Very fast. You will feel a slight air of being rushed but the food is good and the place is always packed. Dosa is massive. The thali's are diverse. And you will likely leave with leftovers. Would recommend.

Great South Indian restaurant with many options! They are known for their dosa so I got the Mysore Masala and it was amazing, the potatoes inside was better than any other I've tried this they were blended and flavored well. I would definitely go here again and would recommend this to anyone looking for a decent/authentic Indian restaurant in nyc.

This is now our go to place for South Indian food. Typical udupi setup/experience, small seating space, probably accommodating about 40-50 people at any given time. Sarath, our friendly server always welcomes us with a smile and is quick to take down our order. It's your staple food and you can't go wrong as long as you stick with the classics. Our little one absolutely enjoys their Ghee Dosa and the Sambar Vada is absolutely delicious. They can probably reduce their portion sizes (and with that their prices), so yeah, this place is slightly on the more expensive end and paying $8.75 for Mango Lassi is just unfair! Noise level is on average side. Service is quick and depending on what you order, food arrives anywhere between 2 to 15 mins.

As someone who absolutely loves dosas, my visit to Saravana Bhavan truly made my soul feel content. I arrived around 3 PM, and even though it was a slightly off-peak time, this small Indian eatery was buzzing with activity. It was clear that people here know a thing or two about good food. Our waiter was polite, and he helped guide us through the menu with patience. I decided to go for the plain podi dosa because, well, I have a serious love affair with spice. When the dosa arrived, it was massive--definitely not a "light snack" kind of dosa. The podi was generously sprinkled on the dosa, filling it with a bold, flavorful punch. It came with sambar and three different chutneys, all fresh and equally delicious. Now, for anyone who doesn't handle spice too well, the podi might be a little intense, but I found it perfectly balanced and packed with flavor. It was the kind of heat that sneaks up on you but leaves you wanting more. The chutneys? A total highlight--each one was distinct, fresh, and added the perfect touch to every bite. The sambar, too, was fantastic, rich, and comforting. The portion sizes were huge, and I couldn't finish it all--though I certainly tried! If there's one thing Saravana Bhavan does well, it's satisfying hunger. The only downside? The service was a little slow. But with the place being so busy, it's understandable. We also ordered the famous filter coffee to go with the dosa, but that was a bit of a letdown. It wasn't as strong as I'd hoped and was a little too milky for my taste. Still, it didn't stop me from leaving the restaurant with a satisfied grin on my face. After all, my dosa cravings had been completely satisfied. In short, Saravana Bhavan hit the spot for anyone who loves a good dosa, great chutneys, and comforting South Indian flavors. Definitely a place I'd revisit--just maybe skip the coffee next time!

Absolutely love this place. I order from here at least once a week and have visited this location multiple times, and it never disappoints. My favorite is the Mysore masala dosa and the mulgapudi onion dosa.

I really love dosa but hadn't found a good spot in the city, UNTIL NOW! My friend recommended this spot and thankfully they have multiple locations because I luv run Brooklyn and this one's a bit far. Dosa is thin and crispy and all of the dipping sauces (sambar maybe? Coconut chutney?) are great. I went to Bangalore for a work thing once and the food was incredible. Most Indian spots (at least in the tristate area) are North Indian though, so I've found it hard to get dosa / other South Indian dishes. Glad I found this spot!

The culinary experience was nothing short of exquisite, with the masala paper dosa presenting a symphony of flavors, expertly layered within its crisp, golden exterior. The bonda, a delectable sphere of spiced potato, was a masterful blend of textures and tastes, complementing the dosa with its hearty, comforting essence. Accompanying these delights was the filter coffee, a robust and aromatic brew that served as the perfect epilogue to the meal. The service was commendably swift, ensuring a seamless flow of dishes to the table. Moreover, the ambiance was a transportive delight, evoking the vibrant essence of Southern India with its thoughtful decor and warm hospitality. Truly, it was a dining experience that spoke to the soul of South Indian gastronomy.

After living in India for almost 2 months, I really came to appreciate this spot on the UWS. Unassuming with plenty of selection for south Indian dishes , abundant with vegetables, lentils, and well seasoned grains. What you have to appreciate about this place is it's simplicity and authenticity. Even when serving masala chai tea and water, the liquid comes in a silver goblet that mirrors many places on the streets of South India like Chennai. Yes, I would agree that the interior needs more work and may feel less polished compared to other restaurants. But if you're looking for an authentic vegetarian South Indian restaurant type of an experience, then I would highly recommend this spot.

I have been curious about this location for a really long time. I've been to the location downtown with a large group of people and had a nice time with wonderful service. I was wanting to see what my local location (this Amsterdam location) would be like. I knew that it wouldn't be as "new" as the downtown location. I've been eyeing the reviews here for a couple of years and haven't really noticed any steady reviews so here we go - hope this helps some folks! We dined here this evening as a party of two on a Wednesday night at about 5:30pm. I could smell the dosa from two blocks away!!! I'm not even kidding. We were really ready for this experience and I was wearing my "neighborhood walking coat" - my coat did smell of spices when I arrived home but I don't mind. It was very hot inside and I was hoping to sit near the window away from the kitchen in hopes the glass would be nice and cold but the table available was for four people so we were not allowed to sit there. The location fits about 8 tables so we basically sat right near the kitchen. When we sat, two tables were occupied but understand as it can get busy. A lot of families dined here with their children and this was nice to see. When we ordered, we ordered one paper masala dosa and one idly. The idly was an appetizer and we had asked to have them both come at the same time. The waiter did not fulfill our request so we had the idly first. We were wanting to share both. We were served two idly with the chutney and lentils. It was very tasty and the chutney had a lot of flavor and heat. When the masala dosa came, it was a beautiful presentation and the chutney that came with the idly was the same. They have a beautiful dessert menu but we decided to wait until next time if I return to this location. The women's restroom was very clean. I did see a lot of dishes piled with food still on top in the basin outside the bathroom. It was not the most appealing to see but it may be a smaller staff and they may tend to it later. We almost gave the rating a three star and the three star would have been because of service and ambiance (3 stars are not bad in my opinion - it does mean "okay") We gave four because we did enjoy the food and it was all hot and fresh. One point that I would like to make and I was hesitant to mention this but feel that it is important... especially on the UWS and in America itself. It could be cultural but I do feel that as a female I was treated differently...... Poorly. My partner, a male, noticed this. It doesn't mean they are not kind but not the warmest serving experience. We have a couple of examples but I prefer not to list here. I'm thankful for a nice meal and I'm always looking to support local businesses. Some room for improvement but you will have a good meal if you are craving dosa.