Varam Indian Restaurant & Catering — Restaurant in Redwood City

A Culinary Blessing from Southern India

Nestled in the heart of the Bay Area, Varam is not just another Indian restaurant; it’s a gastronomic blessing, living up to its Tamil name. Specializing in the rich and diverse flavors of South India, particularly from Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu, Varam delivers an authentic culinary experience that’s both comforting and exciting.

Let’s start with the haleem—a dish that’s synonymous with the streets of Hyderabad during Ramadan, and an absolute highlight here at Varam. Rich, hearty, and bursting with flavor, this is, without a doubt, one of the finest renditions of haleem I’ve tasted in the Bay Area. The balance of spices and the slow-cooked texture is a testament to the chef's dedication to authenticity.

But the true surprise at Varam is the patthar ka ghosh. For those unfamiliar, this delicacy—meat cooked on a hot stone—is a rare find outside of Hyderabad. While it may not capture the exact essence of its Hyderabad counterpart, Varam’s version is still a delightful experience. The smoky flavor infused in the tender meat, paired with the subtle spice, makes it a dish worth savoring.

The creativity doesn’t stop there. The kari dosa, a traditional dosa elevated with a mutton and potato filling, is a perfect blend of comfort and indulgence. The dosa is crisp, the filling is flavorful, and together, they create a dish that’s as satisfying as it is unique. And let’s not forget the appam so beautifully light and airy. The one nit that I had was that the chicken was quite dry. The vegetable stew and coconut milk the appam came with, more than made up for that though.

Varam isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of South Indian cuisine, offering dishes that are both a nostalgic trip for those familiar with the region’s flavors and a delicious discovery for the uninitiated. Whether you’re craving the comfort of a well-made haleem or the unique pleasure of patthar ka ghosh, Varam promises a dining experience that’s a true blessing...

HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!

I recently dined at this establishment, lured in by the glowing 5-star reviews on Yelp. Sadly, my experience was far from stellar.

Ambiance: Average at best. The seating is crammed together, leaving little personal space, especially from the tables behind you.

Service: The waitstaff was attentive and prompt, so no complaints there.

Food: This is where things took a nosedive. They bill themselves as a fusion restaurant with an extensive menu. Unfortunately, the sheer number of options seems to have compromised the quality. The dishes we ordered lacked flavor and were disappointingly bland. To make matters worse, the online menu didn't match the one at the restaurant.

Chicken 65: This dish was unbearably spicy, overpowering any chicken flavor. I spent the rest of my evening trying to cool down.

Golgappa: Don't be fooled by the name. This was a sugary mess, more akin to a Dahi Puri with fruit.

Beet Slider: The promised green chutney was nowhere to be found, and the slider itself was greasy. The only redeeming quality was the presentation.

Paneer Club Pave: This so-called chef's special was a $30 letdown. Two slices of Kulcha, a tiny cup of gravy, and three slices of grilled paneer with a potato filling. The sauce on top did nothing to elevate the dish. It was a flavor mismatch, a failed fusion experiment.

Passion Fruit Mocktail: This tasted like plain pineapple juice, with no hint of passion fruit.

The only saving grace was the Dal Makhani, which was actually quite good.

Overall, my experience was a major disappointment. The endless menu failed to deliver on taste, and the fusion concept fell flat. I won't be returning...

We've been to this restaurant several times since it opened last year. In the beginning, the food was delicious. There was one time we experienced food poisoning after having the cauliflower bezule, but we brushed it off as a one-time issue.

However, over time, the overall quality has noticeably declined. The last few visits have been underwhelming, the flavors have become quite average, and the Sunday buffet we tried a few weeks ago was especially disappointing, with almost every item tasting off. Despite these issues, we kept going back because it’s just a few steps from home, and we wanted to support a local business.

What finally prompted me to write this review was our experience yesterday. Along with few other items (which also tasted below average) we ordered the Kadhai Paneer, and to our surprise, it came with cherry tomatoes and red and yellow bell peppers. This gave the dish a sweet and sour flavor, more reminiscent of Indo-Chinese cuisine than a traditional Indian curry. It was not at all what we expected or wanted, we couldn’t even eat it.

When we mentioned this to the staff, they pointed out that the menu lists bell peppers. While technically true, most Indian curries typically use green bell peppers, which have a very different flavor profile. We barely touched the dish and left it almost entirely uneaten. They weren’t gracious enough to waive the charge for the full bowl of curry we couldn’t eat. Their prices are on the higher side, so this felt especially dismissive, particularly since we’ve been regular customers. We’re disappointed to say that this visit may have...