For some reason I'm down to reviewing the Saravana Bhavan in Decatur. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with that, just that fact that HSB is barely a place one thinks of reviewing. But nonetheless :


So a couple of disclaimers. Even if I weren't born in Madras (the hometown of Hotel Saravanaa Bhavan), it is where I have grown up all my life. And for those of you unfamiliar with that part of the world, HSB is nearly as ubiquitous, if not more, than MickeyD's is in America. Now almost every single South Indian worth his blood already knows this and most likely also has the HSB menu memorized and indeed never needs one when ordering.

The major difference being, that almost always, you get excellent, excellent food whichever one of their outlets you chose to go to. This was my fourth time there, and its taken me a while to actually review the place, only because I think I take the kind of food they serve for granted (its the food I've grown up on).

Now down to business - the last three times I've been there and have ordered masala dosai's, rava dosai's, bisibela bath, potato curry and a bunch of different uthapams. To be honest, the dosai here is a little on the pancake-y side for me. Not crunchy or thin enough. The uthapams on the other hand were spectacular. The sambhar and chutney that they serve with it is quite standard - good stuff. Ask for molaga podi (chilly
powder) to go along with it if you like and they will bring some out.

At lunch today, I was hit by a sudden craving for the bisibelabath and went there with the intention of ordering just that, when lo and behold there was a bloody lunch buffet!

It was vast and extensive. Buffets are always the death of me, yet somehow I end up indulging in them far more than I should, mostly because when I arrive and look at the food staring me in the face, the hunger is unbearable.

The lineup included idli's, masala doasi, rice with another sambhar, a kozhambu, rasam, kootu. Rava kichidi, Payasam, bajji's, thayir saadam with oorga (pickle) and three different veggies.Finished off with some filter coffee. Heaven. I can't even begin to describe how I attacked the food, and how every bite took me right back home. The idli's were actually soft, the curd rice tasted like 'thayir' and not yogurt and the beans paruppu usili was insanely fresh and tasty. Absolutely no complaints.

Aside from the food, the service is friendly but slow, and the ambiance is non existent. But I couldn't have cared less :)

For all you south Indians out there, especially anyone from Madras - you know exactly what I'm talking about. Anyone curious about trying out home style, south Indian vegetarian food this is THE place to go.

HSB on yelp.