MTR - Mavalli Tiffin Rooms — Restaurant in Bellevue

We decided to try it because of all the reviews (hype) and somehow not willing to trust the poor reviews. After we arrived there was a line forming, but it doesn't indicate some frenzied attraction but merely "no space at the counter to mill around" and Indians will mill around and are exceptional at "gathering and crowding". There was no cold water on the tables. When we asked for ice, the two women attendants looked at each other coyly like I was seeking their hand in marriage and didn't seem know what I was asking. We ordered just one appetizer, the vade...It arrived soon but it was at room temperature and not very good as were the chutney and sambar. The poor vada taste made me abandon it and we didn't even have individual plates. The chutney and sambar would spill and drip as we dipped it. We saw others ask for plates as well. Most American restaurants give you plates for this. They're probably cutting costs to not have plates to wash. I ordered a coffee and the server asked if I want it right away or with the meal. Why, I don't know because they didn't bring it anyway. We ordered a rava masala dosa and a regular masala dosa. Both were tremendously oily and the rava dosa devoid of taste as well compared to those I tried before. My wife said her dosa was so small compared to any other place we've ever been to. We thought of adding something else to the order but decided against it. The potato filling was ok...as in "barely average". The coffee still didn't arrive and we mentioned it to the waiter to which he asked "So, it didn't come...? and again..."So you didn't get the coffee?" looking at his tablet instead of the table where there were no coffee mugs or cups or whatever they serve it in, and I had to point to my table almost sarcastically. I just said cancel it and we left after leaving a minimum tip. There are other reviews that describe random surprise at the poor reviews. That smell of savory food, in a restaurant, was missing. It smelled like a Home Depot or a TJ Maxx..."no Indian food cooking smells whatsoever". This is a vegetarian restaurant as well with the limited menu. You should at least make the few things you make, really good. . The mango lassi should be a dark yellow orange flavorful thing, not just yogurt with a small bit of mango. It shouldn't be the color of the flag of Sweden if you're charging $5.99 for it. I'm so glad I didn't order anything else.

This is a second visit but this time I ordered takeout because my wife wanted to try something else just to see if we were perhaps mistaken earlier. I selected an order of Poori with the potato sago thing and a Pudi Dosa. The sides of sambar, chutney and potato accompaniment with the 25 cent piece is to show the quantity they provide for a meal. The lady assured me that the potato sago contained no nuts. I checked 3 times and also after paying because of allergy concerns. When I picked it up, the lady said the sago contained nuts but just as a garnish which means they have no ideal of what "nut allergy" means and substituted a vegetable curry instead. I mentioned that I wouldn't have ordered if they had properly checked and I got a dumbfounded stare in return. They gave me the potato anyway to compensate and you can see the quantity they serve. The little cups are what most restaurants give condiments like ketchup and salad dressing and MTR uses it as a "to go" container. That's how much food we're buying for $12.00. The dosa didn't look much better either and is also pictured with the dry unappealing filling and the chutney and sambar. The restaurant's response to my earlier review of the first visit was to suggest that I should adjust my errant expectations and to return so that they can school me in the ways of consuming South Indian food. I didn't think there was going to be a tutorial or a TED talk on "how to eat dosa" but apparently there is. I can't wait for tickets to go on sale because I've only been South Indian since I was born. I got a backup meal at...

My wife and I recently dined at MTR, an authentic South Indian vegetarian restaurant in the Seattle area, and our experience was extraordinary. From the warm ambiance to the delectable dishes, MTR exceeded our expectations.

Ambiance: A Warm Welcome to South India MTR's decor beautifully blends traditional and modern elements, creating an inviting atmosphere that transports you to South India. The walls adorned with intricate artwork and vibrant colors, combined with classical Indian music, set the perfect stage for an unforgettable dining experience. The seating was comfortable, and the tables well-spaced, ensuring privacy and a relaxed dining environment. The soft lighting added elegance, making it ideal for both casual outings and special occasions. The staff were incredibly courteous and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in.

Menu: A Feast for the Senses MTR's menu is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of South India. It offers a diverse range of vegetarian dishes that cater to different tastes and preferences. Here is a detailed account of our gastronomic adventure at MTR.

Benne Masala Dosa The Benne Masala Dosa set the bar high for the rest of the meal. This iconic South Indian dish consists of a soft and fluffy dosa made with fermented rice and lentil batter, generously spread with butter and filled with a flavorful potato masala. The dosa was perfectly thick and fluffy with just the right amount of butter to add richness without being overwhelming. The potato masala filling offered a delightful blend of flavors that danced on our taste buds. The accompanying chutney and sambar enhanced the overall taste experience.

Dahi Vada Next was the Dahi Vada, a popular South Indian snack that consists of lentil dumplings soaked in creamy yogurt and topped with a medley of boondi. The vadas were light and fluffy, absorbing the yogurt beautifully without becoming soggy. The yogurt was fresh and creamy, providing a cooling contrast to the spicy toppings.

Kesari Bath For a touch of sweetness, we indulged in the Kesari Bath, a traditional South Indian dessert made from semolina, ghee, sugar, and flavored with saffron and cardamom. The semolina was cooked to perfection, with a smooth and creamy texture that melted in our mouths. The subtle aroma of saffron and the warm notes of cardamom elevated the dish, making it a truly decadent dessert. The generous addition of ghee added a rich, buttery flavor that was simply irresistible.

Idly No South Indian meal is complete without Idly, and MTR's rendition of this classic dish did not disappoint. Idly is a steamed rice cake known for its soft and fluffy texture. The idlies at MTR were incredibly light and airy, with a delicate flavor that paired beautifully with the accompanying chutney and sambar. The sambar was rich and flavorful, with a perfect balance of tanginess and spice, while the coconut chutney provided a refreshing and creamy contrast. The size of the idly was pretty good. 2 idly's will easily fill your tummy

Masala Dosa In addition to the Benne Masala Dosa, we also tried the traditional Masala Dosa. The Masala Dosa at MTR was expertly crafted, with a perfectly crisp exterior and a flavorful potato filling that was both hearty and satisfying. The dosa was served with chutney , sambhar and ghee – each offering a unique flavor profile that complemented the dish wonderfully. The sambar, with its rich and tangy taste, was the perfect accompaniment.

Rava Idly The final dish we savored was the Rava Idly, a variation of the traditional idly made with semolina instead of rice. The Rava Idly at MTR was light and fluffy, with a slightly grainy texture that added an interesting twist to the classic dish. It was served with coconut chutney and a tangy tomato chutney, both of which enhanced the flavors of the idly. The Rava Idly was also accompanied by a small bowl of vegetable saagu, a mildly spiced vegetable curry that provided a flavorful contrast...

Returned to MTR at Bellevue a year later. Being a weekday, at 11:45, no wait. But here’s where the improvement stopped and the deterioration has begun as with many restaurants in a few years after opening.

The seat cushions have started sagging, a sign of the crowds! And as a party of 6 came in they had to be cramped into a table for 4. The interior design is so inefficient in offering only 2 or 4 person seating. The Udipi restaurant that was in the same space before had an open, spacious configuration.

There were too many wait staff hanging around with nothing to do. In fact one was standing outside clipping his nails which made us wonder about the hygiene. The waiters who attended our table new nothing about the Karnataka or South Indian cuisine or the vegetables used in a dish (training would help).

While we were happy to have been seated quickly, the thali arrived after a long wait. At least we were lucky the couple next to us were still waiting when we left. Wondering if the ratio of cooks to waiters is disproportionate.

Our excited wait ended in disappointment too. The papadams were Trader Joe style mini, the rasam was so garlicky, and the palia and sago were unidentifiable veggies that the waiter couldn’t explain either. MTR know for its pickles, served a very vinegary lemon pickle slice. Whoever has heard of coconut rice with onions? Must be a new idea and not a good one either as the onions overwhelmed the coconut flavor completely! No ghee with thali and MTR used to be famous for ghee! The dessert was a very watery slush they called payasam that had bits of channa dhal and coconut at the bottom. Only the poori and moor were decent in the entire thali. And oh, you might want to take your own silverware as they don’t have teaspoons or forks! Overall, overpriced, small portions and no flavor of Karnataka cuisine. What a change in such a short time!

First review about a year back:

Long wait to get in. Table organization not efficient no seating for 2 people so they have 2 people seated in table for 4! Wait time for tali was not bad and puri was piping hot. Quality of meal was ok, mild mostly, we got 2vegetable dishes (snake gourd dry curry and a dhal based kootu) sambar, rasam (may be mysore rasam) 1 large puri, rava pakkora, pulihogara (tasteless) for mixed rice, curd rice (tasty seasoned) plain small grained rice, date payasam (too watery and sweet) lemon pickle (seemed like store bought), papadam and glass of salt lassi portions were perfect for us. However, Other items like dosai, bisebhela seemed really small portions for a complete meal so might need to get several items.

It’s supposed to be tiffin place as name suggests (mavelli tiffin room). Nice posters of history kept us busy as we waited - mtr was first to introduce rava/sooji dishes in south india!

Price for mini meal was average $20. Nice touch bottled water. The waiter was friendly, got us some ghee upon request. Would have been nice if they had included in the mini meal.

Not very inclined to revisit because of long wait (over 45 min), average food choices and flavor- there was not a single item that we could say was a star item. + Another long line to wash hands- they could have placed sinks separate from the toilet as they have only 1 men’s and 1...