South Indian spice at Udipi Cafe

May 13, 5:43 PMPittsburgh Vegetarian Restaurants ExaminerCristina Laipple

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Photos by Hope Nathan.

It's the end of a beautiful spring Saturday, the room is bustling, and people are coming in from the Venkateswara temple across the street to eat at Udipi Café. We are the only non-Indians in this authentic, all vegetarian, South Indian restaurant. "Good sign," I think to myself.

Udipi is not a fancy establishment—they have plastic silverware and too-thin paper napkins, but you know it's worth it when you see the first Batura (a giant puff-ball of dough that deflates upon touching) pass by you. Much of the food is very spicy and deep fried, so those with weak stomachs need not apply.

We order the chili pakora's for an appetizer. These are literally hot chilis deep fried in chickpea batter. The yogurt and cilantro sauce is delicious and cooling the mouth, but honestly the pakora's are so tasty that you don't even care that your mouth is burning. Medhu Vada—a fried, but light and fluffy lentil-flour doughnut—is another irresistible appetizer.

I order the spring dosa (a dosa with a rice and lentil batter, stuffed with various veggies) and it too is pleasing to the eye and palate. The outer batter is light, crisp, and not very greasy, and the interior of the wrap is filling and fresh tasting.

Although this is a vegetarian restaurant, you could easily take meat-eaters and vegans alike to Udipi. Not only is the food so good, carnivores will barely miss the meat, but they are conscious of dietary restrictions.

You might get lost on the way, but Udipi is well worth the hassle.

Address:

4141 Old William Penn Hwy
Monroeville, PA 15146
Phone: (412) 373-5581

Hours:

11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Closed Tuesdays