Caution: Carnivores should check themselves at the door. The Udipi Cafe on Dublin-Granville Road is a vegetarian restaurant not for the faint of heart.
Upon walking into the eatery, one is immediately engrossed in the smells of curries and spices permeating the air.
The restaurant is spacious, and while the decor is a little dated, it still feels exotic and inviting. The restaurant has dim lighting, which creates a feeling of intimacy and seclusion that makes eating comfortable.
The staff at Udipi is friendly, though our server vanished for quite a bit of time before he resurfaced from the back.
Even so, he was helpful in aiding our navigation of the menu. Their lunchtime is much faster, as they offer a lunch buffet that is really good for about nine bucks.
To someone who has never eaten Indian before, opening the menu itself can be quite daunting. However, after navigation and lots of pointing and questioning, you can find something that sounds delicious.
Almost the entire menu is delicious, so there really isn’t too much risk. When you go, you ought to get the Batura bread. It’s this massive, crispy, crunchy bread on a plate that just barely holds it. Stab it with your fork and then tear off pieces to dip into whatever sauce you have.
I ordered the spicy dish avial, which contains vegetables in a coconut curry sauce. It was quite flavorful, and the vegetables were tender. The sauce was a little spicy, creamy and light all at once. I didn’t quite care for the banana in it, as it was starchy and had a weird texture.
In case you were wondering how a sweet fruit like a banana might taste in a savory dish, fret not. Bananas also come very under-ripe, and in this state, the sugars haven’t developed and the banana can be starchy.
My friend who accompanied me ordered the vegetable Manchurian, which is dumplings and vegetables in a palatable, spicy sauce with a complex flavor profile. It was salty, sweet, spicy and sour all at the same time. It ended up being too much for her, and we traded dishes.
This is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten. If you don’t like spicy though, try a different dish, like the avial.
Whatever you decide to do, The Udipi Cafe won’t disappoint your courage or your appetite.
