• Saravana Bhavan

  • (6)
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  • White Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Indian
Fast food
Delivery
Take-out

Part of international chain of South Indian vegetarian cuisine restaurants. Serves dosas, idlis, and more. Uses dairy, so let the staff know if you are vegan and do not want yogurt, ghee, or cream, etc. Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:30am-10:00pm.


Venue map for Saravana Bhavan
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6 Reviews

First Review by couroupita

Sjjk12

Points +1105

Vegan
22 May 2022

Average dosa place, had good vegan options

This place came out with our food super quick, would come back. The service was easy. I have been to another one on the east coast in New Jersey that was a bit better. May return

Pros: Lots of vegan options , Quick

grapenutsf

Points +181

Vegan
22 Feb 2020

South Indian - many options

There are vegan options but they are not marked that way on the menu, and there's not a special menu. I had to ask- which is no big whoop! The masala dosa was fine, but not as flavorful as my fave Indian restaurant in Berkeley (Viks). They did not bring my friend's ordered chai despite not being busy.

Pros: Several vegan options

ShaliniChakrabarty

Points +1574

Vegan
18 Aug 2018

Delicious South Indian Food

I always came here with my family to get dosas even before I was vegan. The vegan menu is smaller because they use ghee in a lot of dishes, you just need to ask them what is vegan (or without milk). According to the waiter, the masala dosa and normal sized idlis are vegan, which is what my mom and I ordered the other day. Wish that they would be clearly marked on the menu.

Pros: Delicious South Indian food

Cons: Wish vegan items were clearly marked

mmeghani

Points +552

Vegan
09 Jan 2018

Great vegetarian food, good vegan options

Great vegetarian South Indian food. The service is fast, informal, & good. The place is not fancy, but vibrant & full during evening & weekends. This place is part of large chain based out of India. You cannot go wrong with ordering idli - it comes quickly and is vegan. Dosas can take 5 min but are a great item - try masala dosa or veg dosa if you have not had this before. Have their buttermilk (chaas is what some Indian restaurants call it). The thalis are also good if you want a complete meal. Parking is in a large lot with other stores.

Pros: Totally vegetarian, Fast service, South Indian vegetarian cuisine

Cons: Not totally vegan due to dairy

catbone

Points +574

Vegetarian
18 Jan 2016

I will never eat here again

I won't eat here again. But, I will review the food because I support ANY restaurant that is All-Vegetarian. We felt some foods were okay and we actually "liked" some of it. But, some we didn't touch after the first bite. Anyway, I will write an update after I contact the management.
The primary problems are "trust issues" with the both the wait staff and the kitchen staff (we were BOTH sick after eating there 2.5 hours later). AND, paying a rather enormous $42 for our lunch bill (I always leave a tip no matter what experience I have at a restaurant--I just never return if I don't have a pleasant one).
The 1st time I asked our waiter about an issue, my husband told me he was "shining me on." I give people the benefit of doubt, so I spoke to our waiter 3 times during our meal. Our waiter assured me he would take care of it. On my 4th request he intentionally lied with a smile, looked me in the eyes and "tapped the side of his head" with his fingers and said, "Don't worry. I have it all up here" as he left us our pricey lunch check.
But, our waiter deliberately did not take care of it because a DIFFERENT waiter came and took our payment. So, as we walked out the door, I asked the hostess where our waiter went. "Oh, he left on break. Do you want me to call him back?" I got mad and told her, "NO! But, I am never coming back here again!"
The problem: If you can't trust your waiter's "Integrity" it's a managerial and staff training problem. After all the hidden TV camera Exposés on the scary, unsafe food practices kitchen staff were caught following behind closed doors...I started to WORRY about the food we had just eaten!
My husband had the Executive Platter and I had the Lunch Combination #1. We each ate about half, but just picked at most of the generous portions. My husband finished his sweet Lassi yogurt beverage and I was fond of my hot Madras coffee. We agreed the beverages were okay, but still left feeling "a little cheated" by our half-eaten $42 lunch for two.
We had a long drive home on this trip and 2.5 hours later we BOTH needed "emergency bathroom breaks". BOTH of us had no other food or drink after lunch. We agreed gurgling tummy upsets were no coincidence! So, my husband urged me to share our experience.
If you decide to try this restaurant anyway, I hope your experience is better than ours. But, before you PAY to eat here, you might wait for my forthcoming follow-up review. In any event, Good Luck. I think you'll need it.

Pros: The hot Madras coffee was good

Cons: Both of us got sick 2.5 hours later , Waitstaff will blatantly lie to you, Pricey lunch for 2 at just over $42

couroupita

Points +97

Vegan
19 Jun 2013

really good veg food!

The dosas are excellent and a lot of the dishes don't use ghee (though you should always check!), so a lot of things are actually vegan. I recommend all of the dosas and channa batura. The combos give you a nice range of different foods to try (including dessert) but they always include something with ghee, it seems.

Service is average. The place is always hopping and sometimes you have to speak up to place your order or get the check!
Updated from previous review on Wednesday June 19, 2013

Pros: inexpensive, good variety, some vegan options

Cons: spotty service, crowded, noisy




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