Saravana Bhavan

I went there last summer, the food & service was great.
Visited it again tonight and had the worst experience. Restaurant was full, with just 2 waiters, totally inexperienced. We got half the dishes that we ordered, so we ordered again. Even second time got the wrong ones.
Waited for next 15 mins...nothing came in. Atlast we got rest of the dishes, all cold.
Had worst restaurant experience ever.

This is one place that doesn't live up to the reputation of its other locations. People get excited when they find out that there is a Saravana Bhavan in Mississauga, having visited it in other countries, but the atmosphere is very fast-foodish and the service can leave much to be desired. Some of the staff lack basic etiquette when serving customers making the dining experience a bit awkward.

The food on the other hand is good. The portions are a bit on the small side, so I usually end up ordering a second entree.

I'm looking for an alternative to this place with a similar menu.

There were no vegetables in any of the dishes we ordered -- and this claims to be a vegetarian restaurant. They are trying to save money by dishing out curries without any vegetables. They are giving Indian food a bad name, and just shows that outside India they can fool all the people all the time.

I am a fan of Tamil food as well as Tamil Songs! I frequently visit Saravana Bavan Restaurents in Dubai and Sharjah. But my lat experience with Saravana Bavan was embarrassing! The food served there is good quality but their customs and practices are very bad!

I was there for lunch with my friend and when we wanted to pay the bill we realised that we don't have enough money in purse! Then we want to pay by credit card, but they told they don't accept the credit card. The restaurant manager made me to keep my Black Berry Mobile there as a guarantee till I go to an ATM and come back!!! It was really embarrassing and the bill was Dhs. 36/- only! They just behaved like in an MGR movie! Very Politely the restaurant manger told " Saaar, oru refaransuku ungalude phone ingevachu pongo"!!!!

Good restaurants serves food and some friendship/love along with it, but my experience with Saravana Bhavan is otherwise. I will say "food is good but no people who serve it!"

It was also a moment of realization of uselessness of "plastic money". I had 36k limit with credit card but was not useful!

Very tasty food and the service was prompt and friendly. Very good South Indian food! (says a North Indian)

Saravana Bhavan food tastes great.....but the service leaves an absolute bitter taste in ur mouth..!We went for a Breakfast Buffet last Saturday...and it is like the nth time we have been there(bcos of the food only..!)...We have a 4yr old and a 2yr old...they charged my 2yr old for the buffet...Sure that it was a mistake(bcos same restaurant and branches have said free for kids under 3 when we have visited b4 with friends and family), I ask the cashier in the front...He callously replies "I will waive it for u this time,but next time we will not...Even if one dosa is touched from ur plate, we charge $8.50..!"......I was aghast by the language...I clearly told him that it has never been the case b4 and there was no new board saying that even a newborn might get charged..! The lady next to him then replied they use "discretion"...! I guess they stand next to you to watch which child eats how much...!! I left without much of a scene simply bcos we frequent this restaurant for taste of food and bcos the lady atleast said they will "look into it if it is the industry standards..!".....But next time u walk in here for a buffet, pls verify whether ur newborn might be charged or whether they will use "discretion"...!!!!!

The reviews written here are by skewed and jealous non-southindians and thus they write nonsense here about this great southindian restaurant.
The service,ambience and the food quality are superlative.I liked Vegetable Parotta(which unlike one stupid commenter had commented) which is a wheat dish with chickpeas(gorbanzo beans) thrown in and and is red curry in color.The person who has written the review has confused with Southindian Parotta and Punjabi Paratha.Both are entirely different dishes.This speaks of the lower level of intelligence of Non-southindians who cannot even think properly before they even dare to comment against this great Southindian restaurant.
Unlike Punjabi restaurants where dishes are literally soaked in heavy cholestrol creating dirty oils, Saravana Bhavan offers a clean,light vegetarian fare.Even eggs are not used which makes it a vegan delight.
For those who want meat and seafood rich food, this is not the place.
Dosas, madras filter coffee,14 idlies are a super seciality in this restaurant.

After seeing a tv segment featuring this restaurant, I was encouraged to try it out!

The items on the menu are quite different than other Indian restaurants. No naan, samosas, biryani, or meat here. Saravanaa Bhavan is apparently an authentic South Indian Restaurant...with a pure vegetarian menu.

After our food arrived, a female worker (non-waitstaff), greeted the table, asked how we heard about the restaurant, & explained a bit about the food we ordered. I thought that this was nice since this kind of greeting is unheard of while dining out - at least through my experience!

Although I missed the meat/rich curries of standard Indian fare, I was delightfully surprised by the fresh, relatively healthier, & unique array in front of me. Aside from some lentil doughnuts on the menu, I don't think I saw any other deep-fried items.

According to the female worker - who said that she wasn't the owner - the restaurant is known for its dosas, a sort of crepe made out of various types of flour. This was probably accurate as I liked my bf's meal better!

I ended my meal with a cute, freshly brewed stainless steel glass of madras coffee. It was a nice surprise as some restos' coffee just CANNOT be trusted! This coffee tasted similar to ones found at Vietnamese restaurants.

I would go back, but definitely order something else like the dosas as the worker suggested.

Btw, I found some of the other reviews here a bit harsh!

Visited on friday 22aug 08 afternoon for lunch. Food was ok. mango drink and coffee were good. Waiters(only 2 were there for such a busy restaurant ) were polite and very friendly. food took a long time. but was very annoyed by the way the lady owner were treating those two waiters infront of the customers. Poor application of management skills if any.

The food was loaded with soda or watever thing that makes your tongue have that burning sensation...All of us had that burning sensation almost for two days after we went there. Service is poor. Waiters dont even come back after you have ordered the main dish. They would just keep walkin up and down for no reason -- just to show off that they r busy doin some work...but in reality they would be doing nothing...i have been recomending my friends to avoid this place...you r better off going to Burger King/Taco bell or any fast food joint, rather than pay the money expecting good food from a renowed indian veg.restaurant. A shame for the saravana bhavan chain !!!