Sagar Ratna — Restaurant in Delhi

A Benchmark in South Indian Vegetarian Dining

In a city swarming with generic imitations of South Indian cuisine, Sagar Ratna in Defence Colony emerges not just as a restaurant—but as an institution of culinary precision, impeccable service, and cultural authenticity. For discerning diners who value consistency, comfort, and carefully crafted food, this branch of the beloved chain continues to set the gold standard.

Ambience & Service

From the moment you are welcomed, the staff exhibit a quiet dignity in service. Personalised attention is given without intrusion—sambhar and chutney are replenished, filter coffee is offered at precisely the right moment, and every query is met with genuine warmth. The seating is spacious, turnover efficient but never rushed.

Signature Dishes

Rava Idli – Steamed Perfection

This semolina-based idli is airy yet textured, subtly infused with tempered mustard seeds, cashews, and curry leaves. Unlike ordinary rava idlis, this one holds its shape yet melts like a cloud.

Recommended with: coconut chutney + ghee drizzle or dipped in hot rasam - I had it dipped

Sambhar – Homely yet Refined

Served piping hot in a generous bowl, hits the perfect balance of tang and umami. The lentils are cooked to silk, vegetables are not overboiled, and the aroma of freshly ground sambhar masala lingers. No excessive jaggery or commercial shortcuts—this is soulful sambhar, as it should be.

Four Chutneys – A Study in Contrast

Each chutney is not merely a condiment, but a standalone highlight: • Coconut Chutney: Smooth, fresh, stone-ground, subtly sweet with roasted chana dal. • Mint-Coriander Chutney: Herbal, cooling, with a lime kick. • Tomato-Onion Chutney: Deep red, smoky, slightly spiced—pairs superbly with idli and dosa. • peanut Chutney: This one was new they said. It was sweet for my taste, but my friend liked it a lot

Masala Dosa

A perfectly golden dosa, crisp at the edges and soft near the center, folded over a lightly spiced potato mash infused with ginger, green chilli, onions, mustard seeds, and turmeric. Unlike greasy variants elsewhere, this dosa retains its structure without excess oil.

Cotton-Soft Rice Idli

These steamed rice-lentil cakes achieve near-impossible lightness—almost like compressed clouds. What sets them apart is the grain structure: not pasty, but finely aerated. A drizzle of ghee brings out a nutty aroma, making even this simplest dish deeply satisfying.

Vegetable Korma - this was new too A mild, creamy medley of seasonal vegetables in a coconut-cashew gravy—this dish adds a wholesome variety to your plate. Lightly spiced, mildly sweet, and enriched with cloves and star anise, it is north-meets-south harmony on the plate. They served this with Rava Idli

South Indian Filter Coffee

Brewed the traditional way using a brass filter, the coffee arrives in the classic davara-tumbler set, frothed to perfection. Chicory notes blend with pure Arabica, resulting in a rich, caramel-bodied cup. Neither too milky nor too bitter—it’s the finest filter coffee you’ll find north of the Vindhyas. I love my freshly brewed coffee but the Indian filter coffee is simply great - try it here

End your meal with this. It will stay with you longer than dessert.

Sagar Ratna, Defence Colony, is not just a restaurant—it’s a revival of South Indian culinary pride, minus the frills, minus the gimmicks. For those seeking purity, hygiene, high personalisation , and food that respects its roots, this is the definitive...

Sagar Ratna has 40 outlets in Delhi-NCR. Last year, for the first time we went to one of their branches for dinner and had a bad experience.The only thing which I remember about that experience was that I thought it was highly over-rated and decided never to visit again.

But reading the reviews at Zomato, we decided to visit their branch at Defence Colony. I understood that unlike foreign food chains like Mcdonalds, Dominos etc which are highly standardized, Indian restaurant chains may have different quality levels at different branches.

Ambiance: Ambiance at the ground floor of the restaurant is decently good. Naivedyam and to a certain extent even Saravana Bhavan offers better ambiance.The thing here is that the area in the ground floor is small.

Service : What they perhaps lack in area, they make it up with service! The waiters are very pleasant and intuitively sense what you like (say, like chutneys) and serve them without being asked.

Food : I had Rava Idly, one spicy dosa (forgot the name, not in the menu shown here at Zomato), Rava Kesari and filter coffee.

Rava (sooji) Idly was very good. I would definitely order it when I visit again. Rava Kesari was also excellent. Even at restaurants/sweet stalls in Chennai where this item is very common, I have not eaten such a well-balanced Rava Kesari. By balanced I mean, the three items used to make Rava kesari namely rava(sooji), sugar, ghee were in the exact proportions!

Looks like this chef knows his rava very well :) Would try Rava Dosa and Rava Upma in my next visit!

Now coming to the spicy dosa, it was filled with green chutney powder - paste similar to a 'Podi' Dosa. It was good. Even though I may not be visiting the restaurant for this dish alone, I won't mind having it again.

Now what elevates your experience at Sagar Ratna is their chutneys and accompaniments. I always rate restaurants more on the basis of their chutneys than on their dosas, idlies etc.

Because you keep making dosas throughout the day and a few may unfortunately turn out to be bad, but you make chutneys only once or twice a day and hence would be more careful. The chutneys here were from good to great :) and they get refilled quickly. I also liked the 'sabji'(vegetable) which they served with the Rava Idly. The filter coffee was also good.

I visited another branch of theirs and there also my experience was good. So it depends on the branch.

'Thali' meals : I had the most satisfying restaurant meals experience in Delhi at Sagar Ratna. The menu has 4 chapatis and 1 kurma, rice, sambar, rasam, raita, 1 dry sabji(poriyal),curd, 1 sweet(sebai/semiya payasam), pickle, papad.Minus the chapati and kurma, this is the typical menu which we have in homes ( usually only 1 sabji, no items like kootu, kulambu, dal powder,chutneys etc..you don't make/eat all these items on the same meal!). So this limited 'thali' and the way the items were cooked reminded me of home.

They didn't try to "create a splash" by using huge amounts of masala/ghee/spices etc. Some may like their rasam and sambar to be very spicy while some may not.Sagar Ratna had the perfect balance..the spice/salt levels were something which was acceptable to...

Sagar Ratna is a quintessential gem in the realm of South Indian cuisine, where each dish feels like a culinary masterpiece meticulously crafted to perfection. From the moment you step in, the aroma of freshly ground spices and the sight of dosas sizzling on the griddle tantalize your senses, promising an unforgettable dining experience.

While the wait time may test your patience, every minute spent is unequivocally worth it. The impeccable service ensures that you're attended to with warmth and efficiency, making you feel right at home amidst the bustling ambiance.

As for the food, it transcends mere sustenance and ventures into the realm of artistry. Each dish is a symphony of flavors, from the crispiness of dosas to the richness of sambar and the tanginess of chutneys. Whether you crave the comforting warmth of idlis or the fiery kick of masala dosa, Sagar Ratna has perfected every South Indian delicacy imaginable.

Their menu is a testament to their commitment to authenticity and innovation, offering a delightful array of options to cater to every palate. Whether you're a devoted fan of traditional fare or eager to explore new culinary horizons, Sagar Ratna ensures a gastronomic journey like no other.

In conclusion, Sagar Ratna is not just a restaurant; it's a culinary sanctuary where South Indian cuisine is elevated to its zenith. Despite the occasional wait, the impeccable service, and the divine food make it an unparalleled dining destination. If you're seeking an unforgettable culinary experience, look no further than...