I am big South Indian food fan, and I have always eaten at the Sagar Ratna outlets, but after some issues in their food lately I don't feel like eating from their outlets. I generally go to the CP area in Delhi, so I would like to know about some good authentic South Indian restaurant in CP.
Hello, welcome to the forum! (Images from AMC, Veg Recipes of India and Scroll) Overview Craving for the white fluffy idli? Or maybe you have been thinking about the yummy stuffed goodness of samosas lately? Well, you might be in the mood for South Indian dishes and yes, even the capital of Delhi has options for that. South Indian cuisine is very diverse though and you would find that each region in that part of India has varied dishes. Luckily, even when in Delhi, you have the privilege of sampling these dishes. Whether you're into rice meals, seafood dishes or spicy dishes, the very heart of South Indian cuisine can be found right at the capital of the country. Best South Indian Restaurants in Connaught Place 1. Saravana Bhavan - This South Indian restaurant is located on the P-Block of the Outer Circle of Connaught Place. It is spread over three floors, yet it's unusual to find the restaurant without any crowds. The ambience mimics that of any South Indian restaurant too, with simple earthy coloured walls and floors. The first floor has a seating area too but it is mostly where the sweets of the restaurant are located. The second and third floors are the main dining areas. Their menu isn't that extensive but it has the main components of the South Indian cuisine. Worth trying out here is their Panchavarna Uttapam, which is one of their specialty dosas. This special dosa is thicker than usual and even has five varieties. The sidings of sambar and chutney go best with the special dosa as well. Their Mini Idli Platter is also a must try, it has 14 mini idlis, all of which are freshly cooked and also comes with sambar. For a complete meal, try out their Tamil Nadu Fixed Thali which has a variety of chutneys, dal, sambar, vegetables, curd, pickles, rice and sweets. If your tummy persists, then do give their Badam Halwa a try, a mixture of almonds, sugar, milk and ghee. Saravana Bhavan is the leading South Indian restaurant in Connaught Place and rightfully so, because only authentic South Indian cuisine is served here. Best Sellers - Panchavarna Uttapam, Mini Idli Platter, Tamil Nadu Fixed Thali and Badam Halwa. Address - P-13, Connaught Circus, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 28844305. Saravani Bhavan (Image from Chris via Flickr) 2. The Spice Route - The Spice Route is located in The Imperial Hotel in Connaught Place. As soon as you enter the restaurant premises, you would be taken to a different place, as if you're stuck in a different era or even a different country. The temple-looking designs, complete with sloping roofs and ornamented pillars. The use of bright colours can take you into the temples of Kerala or even Thailand. Such intricacy of details make the restaurant unique in itself and we haven't talked about its food yet! The restaurant serves the best of Keralan cuisine along with various cuisines from Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. A must try dish here is the Chicken in Kerala Curry which is perfectly spiced, with the chicken so soft it almost melts in your mouth. The Kerala Style Prawns in Coconut is also a must try, it's creamy, scrumptious and the prawns are as fresh as if they picked it right from the sea. Lastly, their Malabar Paratha is perfection too, crispy and goes well with the leftover curries from the above dishes. Be economical, savour every last bit of your meal when in The Spice Route. Well, that won't be hard to do so.;p Best Sellers - Chicken in Kerala Curry, Kerala Style Prawns in Coconut and Malabar Paratha. Address - Patiala Peg, The Imperial, Janpath Lane, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 41116605. 3. Bikkgane Biryani - The very best of Hyderabadi cuisine right at the heart of Delhi? Bikkgane Biryani to the rescue! But first, let's talk about the restaurant's ambience, which is very simple, just bricked walls along with a few framed pictures. There's music playing in the background too, although it can get loud at times. Despite that, the restaurant is flocked to by many patrons, mainly because they are one of the few restaurants to serve authentic Hyderabadi cuisine in the city. Not only do they serve the crowd favourite, which is the Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, they also serve other varieties like Egg Biryani, Prawn Biryani and Keema Biryani. Out of these options, do give their Keema Biryani a try, it comes with its very own gravy. It's on the spicy side but the gravy actually balances the spiciness. Their Chicken 65 is another favourite, it's also on the spicy side but it's so soft and flavourful that you wouldn't mind the hotness. To end your culinary delight, indulge in the sweet goodness of their Double Ka Meetha. Best Sellers - Keema Biryani, Chicken 65 and Double Ka Meetha. Address - Shop No. 2/90, Ground Floor, P-Block, Baba Kharag Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 41516628. Chicken Biryani of Bikkgane Biryani (Image from Bikkgane Biryani) 4. 1911 - This is yet another restaurant in the luxury hotel The Imperial. The restaurant has a variety of North Indian, South Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines. Since it is located on a high end hotel, its interiors and ambience are very elegant. There's an overhanging chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, marble floorings and exquisite paintings displayed on the walls. This restaurant is definitely on the higher end too when it comes to prices. As such, it's best to indulge in dining here if you have a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday. Going to the South Indian cuisine, they have a small variety in their menu and more so for the vegetarians. Setting this aside, you can try out their Dal Makhani which is incredibly satisfying, with just enough cream and butter. Their Dal Bukhara is out of this world too, possibly one of the best in Delhi. The rich Paneer Lababdar, with its mixture of cream, onion, tomato and cashew would make you crave for more. The 1911 restaurant is more of an experience worth having, especially if you have the money to spare. Best Sellers - Dal Makhani, Dal Bukhara and Paneer Lababdar. Address - The Imperial, Janpath Lane, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 41116634. 5. Kinbuck 2 - The very rare Chettinad cuisine can be tasted and enjoyed in Kinbuck 2, yes, right at the heart of Delhi. It's obvious that the restaurant was well-thought even at first glance. It has an open seating area, where you can gaze at the skies. The indoor seating is equally lavish, with bricked walls, a chandelier, numerous couched seats and framed pictures. Aside from Chettinad cuisine, the restaurant also has North Indian, Chinese and Lebanese dishes. A must try South Indian dish here is their Chicken Binaloo, which is mainly bits of chicken cooked with potatoes and gravy. It can be a meal on its own or paired with rice too. You can even pair it with their crisp Roti or Plain Naan. Their Garlic Naan is refreshingly good, even with the combination of spiciness and saltiness, it's not overpowering at all. Best Sellers - Chicken Binaloo, Roti, Plain Naan or Garlic Naan. Address - P-10/90, 1st & 2nd Floor, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 33105674. 6. Biryani Blues - Biryani Blues also features authentic Hyderabad cuisine, but it has this trendy vibe it. The overhanging eccentric lamps, bright blue and yellow chairs, along with the wooden tables all add to the modern appeal of the restaurant. Their menu is direct too, just simply the names of the meals and their prices. Essentially, Biryani Blues is where you go to have your quick fix of Hyderabadi cuisine. Their Chicken 65 Biryani is a close rival to Bikkgane Biryani's Chicken 65. It is definitely on the hotter side but you can still taste the flavours of the chicken. The Vegetable Biryani is a good option for the vegetarians, it has an assortment of vegetables like potatoes, carrots and beans. The long grain rice is flavourful too, very aromatic and compliments the soft cheese. And lastly, yet another spicy dish, the Chicken Nizami is another option for those who can take the heat. It is succulent still despite the spiciness. Best Sellers - Chicken 65, Vegetable Biryani and Chicken Nizami. Address - Showroom 9, Scindia House, Connaught Circus, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - +91 8010801000. 7. Haldiram's - To soothe your idli and meetha cravings, Haldiram's would be your best bet. The restaurant has a simple ambience, just plain chairs and tables along with a counter for all the sweets and snacks you might ever want. The food here is mouth-watering though and to truly sample a wide variety of South Indian snacks, you can try out their South Indian Platter. It consists of two idlis, an uttapam, a dosa, sambar and coconut chutney. Their Onion Rawa Masala Dosa is filling enough that it can substitute as a meal in itself, not to mention that it's delicious swell. And lastly, you cannot leave without sampling their Rabdi Rasmalai, which is like a milk cake, super satisfying for the sweet tooth in you but not as sinful as other desserts. Best Sellers - South Indian Platter, Onion Rawa Masala Dosa and Rabdi Rasmalai. Address - L-6, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 47685300. Haldiram's (Image from Twit Snaps) 8. Baluchi - Baluchi is a fine dining restaurant located in The Lalit, a five-star hotel in Delhi, located close to Connaught Place. The restaurant has ample space to accommodate guests of many numbers. The interiors are intricately done, with dim lighting to ensure a more formal vibe to the restaurant. The restaurant has both North Indian and South Indian cuisines. What's good about this restaurant is that they have a whole page dedicated to vegetarians. Try out their Vegetable Khurma, an array of vegetables in a curried stew, perfect with steaming hot rice. For the meat lovers, their Hyderabadi Gosht Ki Seekh is very indulgent, tender lamb pieces with bits of onions, that are grilled to perfection under the coal. Their very own Gulkand Gulab Jamun is mildly sweet with the aroma of rose petals, the best way to end your fine dining experience in Baluchi. Best Sellers - Vegetable Khurma, Hyderabadi Gosht Ki Seekh and Gulkand Gulab Jamun. Address - The Lalit, Barakhamba Avenue, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. Contact Number - 011 33105268. Conclusion Be transported to the southern part of India with just one bite, at any of these restaurants in Connaught Place. You have full meals, snacks and sweets, so what more can you ask for? Just make sure that you're not counting calories as these places are not very calorie-friendly.;p Enjoy your food adventure in Delhi and do share with us which of these places you have tried out!
I understand you're looking for a new South Indian restaurant to try in CP since you're not happy with Sagar Ratna lately. Here are some options I found on Google Maps: Hotel Saravana Bhavan: Long-running international chain serving up South Indian vegetarian dishes, including dosas. (already mentioned above) Tirumala South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant | Best Restaurant in Connaught place has a very high rating. Naivedyam also has good rating. I hope this helps you find a delicious South Indian meal in CP!
