Sri Lakshmi Cafe

Masala Dosa

Thin, golden-edged dosa wrapped around a spiced potato filling, served with coconut chutney and sambar that's properly tart and earthy

Idli

Steamed rice-lentil cakes with an airy, cloud-like texture — a benchmark for how well a South Indian kitchen is calibrated

Medu Vada

Crispy fried lentil doughnuts with a soft interior, served alongside sambar for dunking — best ordered as part of the idli-vada combo

Rava Dosa

Lacier and more delicate than the standard dosa, with an almost web-like crispness from the semolina batter — harder to execute well and a good test of kitchen skill

Pongal

Soft rice-and-moong dal porridge seasoned with black pepper, cumin, and ghee — a comforting, unpretentious breakfast dish that rarely gets its due

Bisi Bele Bath

Karnataka's one-bowl answer to everything: rice, lentils, and vegetables cooked together with a house spice blend, finished with ghee and topped with cashews

Filter Coffee

Traditional South Indian filter coffee — strong decoction mixed with frothy hot milk, served in the classic steel tumbler and davara

South Indian Thali / Meals

Full plate of rice, sambar, rasam, two or three vegetable curries, papad, and dessert — the most complete way to experience the kitchen's range in one sitting