Saravanaa Bhavan — Restaurant in South Dublin

Visited Saravanaa Bhavan in Tallaght (Unit 11-18, Belgard Square W) on their second day of opening. The ambiance was quite impressive – spacious, clean, and peaceful, with a calm environment since it wasn’t very crowded, which made the dining experience comfortable.

We ordered:

3 Special Madras Coffees Paneer 65 1 Mysore Masala Dosa 1 Masala Dosa 1 Ghee Rava Masala Dosa 1 Falooda

We had requested the dishes in a specific order: coffee first, then the starter, followed by dosas. However, the dosas were served first within 8 minutes of ordering. While the speed is commendable, the sequence could have been better managed. When we asked the person serving about which dosa was which, he initially didn’t know and had to check in the kitchen, after which he confirmed it was the Mysore Masala Dosa.

The dosas that followed were decent. There seemed to be some confusion in differentiating the Mysore Masala Dosa from the regular Masala Dosa. The only visible difference was the shape – the Mysore Masala Dosa was triangular and the regular one was round. Upon asking, we were told they added Mysore podi instead of red chutney due to not using food coloring. Having lived in Bangalore for 3 years, I’ve grown to love authentic Mysore Masala Dosa, so I was a little disappointed that it didn’t match the traditional version.

The Rava Masala Dosa and regular Masala Dosa were rated as "okay" by my friends – not bad, but nothing exceptional either.

Paneer 65 came quite late – after the dosas and coffee – though it turned out to be one of the highlights of our meal. It was crispy, well-seasoned, and delicious. Definitely a must-try!

Now, coming to the coffee – as a big fan of South Indian filter coffee, I was quite let down. The Madras coffee served lacked the strong decoction flavor and was too light in color and too sweet for our taste. It felt more like sweetened milk than proper filter coffee. It also wasn’t hot enough. A tip to anyone ordering: be sure to specify if you want strong coffee with less sugar.

The Falooda was okay – not too sweet, but it didn’t stand out either.

The food sequence should be aligned with customer requests, especially when the restaurant isn't too busy.

Some staff members seemed unsure about the menu items and lacked clarity when asked questions.

Staff could be a bit more warm and engaging – a friendly smile goes a long way in enhancing the customer experience.

Our plates were being cleared even before we finished, especially the Paneer 65 plate, which was a surprise. Thankfully, they returned it when we pointed it out.

When asked for a takeaway of four dosas, we were informed they could only serve it in a plate and we’d have to pack it ourselves, which felt unusual.

We were also told coffee takeaway wasn’t available, which was understandable on day 2 as they might not yet have takeaway containers.

When we enquired about sweets displayed on Day 1, we were told some of them weren’t available and the menu didn’t include those items. Mysore Pak, which we were looking forward to, wasn’t available that day either.

We paid €74.20 for three people – a bit on the higher side for a meal consisting mainly of dosas and drinks, especially considering the service sequence and food temperature issues.

Despite the above hiccups, I understand it’s only their second day of operation, and every new outlet takes time to settle into a rhythm. I’m still a big fan of Saravanaa Bhavan, having enjoyed their food across Tamil Nadu, and I’m hopeful that with time, things will get better here too.

Looking forward to visiting again and seeing how...

Weekend Waits and Worthwhile Vadas

Wanted to surprise my family with an all-veg dinner—and what better place than Saravana Bhavan, the Chennai legend now in Dublin? When it first opened, a couple of months back, the reviews were... let’s just say, not glowing—long waits, rushed service, the usual opening hiccups. But I decided to give it a fair shot.

Now, Indians will endure hour-long visa queues for a Schengen stamp without flinching, but ask them to wait for a dosa and suddenly national pride is at stake. So yes, there was a queue. A long one. We waited about 30 minutes, which apparently meant we arrived just in time for the 8:30pm Desi Dinner Wave. Behind us, the line snaked around, full of hopeful eyes and tactical negotiators.

The ushers deserve a special mention. Under pressure, managing hungry crowds and endless “bhaiya, we have come from very far” or “our friend has to catch a flight” pleas, they kept their composure—courteous, clear, and respectful. That kind of poise deserves more than tips—it deserves applause.

Once seated, we were gently warned: “Sir, food will take 20–25 minutes.” Fair enough. But it arrived in under 5. That “promise less, deliver more” approach? Respect.

We ordered Masala Roast Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Medu Vada, Spring Rolls (because fusion cravings are real), some falooda ice cream, and filter coffee.

Let me just say this: no one beats their Medu Vada. Crispy on the outside, soft like a cloud on the inside. The dosas came with bottomless sambar and chutney refills, a rare and honorable tradition that too many city-center joints have tragically abandoned (and charge extra for). Here, they don’t make you beg for sambar—they offer it like they want you to come back.

And the filter coffee? So good I ordered a second before I finished the first.

Only culinary misstep: the falooda ice cream. It was confused, identity-crisis-in-a-glass confused. Dear team, make it falooda kulfi and stop making a falooda of your own reputation.

Overall, Saravana Bhavan in Dublin may not take weekend reservations, but they do serve up sincere service, quick turnaround, and classic South Indian comfort—with heart. I’ll be back. But maybe next time, a little earlier. Before the visa-line...

A Childhood Favorite That Let Me Down : Saravana Bhavan Dublin 😢

I never thought I’d be writing a negative review for Saravana Bhavan, a place that was such a big part of my childhood. Growing up in Chennai, I have fond memories of going to the original outlet in KK Nagar with my grandad, and later frequenting the Ashok Nagar branch after school. It was our go-to spot for comforting, authentic South Indian food, always consistent, always delicious. So when I saw that Saravana Bhavan had opened in Dublin, I was beyond excited. Unfortunately, the experience left me disappointed and genuinely sad.

We ended up waiting for over an hour just to get a table, which would’ve been fine if there was some order to the chaos. But to our frustration, people who came after us (larger groups) were seated before us, while the two of us continued to wait. When we finally did get a table, the service felt disorganized and rushed. The food came out in random order, with no flow to the meal.

The biggest letdown? The food itself.

The sambhar had far too much dhal and none of the signature taste that made Saravana’s sambhar so special. The ghee dosa had no trace of ghee, it was just a plain dosa passed off as something it wasn’t. The masala dosa was soggy, the poori was small and dripping with oil, and the chutneys? They didn’t even come close to what they used to be, bland and forgettable.

And then came the filter coffee, the one thing I was truly looking forward to. Even after specifically asking for it to be strong, it was just a glass of hot milk with barely any coffee flavor. That hit hard. It felt like a metaphor for the whole experience: watered down, missing the essence of what it used to be.

To top it all off, the prices were way too high for the quality offered. This isn’t the Saravana Bhavan I grew up loving. It’s genuinely upsetting to see a brand that once stood for quality and tradition now reduced to this — especially in a place like Dublin, where good South Indian food is so cherished by the diaspora.

I never thought I’d say this, but I’d think twice before going back. Some memories are better left untouched than...