Outdoor seating
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 required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great coffee
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Catering
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Accepts reservations
Yes
Phone: +1 212-721-7755
Site: http://www.saravanaabhavannyc.com/
Site: http://www.saravanaabhavannyc.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:11:30AM–3PM
- Tuesday:11:30AM–3PM
- Wednesday:11:30AM–3PM
- Thursday:11:30AM–3PM
- Friday:11:30AM–3PM
- Saturday:11:30AM–10:30PM
- Sunday:11:30AM–10PM
Saravanaa Bhavan in other cities:
Comments (199)
I was hungry but I couldn’t reach half way, the veggie biryani was bad , nothing like the authentic one , I don’t think I’ll go back
Good food, polite staff and quick service. Near central park so decent place to eat at while visiting.
Good south Indian restaurant. Tasty food and prompt service. Reasonable priced. Will like to visit next time we are here.. recommend for all.
THE BEST FOOD EVER!!! 🎉🎉🎉Thank you Vijay for the best best meal experience!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The thaali was scrumptious, and soooooooo damn filling. The dessert to end the meal was sweet pongal which was the silver lining for the cloud of heaven. The staff were extremely friendly, Vijay made sure we had the best food experience. The ambience and food and staff were 5⭐️. Must must try the south indian thali if you are in newyork city. And the madras filter coffee for the best south Indian experience.
Came here after a year and was shocked to see the restaurant really run down. The indoors was really shabby, the passage to the bathroom was dirty, the manager was talking loudly with his friend and ignoring the loud pinging from the seamless/ Uber eats orders constantly coming in. One couple had to knock on the kitchen to get his attention to order. There were only three tables occupied.The food remains fresh and tasty which was a saving grace.
Restaurant quite dirty and service not really nice. I understand indian food is spicy but...WOW, it was totally uneatable. Just a suggestion, you could advise customers just in case, that would be a nice gesture. Anyway I paid by card under the close look of the staff and left 18% tip (didnt think the service was so good) and not even thanks or even good bye, he took the machine dissmisively and simply left. Not a good experience.
Service great. People friendly. Food tasty.
This seems to be the real deal for causal Indian dining. Every time I have been there, the clientele seemed to be mostly of Indian descent. Often speaking in Indian languages. Ive had several varieties of dosa as well as The paneer with spinach main course. All have been delicious.
Have gotten sick from food poisoning at this restaurant too many times and will now never go back. Happy to make the trip down to little india for dosa and avoid illness. The hygiene of the staff is horrible, the plates and silverware are often dirty, and the service is shockingly bad. I kept comjng back because the food would sometimes taste great depending on the chef working that particular day. But figured out after too many years of playing russian roulette with my health that it wasnt worth it. Fellas please figure out how to keep the place clean!
As usual, the best and most tasty South Indian food in NYC..Awesome service by Vijay, will definitely come back here every time I visit NYC…
I am out of town (Bay area, CA); ovo-lacto vegetarian, travelling with family (2 kids)* Food quality and quantity was great when compared to other NYC- Manhattan Induan restaurants.* The Dosas were nice and big and definitely tasted good.* The Chole Batura were good, oily (perhaps worth draining the oil more before serving)* The tea was good.* Service was quick and prompt.* They didnt seem rushed while serving folks and it was also relaxing.
First visit to NYC after COVID shutdown. We visited Saravana Bhavan on Amsterdam for lunch. Weather was nice so we took their outside seating. Service provided by their waiter Vijay was very efficient. We had Masala Dosa and Rava masala dosa along with their coffee. It was tasty and worth the 2nd visit. I will definitely eat their again.
I would have put 5 star if the staff here behaved well because the onion uttapam was so yummy. Paneer dosa was okay.I saw the staff here with glasses behave so rudely with another customer. Though the customer was so soft this staff behaved so rudely I felt so bad.This same staff also treated me bad. We came in at 8:30 , I asked him kindly table for 2, he was angry with a frowning face he told go sit there pointing his fingers. This was very rude.He behaved in the same way with others too.I also come from a business background first learn to treat customers like God. Money doesnt flow in simply.We are paying money here to eat the food we like and ordered, we are not eating for free. DONT TREAT ANYONE SO BADLY . VALUE ALL LIVES ON EARTH.IN TEMPLES ALSO ANNADANA IS SERVED WITH A SMILE.Learn to serve the food with a smile.Though the food was good I wont come back here because of the service.
The food was sooo good it took me back home! Thank you Mr. Vijay, your service was really good. He guided us to have the best food and did it with a smile. Great meal on a rainy day.
Rava Onion Masala was superb. Mango lassi was ok. Slightly under staffed but food quality was not compromised.Its a must if you are at all into Indian food. Not very spicy, not based on curry, its just different, different good.
Service felt slow. Chole were bland(spices were missing), bhatura was huge but a lil too oily. Mysore masala dosa, mango lassi & butter milk were just perfect.
Poor service by Manager. Found hair in our food.Palak paneer and naan very tasty,so were paper Dosa.
Awesome food and especially the staff. Vijay gave us amazing hospitality. Loved Mysore dosa.
Serves classic south Indian staple food. I tried the masala dosa & filter coffee here and both were pretty good. Service is decent but a bit slow. Definitely recommend to check it out if you want to try some Indian food other than Chicken Tikka Masala & the kind.
I think if I were to go back again I would get the dosa. That looked really yum. I got the platter that had about 8 or 10 small bowls on it with bread and rice. It was good but not so much better than I could do at home. Except for the bread which was absolutely delicious
I absolutely loved Saravanaa Bhavan. It gives you the authentic taste of South Indian food. Ordered Utthapams and Filter coffee with papadums. When torn for choices between South Indian food joints, pick this place anyday. The waiting time to get seats here is a bit more so be prepared but its worth the wait.
We ordered mysore masala dosa and ghee onion rawa dosa.. It was okay but their hospitality and service was horrible.. The manager or staff never greet/welcome their customer.. Talking about ambience and cleanliness its completely zero.. Manager just annoys customer for tip..
The best South Indian food I have ever had outside of India! Only in New York for a few days and this one certainly one of the highlights. Our server Vijay was very kind, talkative and welcoming. Will definitely be coming back on my next trip!
Great vegetarian spot in UWS. Their spinach based dishes are really well made. The paneer is also cooked to a point where there is a light burn but not crispy. The thali (special dish on the menu) can probably feed two.
Popular by it’s name. Serves only vegetarian food. Mostly popular for Idly, Dosa’s.Each of these items are served with 4 different accompaniments and is generally not spicy.Dosas are crispy think and huge.
Good filter coffee and delicious badam halwa. This place also offers the lentil (bele) chutney (along with the standard onion-chilli chutney and coconut chutney) that the Lexington Ave location does not and which for me, makes a world of a difference. Its a smaller space than the Lexington Ave location though. During the pandemic, they therefore have fewer outdoor seating spots, but I personally dont see that as a deal breaker.
We had a good experience...we could have good food...keeping the name of Saravana Bhavan...
I’ve taken a few people here and will keep coming back for more!FOOD-Paper masala dosa (pictured below) has been my go-to. The bread is deliciously chewy towards the center with a nice crunch towards the edges. The dips keep the flavors interesting and have a mild spice here and there- Garlic naan comes in 4 pieces and is deliciously garlicky and fresh. The bread was straight out of the oven and into the basket. Would recommend this staple if you’re craving and if you will have enough space for the dosa!- Coffee is creamy and delightful! It really hit the spot at the end of the meal. It’s quite strong, so I wouldn’t advise if it’s late in the day and you are sensitive to caffeineAMBIANCE- Decent dining area that’s very clean! The staff wipes down the tables and chairs after every group- It can get a bit crowded, but it is a popular space after all!- Only downside is there is no AC. There are a few large fans, but if you aren’t one of the tables that are downwind, then you are out of luck!SERVICE- The servers are very friendly, but unfortunately very very busy (and possibly understaffed)!- It generally takes time to get seated as they wipe everything down and get set up. You need to be comfortable flagging down waiters for the menu and for water (and clarifying if everyone at the table wants water as well)- The food takes a bit of time, but it’s reasonable considering how the dosas are fresh! Just be prepared for a nice chat with your companions!
Always like the food here. My go to for South Indian. Ordered filter coffee this time around and it came with burnt milk. Had to send it back. Staff was nice to get it made again, fresh. Hygiene is not the best. The water glass had lipstick stains and that got me a bit uncomfortable with their silverware.
Poor organization. I ordered take out and I ordered delivery and each time I had to wait a very very long time, much longer than promised. You just can’t order here when you are hungry. The food is good.
Amazing Masala Dosa and tea. It tastes like the dosa during my stay in south india :) Furthermore you can sit outside and enjoy the evening.
I was here for the first time about 4 or 5 years ago. It was great! The food was great, the environment was great, the staff was great. This time, a few weeks ago, the food was still great. The temperature inside was the same as it was outside: about 100 degrees. It was noisy, there was some loud whirring from some piece of machinery. The supposedly clean table had so much food residue on it. Part of my order was forgotten. Glasses for water, the menu and everything else that would neither break nor spill were thrown on the table. The soda was hot. Again, this is probably the only place in NY where you can get really good Malayali cuisine, but its safe to say I will never dine in at this place again. Also, I was informed by the staff that although the menu still says they serve wine and beer they do not. I recommend it for take out, though. Two stars for the awesome food. Everything else was terrible.
While North Indian food is well known in the US and there are many options for authentic North Indian food, the cuisine of South India is more difficult to find. This is a branch of chain of South Indian cuisine chain that does a pretty darn good job! It is purely vegetarian -- which is a big plus for people who are vegetarian for religious reasons. And the food is authentic. The helpings are large and the accompaniments (chutney and sambhar) are delicious.We were a party of six for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. While it took them a while to have us seated and to bring our food, we were all in heaven once we started eating.This place is low on ambience, but the service and the food is excellent. I wish it were larger in size as there always appears to be a wait but if that means trading quality...well, then the size is right.The madras coffee was a bit pricey for what was served and that would be my only complain. Otherwise, all good.
Food is always great but they dont have that box around the door so if you sit near it then you get hit by waves of cold air every minute when people open the door.
Good Indian food. We had Masala dosa, Medu wada , Ghee Pongal and Filter coffee.The food was excellent , except that the sambar and chutney were bland. The wada was crisp on outside and tender soft inside as it should be. Dosa was tasty too.The service was quick and excellent.
Very spicy food and small portions for the price. Ordered from seamless but would not order from here again.
Arrogant staff. The waiter forgot about our order and kept on serving other customers who came after us. When we objected, he started showing the time when he entered our order in the system. He doesn’t know how to talk to customers. Also, he served burnt dosa (see the pic attached). Stay away from this place. Other sarvaana bhawans are far better in terms of food, service and seating.
Expensive South Indian food restaurant. Except idly, quality of rest of the menu items is not consistent, if you are lucky you might get decent taste, else bad luck! Attached Burnt Mirchi Bajji and Burnt Plaintan Bajji (nothing like authentic south Indian bajji) Google search for actual look of bajjis.
Amazing food and best filter coffee around. Vijay was very nice and provided excellent service.
Cheese Masala dosa was good. But the best were ghee mini idlis. Little morsels of heaven 😀
Yes! A vegetarian’s dream. Chai so good. Huge portions. Delicious.
Very delicious and authentic Indian food. Nice and friendly service, fresh and hot food, great variety, value for money, awesome taste and overall very good food. Would definitely recommend it.
Super tasty. Very authentic South Indian food. Thali and Dosas are great. Baadam (almond) halva is a treat. I found the “North Indian” curries to be super tasty too.
Watch out. They’re hover over you during payment to pressure tips. TTDosa was good but there are other options in NYC
I ordered a mysore bonda and they gave me Vada shaped in Bonda!! Wth, they are two different items made with different flours. Don’t know how many people they fooled doing things like this.Also they charged $5 more for To-Go orders. Why should I pay more when I’m coming all the way to pick my food up and not even dining in the restaurant?
This place is going to be my new go to spot in North Manhattan, not for Indian food, but for ANY food. I had a mysore masala dosa, salted lassi, and a half cup of madras coffee.The dosa was cooked to perfection: a great crisp, but still soft in the middle. If you like the dry heat of chutney powder, aka gunpowder, this is the best mysore style dosa Ive had. The chutney powder was a nice thick paste rather than just sprinkled as an afterthought by many restaurants.The salted lassi is simple, and refreshing, great for a hot day like today.
Very happy with the food. Manager Vijay is very understanding person. Appreciate his hospitality.
DO NOT VISIT. They are defaming the brand name of Saravana Bhawan. I have eaten in various Saravana bhawan restaurants in USA and the food is always amazing but this branch was the worst. Didn’t expect this poor quality of food while coming in this branch.Their dosa, uttapam, chutney everything was very bad.
My go to place for South Indian food in the city. Loved the service. Our server, Vijay went the extra mile. The rasam vada is the MVP dish here. You will love it
I eat my hearts content whenever I go here. There arent many restaurants that serve South Indian food in Manhattan and this one is the best among all! Just pick anything and you will not be disappointed. My favorite is rava dosa
Really good experience - ordered Paper Masala Dosai, Gunpower Masala Dosai, Idly and Vada combo, and Pav Bhaji. Affordable, good South Indian food exactly like Saravana Bhavana outlets in Chennai. Excellent service from Mr. Vijay.
Food was good (hence any stars at all). However, staff and service was horribel. Took ages to take our order after seating us. Had to flag down someone twice. Even in that the manager mentioned one of the dosa will take longer, we didnt mind that one. However he didnt get any of the 3 dosas for another 45 mins. After we flagged him down again twice, he initially ignored and then just said in passing Ill get all together thats why. Food was all good, wont complain. While we asked for the check, they forgot one to-go dish we had ordered. The server (male, wearing complete black) who came with the check also wasnt the one who served us AT ALL. But he was literally sticking to our table and breathing down our necks while we paying with our card and harassing us for tips. Later he took the machine and also complained saying why are you giving this, dont give only instead. I mistakenly put one zero less and instead of asking politely he was aggressive. I even offered to change it he basically almost yelled its already done. I offered to pay in cash, he scoffed. Extremely, extremely rude!!!Firstly, nobody should be obligated to pay tips especially when the service was so bad and you werent even serving our table!! Needless to say, after that i purposely took away the $10 bill i was leaving at the table and did not leave a tip.Did not expect this at saravanaa bhavan! This location is to be avoided at ALL costs.I dont even want to comment on the upkeep and hygiene of the place. Lets just say if you are an Indian youll be embarrassed by the way they are running this location. I really hope the change the staff here and also add more people- they are understaffed with incompetent people.
Ordered the Kara Dosa. The filing tasted like Maggie Masala and wasnt that great. The only good food there was the Kesari Rawa (sooji halwa) 😍 if you have a sweet tooth, then you must try it.
Food’s good but manager hovers above you while paying to pressure tips! Totally Unprofessional
Authentic south indian food experience in New york city. This place offers a wide variety of south indian dishes similar to its food chain back in India. The dishes are on the expensive side but the taste is worth it.
Didn’t think this location food quality is as good as the one in Lex. The place is quite small as well. The manager/server was accommodating- that’s why I bumped it to 4 stars, else a 3 star experience. Avoid it if you can and go to Lex.
The worst of all the Saravana Bhavans that I had visited. Saravana Bhavan is very very prominent in India for its healthy food and its rich taste. On the contrary, this franchise particularly is offering very cheap quality of food.We ordered Idly and vada along with Mysore Bonda . I dont know about the age of the batters but I am confident they are too old!! Both idly and vada tasted sour, which they shouldnt be. The 3 chutneys they offered are all very sour. They are very cold that it seems they were kept in the fridge for so long time. Sambar is okay. Mysore Bonda is of no difference. The name itself is Mysore Bonda but they offered someother dish which is made of Vada batter.Dont even know what these people are making customers to eat. I am afraid that if someone who are new to Indian food tastes this, they dont even like to eat Indian food again. Franchises like these are spoiling the rich heritage of Saravana Bhavan and hence India.The only positive thing is the customer service. But that will not at all compensate what we go for to SARAVANA BHAVAN. I will happily give a negative 10 rating if its possible and never ever suggest anyone to go to this place to eat.
One of my favorite spots for a good and inexpensive meal. Great place, delicious food, quick service.
The food is delicious (and vegetarian) and I have always had an excellent experience at this restaurant. Vijay is wonderful in his attentiveness to guest orders and requests. Everything was great! Keep it up and see you again soon!
Love this southern Indian food.
Went there because it was Saravana Bhavan, famed for their cleanliness and awesome food. But this branch just brought both the things they are famous for, down the drain. The place was too cramped, it was alright since it was really busy. But our table just happened to be near the door(with the door open).Hoped the food would have been good, nope. The dosas were really bad, didnt taste anywhere close to what Ive had in India. Bought two dosas, Onion Masala Dosa and Masala Dosa...the difference was more than a $1, just for having some raw onions(chopped) placed(not mixed) together with the potato mash(masala) inside.At least hoped the vada would taste good...nope, it was really really bad. This visit made me really sad.Being a South Indian person, what I got from here was nowhere close to acceptable, and I would never suggest this restaurant to anybody.
What an amazing experience and feast! This place is not only friendly and welcoming, but Vijay makes you feel like family!Siva is also a fantastic host and made sure we were tended to at all times!!Great food! Great service! Great time!
Loved the service and the food. Portion sizes were hearty and had the best dosa in a while. The Mysore masala dosa was my favourite. Vijay who serviced us was so sweet! Will definitely be going back again to have the dosa again. Also try out their Thali, I had it once delivered earlier and it was amazing too!!
Good quality south India vegetarian food. I feel good after eating there.
Excellent place for South Indian fare and vegetarian meals! Really helpful staff and amazing service by Vijay also.
Food was good not great; our server was nice but the owner was a real grouch and dismissive. Not sure why, think hes just an unhappy overworked restaurant owner. No reason to go back.
The staff is friendly and helpful specially Vijay bhai. Authentic food in variety too. Stayed in the city over weekend and visited thrice. Must try for authentic South Indian food.
Nice restaurant. Even though it is a part of an international chain the food felt very fresh and not industrial. We enjoyed the portions and the flavors. The service was slow , but all and all good.
Filthy place for south Indian food. The decor and hygiene was below par. Masala Dosa was good.
Extremely poor service. We were seated at 3pm and the server never came to take our order. We followed up at least 4 times and we even offered to go in and order at the counter directly but were told there would be someone coming to our table soon. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I flagged a server down and told him it has been almost 30 minutes and instead of apologizing he said really 30 mins? Has it been 30 mins? and walked away.When he finally decided to come take our order, he immediately said one of the dishes would take 45 mins, basically asking us to not order it (We still ordered it and it came out in 10 mins)They also forgot to bring us our drinks and never once during this whole time did they even apologize.Complete shitshow of an establishment. Please train your servers on how to speak to customers and hire more servers if you cant handle the traffic.Avoid this location!
Best South Indian vegetarian food around! Extensive Dosa menu. Don’t miss their Idlis and Uttapam as well. Vijay did a great job of serving us on our most recent visit.
Good and hearty food almost like Saravanaa Bhavans you will find in India. Staff a bit curt though which could be improved.
Food was decent. The waiters or (the owner ?) made the whole experience unpleasant, however. They came back twice to see if we were ready to order and its only been few minutes. They kept looking at us while we were eating our food, as if to hurry us up. There were some other tables that were open. Their service was simply aint it. Wouldnt go back.
Best place to get South Indian food in the city! Love their MVP the most! Shout out to Vijay for the excellent service!
The man who took our order was extremely rude and rushed us to order. He told us the dosa has gluten in it and when we asked the ingredients, he said rice and lentils, no wheat flour. So we asked him to ask the chef if it has gluten in it. He refused to ask the chef and just insisted it has gluten, which made no sense. He was too lazy to ask even though the restaurant was empty, and he has been sitting and eating when we walked in. We ordered two different dishes. I ordered the dosa with paneer, extra mild. When the food was ready, he handed us the bag and slammed the door on us. When we got home, we quickly realized they gave me a dosa with a totally different filling then what I ordered (potatoes and onions instead of paneer) and it was totally spicy. What a disappointment, and not cheap!
Last time we went to Sarvanaa Bhavan Lexington Ave in city and it was good. But here it was not tasty though. We ordered thali and few items were really good and few were not so.I think could be better on an average
Awesome food and great customer service! I was there in the morning right when the restaurant opened. We orderd Dosa, Sambar Vada and Chili Bhajji. I was just smelling the bhajji to sense the spice level and the owner of that franchise saw me through his car and thought there is something wrong. He immediately called the manager, general manager of the chain and notified them. The GM called the manager and chef immediately to take notice of any bad food. After all this manager, Mr Vijay came to me to know if anything is wrong and how they can rectify it and i explained what happened. So all and all they really care about the food they serve and customer satisfaction. if you want really authentic South indian food GO HERE!!
While the food tasted good, the service at the restaurant was disappointing. When we asked for an update on our order, the waiter spoke rudely and tried to point the miscommunication at us. We had to wait another half an hour until the order was completed. The place seems disorganised and mismanaged.
Wow! What amazing food and very fair prices, but the kicker was the service. Vijay was incredible and really took care of us on our special group dinner. Thank you, Vijay! You made the experience.
If you want to get screamed by the waiter for asking how much longer after 30 min of the order and your wife already finishing her meal, then this would be the perfect place to go for a half cooked Indian Dosa. The most humorous part is that his colleague try to make this arguing waiter back off for being wrong the way he was yelling.Should have read previous reviews or listened to friends who live in upper west that I wasnt the first to be treated with such rude behavior. AVOID THIS RESTAURANT
Loved the service! Super Lively place with an amazing ambience! Ask for vijay! He’s cool
Wonderful and authentic Tamil food after a long time. Especially Vijay made of visit, much memorable and enjoyable
Missing Indian food??Perfect place to fill up your appetite with the yummiest food.We were 5 people, Bisi Bele Bath just melts in my mouth, had 3 types of crispy masala dosas, 2 curries with naans, mango lassi, lassi and buttermilk. And the coffee is something to die for. Perfect strong coffee after a long tired walk.The host and chef were so sweet, humble and was making food of our requests perfectly
Passable food but not the best Ive had. Masala dosa in the Tiffin thali was the highlight. Bisibelebath was insipid. Kuruma that was served with Porotta was odd, and came with only chickpeas. Not sure what to make of the filter coffee... I would have expected a stronger cup, but that may just come down to my preference. Ordered a badam halwa that was very good too. The indoor area could be cleaner.
The south Indian food including dosa, idlies are amazing here. They serve all dosas with Sambhar and 3 chutneys.Will recommend you to try a different dosa everytime.
The food here was excellent, and the service doubly so - we were waited on by a very friendly man named Vijay. He was kind, courteous, helping to take pictures of us, and was very attentive (without being intrusive). The place was clean and orderly. Reiterating once again the food was delicious, some of the best Indian food I’ve had in months.
Had a great dinner here with delicious South Indian food and our fast server Vijay! Personal favorite were the mini idly and masala dosa. Recommend going here to satisfy your cravings!
Food was good. Paper masala dosa was nice and Veg biryani was Ok.
Yummy south Indian food 😊 this is a must visit place near Central Park. Vijay was very friendly and helpful in food suggestions. As a malayali by blood my roots pulled me towards a close relative of my own sadya THE SOUTH INDIAN FULL MEALS. Was heavenly and filling🥰. The filter kaapi in the end was a must need to wake you from the food coma😋
Best dosa in NYC!! Bhaturas are also super size here. Excellent ambience and service!
Very good service and very friendly host/hostess and manager. Vijay was very kind and generous to us. I recommend this to anyone craving for Tamil Nadu special food.
This restaurant is the one I always prefer. I go to plenty of restaurants but here I go the most. The crew is very helpful and the cooking they serve is so yummy. I would always prefer to have a good dinner here. I recommend this place with pleasure.
Legit and delicious South Indian food. If you want your normal Chicken Tikka Masala you’ll be frustrated (esp because it’s vegetarian!). Different and delicious. Don’t be intimidated by the menu. Just order, it’s all good. But the butter daal and the paratha are highlights for sure. So good. [Note to owner, can you PLEASE open in Brooklyn?]
We ordered dosa and food was very tasty. Vijay and Sujatha have provided a great customer service. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
Although serving plates may look good but that doesn’t meant the food is also good. I am very disappointed with the food hygiene. I got diarrhea after eating food here.
Delicious meal! Enjoyed some dosas and medhu vadas just like in India. Great service from Vijay who was very attentive and brought us everything we need! Will be returning often!
Mysore bondas were literally poorly made vadas. WTH. It was so expensive too. Totally wasnt worth it and left us in a bad mood :(
It was one of the best South Indian meal I had outside India. The place had a warm, homely feeling and the waiters were very friendly. Ask for Vijay, he’s the best and will make sure you feel at home and are well fed! Must go.
Very cool place with authentic Indian dishes. If u like exploring new things and cultures - this is a must try! We actually went back a second time even though Indian cuisine isnt my favorite. Just cause of the amazing experience we had there. Staff if extremely nice! One waited have us a dessert free of charge to try out!! O definitely recommend this place!!
Great food, delicious and tasty. Service was great, if you ever go there check out my guy Vijay. He will take care of you!! 10/10
The food was just amazing! Typical South Indian taste. As someone from Tamil Nadu, I’m always in search of the South Indian cuisine. Found this restaurant near my university. The food tastes the same as the ones at SB in Chennai. Had Sambar Vada, Rava Masala Dosa and Filter coffee. The waitress Rabina did her work perfectly!
Excellent dinner with very delicious flavors. Stopped by on a Tuesday evening and Vijay made the evening feel like a celebration! Amazing hospitality.
One of the best South Indian places in the city! Always the best food and service.
Indian home-food away from home, especially for south indian delicacies. No less an iconic eatery in Newyork as much as in Chennai or at any other international hotspots. Mr. Vijays service comes closest to grandmothers warmth. Located at one of the prime neighborhoods of upper west side, the food and service is par excellence. Itd be blasphemous to walk past this prime location at upper west side without consuming a cup of freshly brewed south indian filter coffee. Your life will never be the same once youve done yourself that favour.
Everything we had was delicious and spicy. Service was quick and I found the price point to be very reasonable. The restaurant was small (like many Indian spots), so you were seated very close to other diners. My vegetarian friend found their meat-free choices to taste better than other selections hes had at other Indian restaurants. Overall, we found the quality of food to be good and the portions decent. It wasnt the best Indian food Ive had, but I found it above average and look forward to going back to work my way through the menu.
This is my second time visiting the restaurant, and I returned as a very happy customer yet again!The dosas are amazing, just the way we would expect them to be at home, and the service is even better. Vijay always makes us feel welcome and at home. Having meals here is an incredibly comforting and satisfying experience.
Food is entirely different based on the varieties and taste. Almost same items in thali meal. Sitting location is smelly. No interest to recommend for my friends or families.
Great place for authentic south Indian vegetarian food
Great service! Great food! Big shout out to Vijay who was such a great host! Thanks a ton!
Love this place- solid, reliable, delicious food. Cant ever go wrong with their dosas or pav bhaji. Thank you Vijay for showing us great hospitality!
Amazing experience, exquisite food and incredible service from Vijay. 10/10 recommend.
Had dinner with family, the service was excellent, food was delicious. Our host Mr.Vijay made sure that everyone was comfortable and got us everything in time.
Yummiest South Indian Thali!! Amazing food with great service. Vijay was our server who was super friendly and nice. Will definitely visit again.
Casual spot. Dosas here are delicious! Service can be slow though, because there are a lot of takeout orders. We were a group of 8 and our fishes did not come out at the same time at all. But everything was tasty.
One of the worst dining experiences Ive had. My partner and I came in on a Saturday afternoon. There wasnt a clear place to wait to be seated, so we stood by the door for about 5 minutes being ignored, until we were able to get a servers attention, and asked for a table for two. The server stood there for a second as if blinded, and another server ushered them away.After another 7 minutes of being ignored, I figured that maybe we were waiting in the wrong place. Mind you, there were a bunch of open tables. So I went near where the servers pick up the cutlery. After a few minutes we were brusquely told to wait outside and that they would call on us.They never did.
The food was some of the most delicious Indian food I have ever had. The service was very good and the people were very lovely. Vijay was very lovely and nice. The entire experience was amazing and I really recommend this place.
Love the food and the service! Felt like home. Our server Vijay was very kind. 100% recommend the Rava Onion Masala Dosa, the Payassam and the Halwa.
An excellent eating place which offers a large choice of vegetarian dishes.Many delicious meal options are available here.A wholesome option includes a selection of South India delicacies along with a sweet.Felt like dining at Home!But do not prolong your lunch or dinner beyond the operating hours of the place. No service after that!
Best Indian cusine I ever experienced till now in USA. All items tastes good and manager Vijay is very humble, friendly and good. Loved his hospitality.
I don’t understand how these type of businesses stay open. Food was absolutely bland , waiter had 0 hospitality skills and didn’t even bother to say a word after I said thank you 3 times while leaving.Avoid.
I love this place; it always feels and tastes like home. The dosa is always crispy, the saambar and chutney just the right amount of tangy and spicy. The desserts are mouth watering. I tend to go here for some comfort food because it tastes just like moms cooking. Coupled with the fact that Vijay treats everyone like family, I want for nothing when Im here.
I took my girlfriend who was visiting from Toronto to this location. She is an avid lover of South Indian food. But what was amazing here was our server Vijay, he went above and beyond in his service. He is professional with a personal touch of his own style of service. It felt like home. He is an absolute asset to this location. exceptional!
The closest thing to Indian food I had in India! Everything was delicious
Amazing food ... Authentic South Indian taste.. a very friendly host (Mr. Vijay) right from starters to meals to desserts was on point.. business meals were very good. Mix veg parotta drove me nostalgic, reminding me of ChennaiMy top 3 reasons for recommending this branch:Authentic tasteBrilliant service (again thanks to Mr Vijay)Good spread for varying party( I had tiffin. Rest of my family enjoyed meals with complete satisfaction)
Stopped in for a quick meal while on a restricted diet and away from home. Vijay took such great care. The food was great, I got what I needed, and he threw in a sweet lassi. That is the traditional Indian way: to look after guests, and I am very grateful for such consideration. Will be back for sure!
A hidden gem of Indian cuisine nestled in a bustling upper West side neighborhood. The staff was attentive, informative and patiently answered all our questions. The food was absolutely amazing. Now if your an old hand to Indian food, you should know that they tone down the spice. So if you want your dosa to have a flavorful kick be sure to ask. Ive been here a number of times, eating my way through the extensive menu and have yet to eat something I didnt thoroughly enjoy. Im a personal fan of the dosa, you can never go wrong with a dosa.
Thought the prices were expensive but worth the price and I recommend getting the mini tiffin thali it is the best
The hospitality was very nice. Also, make sure you ask for Vijay! Hes the sweetest guy and made sure that we were not short of anything.The food was sumptuous. A must visit for South Indian food when in NYC!
After returning from a month long trip to India, my taste buds were craving for more Indian food. When I think of South Indian food, the only place I go to is SVB where I get the taste of home away from home. This particular visit was quite entertaining as we were greeted by this friendly waiter, Vijay. Good food, good chat makes up the best Sunday brunch :)
Good South Indian food options. Vegetarian options only. Highly recommend
They made good food even better! Went in May 2020 and Thali veg was DALISH. I loved small okra nuggets. Fave was raita fresh, with red onions. Included potato masala, chickpea curry.. more. The food was served outside in take out containers and all was super clean and we felt safe. And got to take home leftovers.
Very good south Indian food. Excellent hospitality , especially five stars for server Mr Vijay who was very quick in attending to our orders at the restaurant and had a welcoming smile all the time which helps keep up the vibe of the restaurant lively .
Vijay was a great host! The rava masala dosa was amazing. Love this place
Wonderful food and great service! If only my dosa was larger.
Best Indian food experience in New York till date! Do try their spread of dosas!!Update: this place still serves the best crisp dosa in NYC.
One doesn’t need to write a review for Sravana Bhavan but I am writing this to talk abt the quality of service. Our waiter Vijay was very friendly and made sure our orders were accurate and served timely. Special thanks to him for the awesome filter coffee! Definitely coming back.
My friends and I had a wonderful time dining there this evening! My ghee masala dosa was perfect. Beyond the food, the service was outstanding. Vijay is such a friendly man; we’ll return just for him! Five stars!
Brilliant South Indian food on the Upper West Side! Im a frequent customer here and I love the South Indian Thali. Its a steal on weekdays at 13 bucks. Also, my man Vijay is an amazing guy! Make sure to meet him; hes got some great stories.
Visiting NY from out of town with my 4 grown children and chanced upon this place. We were happy with the food and even happier with the service by Vijay. He made us feel at home and made sure our vadas were super fresh, hot and crispy. I recommend this place 100% and will definitely come back the next time we are in NY.
Good South Indian Vegetarian food, but service can improve a lot. They seem to have taken customers for granted and gave us shoddy service. But, the food was great. We ordered few Dosa varieties & Adai Avial and they were delicious. Would visit again, but hoping to see much improved service can clean rest rooms.
One of the best places in the city, had the best time here. The food was amazing and just like India. Its a must visit for anyone craving Indian food in NYC. Loved Mr. Vijays service and hospitality!
I have been to this place recently with my family. We ordered Veg. Thali for all. The overall experience was really bad. The place is very small with no hygiene. We reached there late night (09:30pm) and the food was ice cold. Looked like they served left over food. Plates were kept near the restroom entrance for washing. Ill never recommend this place to anyone. Saravanaa Bhavan must close down this place if they cant serve good food for $19 (higher cost than other Indian restaurants). Highly disappointed.
Great south indian food. Our server - Vijay was extremely friendly and he provided wonderful service. I will definitely visit again because of Mr. Vijays delightful service. They have restaurants all over the world in many countries such as Germany, Hong Kong, UAE etc. In the US, they are in New York, New Jersey, Texas and California.
Excellent food and service. This place is right next to my apartment and Its my go-to for a great dosa. I usually order the onion rava masala dosa - its so so so good. The service is also very good. Vijay who is a server there always has a smile on his face and is very friendly. He is very patient and explains what the dishes are made of to all customers. I would definetly recommend this place. My fav!!!!
Super yummy, everythings made perfectly and service was super fast for lunch. Our server Vijay was awesome and very polite. All vegetarian, it was so nice to be able to choose from an entire menu for once!
I absolutely love this place. The food is delicious (I usually get the mysore masala dosa or cheese masala dosa), and the service is great too. I especially like Vijay--hes a complete jokester and makes the dining experience so much better. Make sure to end your meal with a filter coffee :)
This is my go-to place for food that reminds me of home! The weekend thali is as good as anything you might get served during a Tamil wedding feast. The staff is friendly too, ask for Vijay!Im a longtime customer and will return as long as this place stays open.
Food was really good and consistent quality.However, space management is poor. The furniture and the way its laid out is not fit for the tight space. Staff seemed distracted and were not great with maximizing table turnover during rush hour.
This is my go-to spot for a casual celebratory dinner! Delicious yet simple, and unbelievably potent (try the tomato chili onion Uthappam and you’ll know what I mean). Also, Indian desert is the best thing on the planet - get the Halwa!And did I mentioned the prices are more than reasonable?
Food really hit the spot. The Thali had more variety than the Lexington branch. Our server, Vijay was very friendly and made the whole experience very memorable. Will highly recommend him.
I was there at Amsterdam Ave - Saravana Bhavan with my friends for my birthday as its my all time favorite restaurant. Food was delicious and the service was excellent. Special thanks to Siva and Vijay for their remarkable service and for singing birthday song and sharing sweets & Savories. We had quite a lot of food vada, mini tiffin, parotta with Kurma/Vegetable curry , Chappthi, palak paneer, Tea , coffee, butter milk and so on :) If you are looking forward to tasting authentic and tasty south Indian food, this is place to go to.
Amazing lunch. Definitely try the mini meals, a whole range of Indian food available at a great price. Vijay was great fun and kept us entertained throughout the meal.
Just loved this place! Really authentic Indian food and a nice place to hang. We were visiting from Brazil and heard about the place and it was totally worth it! The server Vijay was so nice and made the experience even better. Order the Masala Dosa, I can assure you’ll love it!
My second visit to Saravanaa Bhavan NY, with my friend. Liked the food, and of course the Madras Filter Coffee in tumbler/ davraa. The hospitality of the staff was good, especially Vijay Anna. He made us feel home. I will go back sometime soon!
One of the best places in the city, definitely a must visit for everyone. The food is just like the orifniaoriginal saravana Bhavan in India. The servers were extremely nice and warm, especially the one who served my table named Vijay. He was very nice and made us extreme comfortable and provided us with the best company. Make sure to give Mr. Vijay a hi if you go there. The food was fresh and a definite go go to anyone craving some south indians food in NYC.
The foods are really good Vijay hosted us very nicely. Really had a great lunch time with friends. Will definitely come back again next time.
Dont listen to the haters. This place has excellent Indian food. Even though its vegetarian I dont feel like Im missing anything. Their Palak Paneer is way better than other Indian restaurants in the area.
Angry Manager. Hair in the food. unhygienic setting.
Awesome food! Best in town! Nice hospitality from VIJAY! Say him hi when you visit and ask for his recommendation.
The food is amazing!! Definitely get the dosas, especially the Mysore masala and Chilli Onion Rava Masala ones. Vijay was very nice!
The food is very consistent here, and very good. The atmosphere is not, nor is the service. Its Kosher, so it must be clean. If it was not, I would not eat here. As it stands, we come back regularly, as the food is unique (in our limited experience) and we enjoy it.
The food was amazing!! Great service by my friend Vijay. We came all the way from San Diego for this amazing food!!
We had an incredible time at Saravana Bhavan in the upper west side! Vijay made us special custom made cold coffee. Sitting outside, we enjoyed the incredible food and service. The food came out fast and was piping hot, and we were encouraged to hang out leisurely afterwards. It was incredible, relaxing, and delicious. Perfect place!
Absolutely fantastic experience. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. Vijay was our server and he was absolutely phenomenal, I will 100% be back here. Can’t recommend this restaurant more 10/10.
This is a wonderful place that I have been coming to for a large portion of my life. Speaking of large portions, their food is immense. AND delicious. I particularly like their dal butter fry and their palak paneer is unparalleled. The dosas are without a doubt some of the best IVE ever had. Ask for Vijay, he’s a real great server. Ciao. —xoxo kim
Great food quality. Only one attendant who also does cleaning and serving very calmly. Small place. Very crowded. Waiting time at 1.30 around 15 to 20 minutes. Service was quite fast. If you are looking for authentic south indian food in NY, best place to visit. We enjoyed the food.
This place was busy when we arrived. There was no host stand. When we went inside to inquire about seating, one of the 2 guys working there proceeded to yell and told us to wait outside. Even all the delivery people waiting on orders who showed up were given no attention.We finally got seated inside across the server table. There was only 1 towel in there that the guys were using to wipe the tables. They used the same hands to put silverware and napkins. It was extremely unhygenic.The food we ordered came quickly and didnt taste great. The next morning all 3 of us had upset stomachs. Who knows if they even washed the dishes in the back.
Literally everywhere in the world, Saravanaa Bhavan is where I can find fantastic, authentic, South Indian food. We had ghee and rava dosas that were excellent. The pav bhaji was fantastic too. Dont miss the filter coffee made Chennai-style, served with milk in a steel tumbler. Special thanks to the hilarious Mr Vijay, who was such a cool guy!
This was my first time eating at Saravanaa Bhavan, and the food was delicious. I tried the Rava Masala Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Medhu Vada, onion chili uttapam, kesari rice and filter coffee. Vijay was so attentive and made sure we were enjoying our food. I definitely recommend this location!
Very very bad service. Waited over 45 mins for our order. No one came to check on us in the meantime and no communication about the delay. Never coming back!Oh and forgot to mention the server was extremely rude. Even though the food was decent , the service was pathetic and they kept forgetting our orders.
Wow--I am shocked at the reviews that mention good service; likewise, I am not surprised by the ones that refer to the service negatively. This had to have been the worst service I have ever had anywhere. 45 minutes to refill my water while other guests were coming and going, being served full meals and paying their checks. Not sure why I was ignored the entire time I was there. Neither of the two waiters acknowledged me after my food came out, for the remaining full hour of my stay. I finally got ones attention and just said, Im ready to go. No response. Just the check.The food itself was subpar, nothing special. I had maybe 5 bites of it. Would give this place one star, but the meal did come out pretty quickly (it was probably just sitting in a vat waiting to be reheated, though).Honestly, I have never seen wait staff less competent than these guys.
Best South Indian food I have ever tasted! Rava dosa and pongal are a must try!!! The service by host Vijay was awesome!!!!!
This is an amazing place. Definitely try Cheese Dosa. If you are hungry, have some masala added inside. Thali is great here, too. Vijay is also a very amazing server. He is very kind and took great care of us. Will definitely come back again.
Amazing dosas, good amount of spice. The service from Vijay was fantastic, took care of our big table, recommended the best dishes and brought everything on time. Would come again!
Great place! Very authentic dosas. The servers are very friendly and sweet especially Vijay. Makes me want to come back just to say hello to him! Love this place and have been coming for years and will continue to do so!
My favorite South Indian on the Upper West Side with the BEST idlis!!!! The buttermilk (chaas) and idlis are my go-to while the mixed vegetable parantha and parantha with 2 curries are always a treat. Also, our waiter Vijay was very friendly! Highly recommend for a great meal in a no frills setting.
I have been to Saravanaa Bhavan at Lexington many times and its my first time to come to this location. Food is amazing and the ambience is wonderful. Vijay is a fantastic customer service and nice. Highly recommended!
I ordered the onion rava masala dosa. The food was delicious and well spiced, with plenty of sambar and chutney. I also ordered filter coffee which was tasty and addictive. My server Vijay was very attentive and friendly!
Food is delicious but not the most sanitary place. Last time I was here, the server served us some Sambar (South Indian lentil soup). When we asked for a refill, he said that they had to throw all the Sambar away because they realized that the batch had gone bad and so they didn’t have any more in the kitchen. Unsurprisingly, I had a very upset stomach a couple hours late. I gave it a two star because while the food is very good, no one wants to eat at a place that’s not clean.
Great food! Vijay was so kind and generous. He gave my friend halwa when her food was too spicy.
I don’t understand the ethics of this business. Manager was asking too personal questions so he could determine the type of respect or a service that they could provide??Found dirt in the water then I asked to have a clean warm water but in return guess what I got: Server went and open the tap and bought the hot water that comes with the chlorine from the tap instead of getting it from the boiler (such a lazy bummer) as I have uploaded a picture to see the service was terrible. The chef was staring at us from the window while we were having our dinner so can you please teach your employees some manners and decency??? This is not wherever they come from. Please have some manners we are living in a civilized country forsake!!!
The food was top notch! Thank you, Mr.Vijay for your wonderful service and you made our day by talking in Tamil!
Been here a few times, and the food and service has greatly improved recently. Vijay is very friendly and helpful and always has a smile on his face. Their paper masala dosa is the best and huge.
The food was very tasty! Felt like traditional South Indian food. We also met Vijay and he was very fun and entertaining! Excellent experience!
Horrible food and service. The staff is very rude. Its nowhere close to being Sarvana bhavan.
This place was awesome! Vijay, our waiter was cheerful, kind and overall really good. Great recommendations and great food. Definitely will come back!
Great food and great price. I always get the veggie dosa or the parotta. The dosas are perfectly made - crispy and chewy and the chutneys are made just right. Vijay provides impeccable service and makes sure everything is perfect.
If you are looking for good south Indian food near Central Park, NYC, definitely this is the place to go. I saw lot of people eating there who are not Indians. I was amazed by the quality of the food and service at a highly crowded area like this. Ghee Dosa that I had was delicious. There were friends who tried north Indian varieties like paneer and naan. They really enjoyed it.
Great experience! The food and the customer service over here is awesome. Mr Vijay is very friendly and helpful. It was a delightful experience. Will definitely visit again.
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for Saravanaa Bhavan 2023:
Review №1
2021-12-18Excellent food and very authentic. If you want good tasting South Indian food, this is the place. They also have North Indian items on the menu that I didnt try.The service is very basic. I wish they had a proper seating space outside on the streets with heaters and shade. The outside seating space was on the curb and next to a loud machine that can be heard inside or outside the restaurant.
Review №2
2022-01-04As you walk around this block of the UWS Amsterdam Ave, you get amazing scents of India and great south Indian cuisine. Ill give you a heads up that most of the negative reviews are related to the service at this restaurant. I honestly expect poor service at most NYC restaurants. I expect worse service if I ever go to an Indian restaurant. However, read all the reviews for Saravanaa Bhavan. VERY FEW are negative about the food. The food is awesome. Its authentic, its flavorful, its CHEAP, and its fresh. The place itself is small, service is slow/inattentive, but the focus is on getting your order right and done WELL. I personally have no major complaints with this place. Its great Indian soul food with great prices for NYC and fresh quality and good location. You cant miss the smells wafting down amsterdam!Good thing is that when we entered very first, a staff came to check vaccination proof from individually each of the group.
Review №3
2022-01-04Great food and friendly staff as always! I always enjoy visiting Sarvan Bhavan on our trips to NYC. We ordered the idli-vada platter, masala dosa, rasam and payasam. All dishes were authentic tasting and delicious.
Review №4
2021-08-17This is the place we were looking for during our week long trip! Finally, got to the right place and had a excellent experience. We really enjoyed the quality and taste of the food! Mr.Vijay was very helpful and made sure that we had a good experience. Had been to the other location but had a very disappointing experience! We highly recommend this place if you want to taste the authentic south India food! We will sure visit this place during our next visit and also highly recommend this place to others😊
Review №5
2022-01-02Excellent dosas in the UWS! I was having a pregnancy craving & usually have to travel to Jackson Heights to get dosas. Luckily I found this little gem in the city. I had a Rava Masala Dosa with onions, chili’s & potatoes & it was delicious. My husband had a Masala Dosa with potatoes & chili’s, which was crispy & buttery. Totally recommend if you’re in the city & craving dosas.
Review №6
2022-01-01Must try dish: Paper Masala Dosa.Having the nice aroma of Ghee, its as super thin and Crispy as it could get.They also serve additional rounds of Chutneys and Sambhar (for free)Waiters are nice and courteous. They did ask vaccination proof for allowing dine-in, which is a good thing.
Review №7
2021-08-09Saravanaa Bhavan is a South Indian iconic restaurant and this branch here in NY does justice to its reputation.We were served by Vijay and his service definitely made the entire dining experience truly memorable.We had the Thali lunch and uttapam for the kids. All our plates went back completely wiped clean! Definitely put this place on your list to eat when in NY.
Review №8
2022-05-23Simple, delicious and well priced vegetarian Indian food. The dosas are very nice so it the thali
Review №9
2021-12-23Amazing Masala Dosa! Must Try. I am from Mumbai visiting nyc and stayed at 77 W. Never thought i will find better place for Masala Dosa. Authentic!!! Mr. Vijay welcomes you and Serve You Well!
Review №10
2021-07-26Great quality food!Amazing service by Vijay!Very reasonable and very clean!Will definitely come here again and again!