Atherai Veg Restaurant A/C — Restaurant in Puducherry

Authentic delicious South Indian food. If you are in Pondycherry I highly recommend it.

I also get the chance to meet the owner, Gauri who told me how they run the dairy and supply milk in Pondy and that they have their own farms and this restaurant land was purchased to actually open the dairy but her husband felt that it should be a restaurant and it became a restaurant. Atherai is different when it comes to the quality and the taste of the food...... I tasted almost every thing in two days....Kuzhi Paniyaram....Vadai.. Idli.. Dosai.... Iddiyapam.... Parotha Kuruma.... and I am all ga ga over their passion to maintain the authenticity of the food.... Parotha Kuruma ....I was hesitant to order but to satiate my North Indian palate, in the dinner I ordered it and I was amazed and happy that OMG this is delicious..... Very different than any other paratha and kuruma I have ever had in any restaurant....

Gauri even told me that there is a different rice for iddiyampam and idli. I asked Gauri why the Dosa in all other restaurants feels so heavy and it looks so round and she explained me that we grind our batter and ferment it and fermented urad dal is easy to digest but at other places to cater the crowd they keep things ready to serve it cook for e.g they use rice sooji and don't grind the rice also they add moong daal without fermenting which gives the body to Dosa.

We discussed soooo...many things and I felt that I must do a justice when I write this review...

It is not a fine dining restaurant it is an authentic kitchen which is very pocket friendly too.. It is only 9 months old so my prayers are that as they grow they should also not fall in the same restaurant commerce of catering the crowd but keep...

Today afternoon, I visited Atherai Veg Restaurant A/C, located right in the heart of White Town, Pondicherry, and it turned out to be a delightful experience. This place serves pure vegetarian South Indian meals on a traditional banana leaf, which took the experience to the next level.

I had lunch here along with my friend, and honestly, the food was incredibly delicious—so good that my taste buds are still craving for more! From the piping hot rice to the variety of perfectly spiced curries and chutneys, everything was cooked with authentic flavors and lots of love.

The restaurant is budget-friendly, making it a perfect spot for families and friends alike. I especially recommend this place to people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—you’ll feel right at home with the familiar flavors and homely touch in every bite.

If you're in Pondicherry and want to enjoy a satisfying South Indian meal, this is a must-visit restaurant. Trust me, your gut...

Simple, Neat, Clean, Homely & of course Tasty! Thankfully there are still some places which serve limited dishes but of a fantastic quality and taste like home.

Atherai is one such gem where the polite and welcoming owner couple makes sure the customers would definitely visit again.

The owner lady did explain all the queries we had about the dishes, ingredients and how they are prepared. We tried almost all the variety and we were completely satisfied.

One day we had Egg Plant (Brinjal) Chutney which was heavenly, so was Kara Kalambu (this is not a dish but an accompaniment like a Sambar) , Curd Rice and Kuzhi Paniyaram.

The owner lady even went out of her way to help us buy 'Kara Kalambu Masala Powder' and the 'Sun Dried Garnishing' to prepare the Kara Kalambu recipe at home.

I am definitely going to visit again!!! Best...