vegetarian only. But trust me, the meal is filling even if it’s meatless.
Over priced. Over hyped. Ordered Mysore Masala dosa, Paper Masala dosa and Medhi Vada and a few more. The chutneys are fine. There is no difference btw both the dosas they both are Masala Dosas. The Vada is salty and unfit to eat. Also its better to order through Google or mobile app as they charged us more when ordered through phone.. check attached photos for comparison.
Delicious South Indian food in New York City. We liked both the Uttapam and the South Indian Thali we ordered. I recommend this place highly.
Hygienic place but with the wait time is long.
Music was down but the food was great
Must admit that, during our visit to Saravana Bhavan - as we enter there are 15-20 people standing literally on the front door to the street. There is not even a single staff member around to make the booking on the table to confirm the order of priority. There were about 5 families with infant kids in the strollers. Very much unorganized may be due to the fact that people are attracted towards this restaurant. After waited for an hour on the street on a cold weather About 7-10 families along with us went to Anjappar Which is just across the road. While you get the good business never get into to mode to neglect the customer at the front door!
Great aloo stuffing, sambhar, and chutneys. My rava masala chili dosa had about 3-4 green chilies easily and it was way too spicy. Dosa was all broken by the time it arrived. It was like eating the last few remaining pieces of a bag of chips. Flavors were good. Rava dosa was crispy and chewy but slightly burnt.
The most authentic South Indian food in New York city... Attracts not only the locals but even the Indian visitors to the city... Indians would whole heartedly certify the authenticity of the preparations served here... Service is really quick... Overall a very satisfying experience...
Poori, chola Batura all good. Tiffin and mini meals was ok. Good food overall.
Right in the heart of NYC. Craving for a vegetarian South Indian meal/breakfast?? This is the right place to bang!!
Simply an excellent place for South Indian food in Sunnyvale USA.
Great service. I can not really say food is phenomenal but good vegetarian options.
Well, this place deserves way more than 5* and that sums it up all :)
Good food served fast in a minimalistic setting. The place was almost empty when we went early evening, but filled quickly before we finished.
Great place for an authentic south indian food.
Really awesome food. I especially like their rawa masala dosa and their onion and peas Uttapam
My experience the last time I was there was very disappointing during covid, however, today the food back to its original excellence.
Amazing South Indian food!!
Rude staff. Just eager to move customers along for high turnover. No focus on service.
Great food and great taste like saravana bhavan in India.
Saravana bhavan in nyc is tasty south Asian food ... good variety of dosa on Saturday n Sunday items
Its amazing that this restaurant is able to prepare sambhar that pretty much tastes like the sambhar you get in India. As an avid filter coffee fan, I loved the coffee here. You wont be disappointed if you order dosas, bondas or idlis.
Excellent South Indian style preparations! I always make sure I visit this place whenever I visit New York City.
Idlis and dosas are my favorite here! Fine crispy dosas with 3 different chutneys, delicious potato masala makes me want to visit New York all over again. I just wish they serve dairy free filter coffee.
Insanely high prices, mandatory gratuity, staff ambivalence, and mediocre food combine to create this restaurant. Id recommend trying the newer options elsewhere on Lexington Ave.
You need to try this place if you love dosa. They have a variety of dosas. The dosas were crispy and delicious.
An South-Indian Eatery, great food slow service which is explainable cause its super duper busy but the food coming on table just makes you forget the rest.
I like the food here! The picture I posted here is Masala Dosai. Eating food here is as if bringing me back to my home countrys mamak stall!
Food was delicious as expected and staffs were very good
10/10 best South Indian food so far in USA… filter coffee is close to the one you get out there in south india or any south Indian restaurant in India..Being in the NYC its more than average on $$..
It is an awful place. The food was terrible.They charge you New York prices. However, they give you food of low quality.We had ordered Mysore Bonda, thinking that Chennai based restaurant would know how to prepare Karnataka food. But we were blown away when they served it with miryalu or black pepper inside Mysore bonda. Moreover, it is not made of all-purpose flour.
Mini Tiffin was tasty and good quality.Filter coffee was too good.Sambar tasted very good but coconut chutney was not that fresh
Service was great etcpriceyUpdate............I have updated the review after feedback from the restaurant
Good food. Very busy. No complaints. Had a good staff.
I love Sarvana Bhavan. Its the most authentic South Indian food you can find in Manhattan. I come here every time I miss home.Have the Mysore Masala Dosa or the Bisibele Baath and Filter Coffee
This place has amazing food and courteous staff members such as Raj and Lincoln :)We ordered Mini Idlis and Mysore Masala Dosa. The sambhar and chutneys were thick and really delicious. They even served complimentary halwa to us :) Would definitely recommend this place.
Wish I can give 0 to them!!I was very excited for having the South Indian food when we got there. We ordered and waited for 40mins and didn’t get anything, there was only one person handling 10 tables, the service was extremely slow so we left the place after waiting for our order and left in nothing but disappointment.
Classic Saravanaa Bhavan experience. Good food, decent ambience.
We ordered idly, dosa and couple of other things to go. The price for togo is more compared to dine-in however I feel the quality that Saravana Bhavan maintains is higer than all other restaurant around. I dont mind paying more for the quality they provide. Plus getting south indian authentic food in New York City is rare. In addition, they provide great customer service. Sweta is a very good server.
Food is good but service is worst and very loud place. We had to wait for a long for desert, extra curry and even for a check.
Authentic South Indian food, only downside was the Gulab jamun
Tried Dosa and coffee along with Chennai coffee. I liked it. Staff are very nice. Should try. Orthodox South Indian Tamil Naadu vegetarian restaurant.
Food doesn’t taste like Indian food. Total waste of money. Great customer services and supportive staff.
Great food but the place seems usually crowded. Recommend booking in advance if possible.
Had a thali. It was really good. I liked all the preparations. The chapati was fresh off the pan. Had plethora of different subjis. And they were all really piquant. I would totally go back again.
After multiple visits to ny and desire to go to sarvana bhawan finally made it on sunday aug 15th. SOO DISAPPOINTED. the potato in the dosa was spoiled. The tomoato chutney was also spoiled. worst thing is we told the server and he said let me inform the kitchen and never came back. wasted my 50$, will never go there. never expected this from such a big chain.Vijay PanditHerndon va
This place is very good for South Indian Vegetarian food, with multiple choice from the menu. Felt a bit expensive when compared with the other Saravana Bhavan hotels.
Good food but overpriced for
I was so excited to go to this place and was utterly disappointed. Shabby ambience, unwashed silverware, pathetic service and not so yummy food either. Mysore masala dosa tastes like masala dosa. I packed vegetarian Biryani for take away and charged me $14 for a half bowl. Servers billed me more than the prices mentioned in the menu on the table. When enquired they said it’s an old menu. Ridiculous ! Won’t ever go here again.
Authentic South Indian vegetarian food.!! Loved it. Service and staffs were very good.
Wow - very pleasantly surprised by the overall experience here. Well lit, clean, comfortable seating, friendly staff, good food - actually very good food!
Wow! Really great dosa here. Very satisfying and best I can recall outside of India!
Just like any other Saravana Bhawan. A very safe option when it comes to South Indian food. We ordered veg bonda, Mysore masala dosa, and cheese podi masala dosa and everything was like we wanted
Mouth watering south Indian food in NY downtown... a must stop if you are visiting this place..
Awesome authentic Indian food, smiling faces and value for money. I like dosas and idli , sambhar tasted very delicious too. It’s worth to try masala tea. Overall very good food in the heart of NYC.
I thought I would get the same quality of food I had since I last visited a couple of years back but they failed me badly; quality is not even up to the standard. And it is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. You really want to taste south indian dishes then go to TEMPLE CANTEEN in flushing. They have been outclasses by just a regular restaurant you can find in JACKSON HEIGHTS. Worst quality and expensive.
NYC Saravana bhavan serves delicious south Indian food with variety food options.
Great vegetarian options and awesome food!
Best dosa and south Indian food in NYC
Best South Indian fare. Modern. Great service.
Total reviews rating 4.1
199 Reviews for Saravanaa Bhavan 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-07I tried their food in 2019 for the first time. Was absolutely in love by their authentic south Indian cuisine. One of the best places to enjoy South Indian delicacies. In 2022 their food standards remains the same. The quality of food is great and the price is reasonable. Highly recommended for all Indian food lovers. Staff is friendly. The quantity is more than sufficient.
Review №2
2022-04-07If you want to eat like how the locals do, how can you miss out on this place. Yes, it’s only vegetarian but probably the most authentic South Indian flavors you can ever get. Service can get a bit iffy but that’s part of the authenticity:)Order anything on the menu, you can’t go wrong. Some hits IMO- weekend Upma- vada sambar- milgaipodi dosa- onion rava dosa- Madras coffee
Review №3
2022-07-07Authentic South Indian Food | Canteen Vibe | Slow ServiceThe food was pretty good - in fact, it is as authentic as it gets for South Indian food in the US. Ordered Mysore Onion Masala Dosa, Idli Vada, Poori and Filter Coffee.Perhaps only a couple of tables were occupied when I reached there. Despite that, it took nearly 20-25 minutes for them to take order. Had to request at least 3 times for my order to be taken - each time the response was that they’re sending someone to take my order soon. Also, the tables are extremely small - tiny in fact.
Review №4
2022-05-30The same outstanding taste as you would expect from a HSB. Mind the bill though, can get expensive as you make your way through their tasty food. The staff were nice and the service was done quickly. Will visit again.
Review №5
2022-02-20Only survivor we found for South Indian food in newyork !!Amazing taste , great staff , best Ambience !!Best idly vada saambar , dosa was yummy too.Only rip off on money was with chilli bhajji, it has only two servings , so pls be careful while you order .Rest everything was perfect 👍
Review №6
2022-06-09Best Southern Indian food in NYC. We have been twice to this place. We Ordered Business meal and a South Indian meal (full meals), Masala dosai and Onion Rave dosai all tasted good. Very tasty food! Filling and apt food after long walks on a Sunny day in NYC. The Va-day Rasam is awesome as well....we took it to-go, had some rice leftover helped with the Rasam! Would definitely recommend for people who love authentic Southern Indian food. Felt like being in India, lot of people around. Not for people who want to walk-in and wish for a quiet place to sit in and eat. There are reservations available maybe for another indoor seating in the second dining area.
Review №7
2022-01-02Nice place ! Food tasted good and was served well. I had the business lunch combo for lunch and dosa for dinner.I can surely recommend!!Overall experienceFood: 5/5Quantity: 5/5Ambiance: 5/5Taste: 4/5Staff: 5/5Waiting time of food: 5/5Overall: 5/5
Review №8
2021-11-19The food was delicious! The staff was very nice; although, it didn’t always seem the kitchen and staff were on the same page with what was able to be prepared. Luckily, our dosas were able to be prepared! Highly recommend the Mysore Masala, Kesari, and Paneer dosa. My husband is from India and he LOVED it! We had the best Vada! The filter coffee and chai were not the best though.
Review №9
2022-07-07A good masala dosa after a little bit of a wait (outside the restaurant). Chutneys were disappointing, sambar was yummy,dosa a little too crisp. A single masala dosa (enough at lunchtime) will set you back about $22-23 with pre-added tip and tax
Review №10
2022-01-03Excellent, extremely consistent dosas, with the best chutneys in the tri-state area. This is a branch of a venerable South Indian chain, and has an encyclopedic dosa/uttapam selection, as well as decent medu wadas and idlis. I havent tried the Chana Bhatura or South Indian Thali, but see lots of folks ordering them and they look tasty.