Saravanaa Bhavan — Restaurant in Sunnyvale

Title: A Resurgence of Authentic South Indian Flavors at Saravanaa Bhavan

Review: Having been a longtime patron of Saravanaa Bhavan, especially at the Sunnyvale location, I have a deep-rooted affection for this bastion of South Indian vegetarian cuisine. With its widespread presence in India and beyond, Saravanaa Bhavan has consistently been a culinary flagbearer for the richness and diversity of Southern Indian flavors.

In its early days, prior to the relocation to the larger Mary Ave facility, this establishment was nothing short of a gastronomic delight. Whether you ordered a Dosa of your choice, Vada, or any meal selection, the food quality and preparation were nothing short of exemplary. The authenticity and consistency of flavors had been the hallmark of Saravanaa Bhavan.

However, post-relocation, there seemed to be a noticeable shift in the taste, potentially due to changes in the kitchen staff. It was a rather disappointing phase, and yet, I returned occasionally, hopeful for a revival of the flavors I had come to associate with the place.

Fast forward to the present, as of August 1, 2023, I am elated to report a delightful resurgence in the authenticity and quality that had initially drawn me to Saravanaa Bhavan.

On my recent visit, I ordered the Thali SPL Meal, a sumptuous platter comprising an array of daily specials, sambar, rasam, a variety of curries, rice, yogurt, a sweet, and a choice of chapati or poori. The portions, while modest, provided a flavorful overview of South Indian cuisine, each item more delicious than the last.

It seems that Saravanaa Bhavan has managed to reclaim its former glory. The tastes and servings have once again reached their former excellence, signaling a triumphant return to form.

In conclusion, Saravanaa Bhavan remains a must-visit for those who appreciate vegetarian food and a particular haven for those who relish South Indian vegetarian cuisine. The recent improvements are a promising sign that the culinary heritage of Saravanaa Bhavan continues to thrive, bringing authentic South Indian flavors to the heart...

Oh Saravanaa Bhavan, what happened to you? I remember when they first opened on El Camino Real. Their food was authentic Saravanaa fare, really delicious food. Over the years, we have enjoyed many family gatherings and wonderful food at Saravanaa Bhavan. Today we stopped by their Mary Ave location after a few years! And were reminded once again why we had stopped eating there. We stopped by around 4:30 PM for "tiffin." One plate of Sambar Vada and one plate of Mysore Bonda - $10 each order. In typical Saravanaa fashion, our orders arrived within a few minutes. The three bondas looked scrumptious, so we dug in. The looks very definitely deceptive. The beautiful golden brown exterior of the bonda felt like leather in the mouth. Not crisp, not melt in the mouth, more chewy and leathery. The interior didn't taste much better. It was just a ball of cooked dough dotted with pepper. The dough didn't taste fried, it was so dense it tasted like it was steam cooked. The plate of three bondas came accompanied by a small katori (bowl) of sambar (more on how the sambar tasted later) and a tablespoon (at the most) of chutney. To be fair, when we requested additional sambar, the waiter did bring us two more little bowls of piping hot sambar. The Sambar vadas (two to an order) were slightly better than the Mysore bondas, probably because they were soaked in sambar, making them softer. As for the sambar, SALTY and SPICY. We came away very disappointed. I generally don't like to ding restaurants too much, because I know how brutal the business is. But come on Saravanaa Bhavan, you have and can do much better! The stars I have given are more for the quick service and the extra sambar we...

Doesn’t live up to “the” Saravana Bhavan experience! Reminded me of a typical mediocre Highway restaurant along NH47!! My expectations weren’t that high when I visited this restaurant.

My expectations: Be greeted by the aroma of filter coffee - Have a decent dosa made from batter fermented to the right amount WITH the much famed Saravana Bhavan Sambhar (which many Indian households would have attempted hundreds of time, in vain, to replicate)

Reality: Greeted by the pungent smell of floor cleaning liquids, the cart containing them was lying unattended in the dining area - Dosa and Chutneys were OK - Sambhar felt like the chef forgot midway that they were preparing sambhar and decided to improvise it into a Kurma like gravy with coconut!

Absolutely disastrous management - I had to walk up to the counter and pay upfront, they wouldn’t take orders from the table. And to get the order served, had to walk up to them again and remind them! To be fair, this was Christmas Day and I understand they would be short staffed, but still that doesn’t mean they can just run the show with some pathetic service! This is never the kind of experience I had hoped for. Kind of got teleported to an ill-managed, noisy, untidy restaurant on some T.Nagar streets that’s usually the last resort for even the...