Minerva Tiffins — Restaurant in Toronto

Oily, bland, unhealthy and expensive. Will not go here again. I went for the breakfast buffet and I had to force myself to eat the food because I had started the buffet and was too late to cancel. Cost is about $26 including tax before tip. And not at all worth it. The worst were the puri, which were difficult to break compared to cardboard. The lassi was heavily watered down. And the paper cups they provide for Lassi are smaller than shot glasses like a joke. The tea gets the same cup, and it doesn't taste like fresh tea, but rather tastes like premix shortcut tea. They want you to use the same plate again if you want to take more food, which is unhygienic and not seen in any other Indian restaurants that I have tried in USA and Canada. They give you one plate from behind the cashier's desk which is absolutely inaccessible for customers. I would not pay $13 including tax for this kind of food and service. The utensil (small bowl) they kept for sambar are so small that you have to cut the idli into atleast 6 parts to be able to submerge it. But to be able to submerge idli in sambar, you need to keep the tiny bowl half empty. And then it gets over after eating half idli. The only thing I really liked here were the idlis. But everything else was not upto the mark, and there were signs of cutting corners and parsimony everywhere.

In comparison if you go to Govardhan Thal which is 5 minutes away by car, and their lunch buffet has very nutritious and fresh whole meal with different traditionally cooked curries and vegetables and fresh fulka chapatis hot from the pan and pani puri too for I think $17.

There is also Charminar Indian restaurant at walking distance from here which is my favorite in this locality. But it doesn't have buffet option.

Update: Changed from 2 to 1 stars because you are actually defending that round piece of cardboard you serve with the name of puri in your response to my review. I'm sorry to find out that you never had a better puri. To find out what an actual puri should feel and taste like, please take yourself and your puri chef to Charminar and...

I don’t usually write reviews but the experience my friends and I had at this restaurant definitely warranted one. The service: It is something that is such an important aspect of dining out which completes the overall experience and can even outweigh the taste of the food. You could tell that the restaurant really cared about providing genuine service which proudly represents the warmth and care of the South Indian culture ❤️🫶 The food: The food was prepared fresh with good quality ingredients. I read on their menu that they do not use any artificial flavouring or colouring in their food which is always a concern with other restaurants. I’m obsessed with the Punugulu. Their dosas were very crisp which is how we requested it. (You can asked them to prepare it soft) Their podi idli, although the podi is not how I’m used to eating, was good. (Podi preference could be biased since it’s different from how my South Indian bestie’s mom makes it. Which is what I’m used to) Their sambar does not have the typical restaurant taste but a more home cooked taste which is what I like anyways. (They also mentioned on their menu that their recipes have a homemade flavour, hence the homely taste) The food to chutney ratio is very generous. I don’t dip but drown my food with chutney and I still left with a ramekin of their peanut chutney that was left over which my brother eat as soon as I got home. Lol. And he is not a fan of South Indian food so you can tell that their food tastes amazing! The sugarcane juice and mango lassi were very refreshing. The price: We felt like we ate so much but our bill was wayyy less than what we would spend at other places. This is now my go-to spot for South Indian food cravings. One of our servers mentioned that they will soon be opening a location in the West and honestly, it’s high time the West has a restaurant that actually tastes good without all the unnecessary hype! Ps: The steam rising from the dosas was a testament to their freshness; unfortunately, we devoured our food too quickly for...

A Delightful Culinary Experience at Minerva Tiffins

Minerva Tiffins is a gem for anyone craving authentic South Indian cuisine. From the moment you step inside, the warm and inviting ambiance sets the stage for a fantastic dining experience.

The food is nothing short of spectacular. The dosas are perfectly crisp, the idlis are soft and fluffy, and the vadas have the ideal balance of crunch and flavor. Their chutneys and sambar are the perfect accompaniments—bursting with freshness and authentic spices. A must-try is their ghee podi dosa, which simply melts in your mouth, leaving you wanting more.

The service is top-notch. The staff is courteous, attentive, and always ready to offer recommendations if you're new to South Indian cuisine. Despite the restaurant being busy during peak hours, the service remains efficient, ensuring your food arrives hot and on time.

What truly stands out is their commitment to quality and authenticity. Every dish feels like a comforting home-cooked meal, yet with a level of finesse you'd expect from a top restaurant.

Minerva Tiffins is more than just a meal; it's an experience that transports you to the heart of South India. A solid 5-star experience—I'll...