Sri Rathiga

Imagine getting up on Saturday morning, after a hard working week and a few beers on Friday night. The first thought that comes to my mind is not wanting to do anything. South Indian food is my all time favourite. Anyday, anytime for breakfast, lunch and dinner and if there's anything else also, I can eat South Indian food. Idly (steamed rice cakes), vada (lentils, made into a paste and fried), dosa (pancakes), sambar (lentils and spices curry), chutney, uthappam (Indian pizza) and the likes. This is ONE big reason why I miss Bangalore. I miss the whole idea of getting up late on a weekend and going to a darshini to get masala dosa (stuffed potatoes in pancakes) and single vada.

Well, Sri Rathiga is situated just next to Safar Cinema in Harrow. Any Indian in London would know Safari, which is by far, the only very very few £ 3 theatres in London, showing only bollywood movies.

Now coming to Sri Rathiga. It is a typical MTR/Darshini (small eating joint in bangalore) in London. Small place, always chirpy and pretty clean. The menu is the usual idly, vada sambar, uthappam. I ordered for a mini thaali (a set menu), which was sumptuous and to say the least filling. It had a bit of everything in it.

I started with 2 idlies with sambar. There are 3 types of chutneys - normal coconut chutney, onion chutney and green chutney. And the quantities of chutney and sambar are unlimited. I started with 2 idlies. Steaming hot and soft. Next came the vada. Crispy yet not oily. That when dipped in sambar and dash of coconut chutney was mind blowing. Next came the mini masala dosa with potoatoes hidden inside. Oh !!!!!! that was lovely. That was almost filling, but when I looked at the left overs, thought wasting it would be a sin. What was left was some pongal (rice and lentils) and a mini uthappam. So ordered for a mango sweet lassi (mango flavored, sweetened battered yoghurt) to drown that in. After all the food, the small mini dessert of kesari (pudding) was remaining. Had to Had to finish it.

Once that was done, I was also done. The Saturday brunch was over, rather more than over and throughlly enjoyed. In the meantime, I also helped myself to a bit of what Bhooma had ordered. fried mini idly's. It was mini idly's with ginger, garlic, coriander and the spices. Instead of gobhi (cauliflower) manchurian, it was idly manchurian. Now that was yummmmmmm !!!!!

Hardly any damages... £ 10 for both of us which by no means was lots, considering London standards.

Came home and feasted myself to a couple of bollywood movies and the weekend was well spent