Udipi Cafe

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owlatrice

Joined 8 years ago

best south indian food in atlanta. It is always a treat for me to go to the weekend buffet ($8.95) that always has a different assortment of dishes. The buffet alows the non-Indian familiar customer to try dishes that s/he would have never tried from the menu, much less even understood from the description. One thing I would say about the so called "unattentive" waitstaff is that it appears to be their custom not to disturb you during your meal. If you need something you should simply raise your hand and gesture and someone will be right over. They often will not bring you the check until you request it. Also I am not vegetarian, but I don't miss meat at all when I eat at udipi.

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bcritch

Joined 8 years ago

Udipi is the bomb!. My wife and I stopped at Udipi on a Tuesday afternoon, for the first time. We are both vegetarians and love Indian food.

The value was great, the service was not bad and the food was delicious. That batura (the big puffy fried bread) was delicious of the baturas from different places we've tried and was great for soaking up all of that curry. Next time, I want to try their masala dosai with sooji!

We look forward to going back

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atlantagrrl

Joined 9 years ago

My favourite. As a vegetarian Londoner with an Indian fiance--both of us grad students, I am quite picky about where I go for Indian food. Udipi has been our faithful stand-by for years. Unlike many overpriced, snooty Indian places that cater their menus to the "Western" palate--and the inflated Atlanta yuppie budget--Udipi keeps it real with simple, no-frills Veg standards. I'm a big fan of the dosai, utthappam, malai kofta, and veg thali. The desserts are short and sweet. The dining room has character, and the servers take the "tag-team" approach, which keeps things moving. Go later in the evening on Fridays or Saturdays for a real, extended family-gathering feel.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

This modest restaurant is one of Atlanta's best bets for South India's heady vegetarian cuisine.. The Scene
Set on the southbound side of Lawrenceville Highway, this South Indian restaurant makes up for a lack of atmosphere with bountiful flavors. Booths and banquet tables line the large, white- and rose-tinted dining room, and a buffet line (only available at lunch) sits to one corner. An attentive--but not overly invasive--waitstaff adds to the experience.

The Food
Traditional South Indian food is wholly vegetarian, fried yet greaseless. Appetizers lean toward crisp, spongy fritters of lentils and chickpeas. For an entree, try dosai, thin rice or lentil and wheat crepes filled with buttery potatoes, onions, cauliflower and a masala of spices. Uthappam--Indian-style pancakes packed with tomato, onions, carrots and peas--are gigantic. Fans of eggplant and curry should go for creamy baigan bartha. Dip poori--light, fried wheat bread wisps--into everything. Halwa makes a nice dessert. The sweet, aromatic honey and butter emulsion goes well with carrot.

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jauster

Joined 11 years ago

Savory & Satisfying South Indian. Sure, you can see clear through your napkin by the end of the meal, but that's why it tastes so good. Since this is south Indian, I would stay away from the north Indian creamier curries on the menu. We usually get the appetizer sampler, which consists of a variety of lentil cakes and fried vegetable concoctions (including a tasty samosa). The butter masala dosai is my favorite. The tangy dosai is filled with a rich, buttery mashed potato. The eggplant curry scooped up with pieces of batura is excellent. I've enjoyed the Manchurian golbi, which is a cauliflower curry with a sweet, sticky sauce. Overall, the food is heavy, but it is disguised in rich and savory flavors.

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janey83

Joined 11 years ago

janey83. Flavorful and delicious, get the dosai definitely--the curry was disappointing! Get the huge puffy bread, not healthy but you don't want to come here if you're dieting. The service isn't great, but just be forthcoming, don't expect them to come to you.

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h_dub

Joined 11 years ago

All that!. Love this place-- spicy S. Indian veg. Everything tastes fresh, no frills, tons of food, and curried beets!!!!!! Spent time in India and this is about as close as it gets.

Nothing fancy or flashy, good weekday lunch buffet w/dosa-- ain't nothing wrong with that!

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rstein

Joined 11 years ago

Favorite Veggie Indian. Udipi is without a doubt my favorite of the many vegetarian Indian restaurants in the Decatur/ Lawrenceville Hwy area. The food is reliably delicious and an excellent value. I often take out-of-towners, who are routinely impressed with the food. Over the last two years that I have patronized Udipi, the service has also improved significantly. The restaurant is casual, clean, and often bustling. Parking can be crowded, but it's well worth it!

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skymob

Joined 11 years ago

Vegetarian for Carnivores. I wasn't sure what to expect seeing as I am neither an Indian food fan nor a vegetarian. The lunch buffet looked less than appetizing, so I stuck with the menu.

The portions were generous but not excessive, the food was perfectly spicy-hot and quite filling. Service was less than spectacular but the food more than made up for it - never before have I had such a satisfying veggie-only meal!