If you actually think that a complete 'vrat' meal is what you'll get here then you'd be wrong. The restaurant has used onion and garlic to their heart's desire and put a lavish feast together, to celebrate Navratri.

But you have to give it to South Indies to actually have a food festival on an occasion when people are often fasting!

On till October 8, the menu is different each day, so you won't get all the dishes every day, which is great, as it creates variety and something different to try out.

Try out any of their rasams  first it's one of the best appetisers and they make it good.

The bisi bele baath is just the way it is at any restaurant that makes it well enough. The kathirikkai sambar (brinjal sambar) is quite delicious with steamed rice. But I have to warn you here the food is really spicy and it's a buffet so keep plenty of water handy!

My favourite were the appams, which I tried with a rather interesting thick mango curry. It tasted somewhere between a thick gravy and chutney and was the best of the entire spread I'd tried out.

For dessert the pazha kesari was not really worth the trouble and the banana mashed into the dish didn't do the dessert any justice. Too bad!

Going grain

The different variations of  flavoured rice are an interesting touch to the festival.

I tried the coriander rice, which was quite yummy, without an overdose of the garnish. Though it tastes best with some form of gravy and I'd really recommend the sambar. Also try some of the dry vegetables that they have on the menu. And don't forget the range of pickles and podis that always add that extra dash of taste!

Curry tales

There are quite a few curries you can choose from to go with your steamed rice, appams or even the parottas. Try the vendakkai paal curry, where lady's finger is cooked in milk (interesting huh?) or the aloogadda kuruma if you have a penchant for potatoes.

The kadala gassi tastes best with the appams. Bon appétit!

At: South Indies, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar
Call: 41636363
On till: October 8, 2008