So I saw tge ratings and ignored the place initially but we ended up going there as it was on the way. The place has been upgraded, good ambiance and the food is nice too. I would recommend and ignore the ratings. Giving 5 start to bump up the average. read more

This Saravanaa Bhavan location is far past its prime sadly (used to be one of my favorite South Indian spots nationwide back in the early 2010s). The service is friendly and hard-working, and I really appreciate them. Food and drinks were good. But the restaurant is starting to feel quite run down. Even with the A/C on, it was over 80 degrees inside on a recent summer day. I can only imagine how hot and uncomfortable it was for the staff behind in the kitchen. read more

Came in for some dosas. A bit disappointed, but may be the one I ordered. We got the Lassi and the Mysore Masala Dosa because it was listed as one of the best sellers. It lacked flavor and the potato wasn't spread out as i've found in other restaurants, but more plopped in the middle. Besides that it was great service and friendly staff. Would be back to try something else! read more

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Day 2 in New York City and our South Indian cravings were back! So we sought out good old Saravanaa Bhavan, thankfully it was only a 10 minute walk from where we were at. Each of us got our own thing - kottu paratha for me and my gang got a masala dosa, South Indian thali and a portion of mini idlis with sambar. The kicker was a cold, spicy helping of a dahi vada. Lets start with what they got right: 1. The dahi vala was fabulous. Cold dahi, crispy wada and the right amount of tang! 2. The masala dosa was probably the best id eaten in a while. Crunchy, buttery goodness! 3. The thali was good but it had too much rice and too little of veggies - which we were craving for 4. The mini idlis were alright. Nothing too good but not bad either The one dish we really did not like was the kotthu paratha. It was not flaky enough and didn't have a great spice balance. That was one I'd skip the next time. All in all, it will suffice your craving but get there early (coz the waiting can get long) and don't experiment too much - and you'll be golden. Cheers! read more

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Absolutely loved the masala dosa. Tasted super good and I actually liked all of the chutneys. Super authentic and good quality. Would definitely return. Service was also so friendly. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Woah, this Saravanaa's location got a makeover! It's not a huge renovation: The bar was removed to make room for more seating, faux windows were added to increase the amount of light, the front door was moved south by a few feet, and a few Instagram-courting decorative touches were added. But... it feels so much more polished, so different. Like normal-looking couples are coming here for dates different -- not just the hippie dippie ones in dreadlocks and hemp. ;) Importantly for us, the restaurant is still perfectly child friendly, as well, with our children's favorite dosas, vadas, and mango lassis. On our recent visit, the sambar was absolutely perfect, made with a wide array of good summer vegetables. But the sometimes awesome tomato chutney was just fair, a little less tomatoey than it is at its best. I guess the variation over time might mean they're making sambar and at least some chutneys from scratch -- and that's a good thing. Vada are, as always, deliciously hyper oily, impossibly fluffy. (After years of trying, I really can't achieve this texture at home.) Service has almost always been good in the past since one of our family members eats here frequently -- like REALLY frequently -- and seems to have achieved VIP status. When we don't dine with this particular VIP and no one recognizes us, we are still treated well. But tonight, service was through the roof awesome and there's no indication anyone recognized us. Our perceptive server brought us loads of extra sambar (because we can eat gallons of this stuff) and even a bit of rava kesari for dessert. Be aware that in the summer, conditions inside are somewhat authentic to the cuisine's country of origin. Air conditioning is weak: It's going to get warm indoors when you eat. (As an aside, we find all the offices and indoor spaces that are held at 60 degrees F all summer in the US confusioning: They're bad for the environment, torture for about 99% of the population -- most of us who don't wear a full suit to the office each day -- and bad for our bodies, which forced to adjust to extreme climate swings 50 times a day. I'll take balmy Saravanaa's anyday -- especially when it comes with dosas.) Like just about every other establishments, prices are up. (IIRC, a paper dosa is now around $17.) But so are service and decor. read more

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

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Got the South Indian thali. People have mixed reviews of this place, but I was craving home-style food--and it did not disappoint. Everything was incredible. The kurma was my favorite, but the rasam really reminded me of home. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic flavors! read more

Great South Indian restaurant with many options! They are known for their dosa so I got the Mysore Masala and it was amazing, the potatoes inside was better than any other I've tried this they were blended and flavored well. I would definitely go here again and would recommend this to anyone looking for a decent/authentic Indian restaurant in nyc. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Mysore Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I'm not the biggest fan of dosas, until I tried rava dosa here! It's crispier and a bit oilier. The side sauces that come with it are all so delicious. The potatoes inside the dosas were also a highlight. Everything was flavorful and unique, no palette fatigue here! I got the mushroom Rogan Josh, but it was too cinnamon forward for me. The mango lassi and masala tea (chai) met expectations and tasted how I thought it would! read more

We were back here for the yummy food on our visit to nyc. Service is ok but still the best South Indian food around in NYC. read more

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After living in India for almost 2 months, I really came to appreciate this spot on the UWS. Unassuming with plenty of selection for south Indian dishes , abundant with vegetables, lentils, and well seasoned grains. What you have to appreciate about this place is it's simplicity and authenticity. Even when serving masala chai tea and water, the liquid comes in a silver goblet that mirrors many places on the streets of South India like Chennai. Yes, I would agree that the interior needs more work and may feel less polished compared to other restaurants. But if you're looking for an authentic vegetarian South Indian restaurant type of an experience, then I would highly recommend this spot. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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I have been curious about this location for a really long time. I've been to the location downtown with a large group of people and had a nice time with wonderful service. I was wanting to see what my local location (this Amsterdam location) would be like. I knew that it wouldn't be as "new" as the downtown location. I've been eyeing the reviews here for a couple of years and haven't really noticed any steady reviews so here we go - hope this helps some folks! We dined here this evening as a party of two on a Wednesday night at about 5:30pm. I could smell the dosa from two blocks away!!! I'm not even kidding. We were really ready for this experience and I was wearing my "neighborhood walking coat" - my coat did smell of spices when I arrived home but I don't mind. It was very hot inside and I was hoping to sit near the window away from the kitchen in hopes the glass would be nice and cold but the table available was for four people so we were not allowed to sit there. The location fits about 8 tables so we basically sat right near the kitchen. When we sat, two tables were occupied but understand as it can get busy. A lot of families dined here with their children and this was nice to see. When we ordered, we ordered one paper masala dosa and one idly. The idly was an appetizer and we had asked to have them both come at the same time. The waiter did not fulfill our request so we had the idly first. We were wanting to share both. We were served two idly with the chutney and lentils. It was very tasty and the chutney had a lot of flavor and heat. When the masala dosa came, it was a beautiful presentation and the chutney that came with the idly was the same. They have a beautiful dessert menu but we decided to wait until next time if I return to this location. The women's restroom was very clean. I did see a lot of dishes piled with food still on top in the basin outside the bathroom. It was not the most appealing to see but it may be a smaller staff and they may tend to it later. We almost gave the rating a three star and the three star would have been because of service and ambiance (3 stars are not bad in my opinion - it does mean "okay") We gave four because we did enjoy the food and it was all hot and fresh. One point that I would like to make and I was hesitant to mention this but feel that it is important... especially on the UWS and in America itself. It could be cultural but I do feel that as a female I was treated differently...... Poorly. My partner, a male, noticed this. It doesn't mean they are not kind but not the warmest serving experience. We have a couple of examples but I prefer not to list here. I'm thankful for a nice meal and I'm always looking to support local businesses. Some room for improvement but you will have a good meal if you are craving dosa. read more

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Agree with the reviews that it is a bit pricey ($25 for a dosa and coffee) but it is New York. Service was impeccable- they were very attentive and quick. And of course, the food was fantastic. I don't have much experience with dosas so can't compare it to much, but I loved it - the crispy dosa exterior combined with creamy potato, doused in flavorful chutney. My friend also knew to order gunpowder spice, which added the perfect kick. We finished with milky coffee that came very hot. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Dosas - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I'm torn. This is good food, but there is a problem here. When you are presented with the bill, I pushed the button for 18% and I was charged about $9.50 for a tip on a bill that was about $30. I have gone to the Lexington location for years, and I thought I would pop in here for a quick bite. You can see I left a positive review of the Lexington location. I am not likely to return. read more

I really love dosa but hadn't found a good spot in the city, UNTIL NOW! My friend recommended this spot and thankfully they have multiple locations because I luv run Brooklyn and this one's a bit far. Dosa is thin and crispy and all of the dipping sauces (sambar maybe? Coconut chutney?) are great. I went to Bangalore for a work thing once and the food was incredible. Most Indian spots (at least in the tristate area) are North Indian though, so I've found it hard to get dosa / other South Indian dishes. Glad I found this spot! read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Came here with friends for a quick dinner after drinks...wasn't too busy since it was almost the end of the evening. Was able to get a table and order quickly before they closed. Place is not that big so seating is limited. Vegetarian South Indian food with selections to share with the table. The mini tiffin good - the different dosa designs were very interesting. Some of the food was a bit spicy for me, preference for mild to not spicy for me. Did feel a bit rushed given they were trying to close soon, but all was ok. Would come back to try other dishes. read more

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Fast/good service, great dosa (got the millet masala dosa) and they even gave us a dessert at the end!! My mom and I both enjoyed this place a lot and will come back soon. read more

Great restaurant in upper west side with amazing food. If you are looking for a solid south indian resturant that hits the taste of home, this is the place to go. The dosas are large and filling, and might be some of the most cost effective indian food in NYC. The dosas come out hot and ready, with different chutney and sambar, and can tailor the spice to your request. The dosas are quite large, but leave me wanting more. The ambiance is nice, small and informal. The service is solid, and accomadating, the only issue I faced was that they mentioned an 10pm close them. They were shutting down at around 9:30, and lied to us, saying it was closed. They later decided to change their minds, and let us in, but they only let us order dosas. So this was a very odd experience. Other than that limitation, which is different from the information mentioned at the front of the store (and everywhere online). The food is amazing, the prices are cheap, and I will be coming back. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Indoors - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

My favorite place to eat. I frequent this location and the other ones as well. The food is very flavorful and delicious.

The place is pretty small and also quite popular so do expect to wait 10-20 minutes for a table if it's busy. I got the paper masala dosa and it was BIIIIGGGG. I did not finish haha. The dosa was definitely very thin and super crispy. I was also able to try to onion dosa and I actually preferred the normal dosa to the paper dosa since you get a good combination of crunchy and chewy textures with the regular dosa. The paper dosa may have been too crispy! The potatoes inside of the dosa was super yummy. Well seasoned and flavorful. There were four sauces that came with the dosa but I do not know what each were. At least 3 of the 4 were mildly spicy so do note that! Many families and friends who come here in groups. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Paper Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I love their Dosas. They are almost as big as the table. Always good, always good service.

Saravanaa Bhavan has great food and service! The ambiance is fast casual but there is ample seating. Our party of two had dosas and thali. The server told us that it would probably be too much food for us which I appreciated. It was a lot of food but it was also nice to try a variety of options. The cheese dosa is very delicious! Crispy and a little tart. Would recommend! read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Cheese Dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Totally authentic South Indian food with a good spice level. Glad that everything is priced inexpensively and the quality of the food is always on par read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Southindian Thali - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Their food can be FANTASTIC, but they can be a bit inconsistent. Sometimes their dosas are super crispy and thin (see photo) but I've also gone and had dosas that were soggy with zero crisp. But the good days are so good that I take my chances. (And i suggest you do too!) The thalis are also fantastic and flavorful. Great casual spot for Indian food. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Onion malagaipodi dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I have been coming to this location many times and it always satisfies my dosa cravings! The food is always reliable and have tried many items and they're all good. I've only had the South Indian dishes here so not sure how the North Indian dishes are. The service is always good as well as they are pretty attentive even when they are super busy. We were waiting for a dish for one of the people on our table so the server gave her some sweet for free so we all could start eating and she wouldn't feel left out. The place is small so be prepared to wait for some time if it gets busy but once seated the service is very fast! Overall love coming here from time to time! read more

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As far as I know, this Saravanaa Bhavan is the only dosa place on the UWS so it was great for satisfying a craving with a friend. It's not much to look at on the inside, but that definitely evokes the modest vibes of the original franchise in India, where it is basically their fast food. Perhaps fittingly, the food comes out very fast, but other than that service isn't too attentive so you'll need to flag a server down if you need one. I ordered the mini tiffin to try several things, and definitely think that is the best move whether you're a first timer or just plain hungry. It comes with a "mini" masala dosa that was honestly not much smaller than my friend's full dosa (served with the usual sambar and chutneys), four idli (steamed rice cakes) covered in a stew or sauce, as scoop of kitchari (like grits but made with rice), and a carrot pudding for dessert. Forgot to take a photo but you can tell it was a lot of food! The dosa was as good as any I've had, though the portion of potato masala inside was a little small for the size of the dosa (then again, the dosa itself was bigger than I expected). My favorite was surprisingly the kitchari, which had a really pleasant soft texture and warm flavors. The carrot pudding was also the perfect little portion of sweetness to finish off the meal. You can get more affordable South Indian food in more interesting environments out in Queens, but for the area, Saravanaa Bhavan does a good job repping the cuisine and hopefully enticing newcomers to try it, as well as serving a convenient niche for dosa lovers who don't want to schlep out. read more

This place is our favorite for vegetarian food. Food is always fresh and service is timely. Their dosas are the best so far in the city. Their thali's are also very generous portions. Safe bet if you wanna eat healthier but less pricier food. Very close to Columbia university campus. Nice options on the menu. read more

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Absolutely love this restaurant/cafe for its South Indian cuisine. All their locations have consistent taste and quality. The service is fast and friendly. Depending on the location there is indoor and outdoor seating. It is not very noisy but not quiet either. The quality of food is exceptional. I've tried a bunch of their dishes where I dined in or it was Togo and that didn't affect the quality or the temperature of the food served. Highly recommend their Mini Tiffin and filter coffee. It's a must visit if in the area. Kudos to the staff and management! read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Mini Tiffin - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Excellent food and great service! Definitely will be coming back again and I highly recommend to others!

After hearing so much about this spot I had to take my family visit NYC to try this place out! Stopped by here on a Sunday evening around 8 pm and got seated immediately. Didn't realize they have two seating areas. One that's nicer and the other that's a little dated busy. We ended up sitting in the more fated area, not realizing that there was a nicer area on the other side. My family and I were just trying to avoid the crowds and decided to sit a bit far back. We ordered the rava ghee dosa, the masala dosa, the paneer dosa, and the ghee dosa. Portions were huge and filling and food arrived fast. Each and every dosa was delicious and came with 3 really spicy dipping sauces. I recommend getting the sweet lassi to digest and cook your stomach after the spicy dosa and sauces. Overall, great experience and would definitely come back to try more! read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Food was great. Waiter tried to cheat us on bill. He showed the credit card bill which seemed a little high. I asked to see the actual bill and noticed a 15 dollar discrepancy. I would go back there but I advise you to pay cash. read more

We were visiting NYC from the SF Bay area on a multi-generation trip and staying in hotel beacon close by. We were so excited to see Saravanaa bhavan close by however the service, seating, food was so disappointing. The inside seating is very dirty, and outside was super hot with an exhaust running over your head. The service was completely apathetic and we had to struggle to get the servers attention The food was disappointing. We ordered a bunch of different things but nothing stood out. read more

Meh. Could have been better. Could have had better service. Could have had a better ambiance. The food wasn't bad... but it wasn't good. Just a meh experience all around. 3/5. I wouldn't say I'd never go back, but I'm not likely to. read more

This is a great place to get South Indian food in UWS. I love the Mysore masala dosa, set meals, poori, and chaas in particular. The prices are a bit high, but it's worth it for a little taste of home in the neighborhood. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Mini tiffin - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Great and cute little restaurant serving South Indian traditional breakfast foods on the UWS. We got the rava onion masala dosa (pictured) and onion peas uttapam (not pictured) and both did the trick. They came quickly and were hot, with decent quality Sambar, tomato and coconut chutney. The third yellow chutney, made with lentils and coconut, was really good. Sambar and chutneys are definitely not spicy so keep your expectations aligned with that. I'm pretty sure you could get exactly this kind of thing in Edison/Parsippany and it's nice to have it in Manhattan. Service was speedy and attentive. Prices are reasonable for NYC - and since portions are so large (we split 2 items x 3 people) it was actually quite economical. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Rava Onion Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

You know an Indian place is good when it leaves your fingers yellow! I'd give it a 3.8/5, round up to 4. Most places in the states are North Indian, so it's lovely to go to a South Indian restaurant and try the different foods. I have a more sensitive stomach and the masala dosa was the perfect thing. Light but still packed with (non spicy) spices and flavor. The food came out super quickly, which is always a plus. They have better outdoor seating than indoor seating, but it's all pretty good for a casual spot. read more

Saravanaa Bhavan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

So good! Got takeout tonight. The dosas were fab and so many options to pick from. Super fast too

Good food, V. Good Service. Quality of food was excellent too. Server was eager to answer our questions about recommendations.

Absolutely love this place. I order from here at least once a week and have visited this location multiple times, and it never disappoints. My favorite is the Mysore masala dosa and the mulgapudi onion dosa. read more