Saravanaa Bhavan, a Vegetarian Indian Restaurant with a Unique Menu
Are you a fan of Indian cuisine, but prefer to eat vegetarian? Then Saravanaa Bhavan is the perfect place for you!
With over 100 branches spread across 24 countries, Saravanaa Bhavan is the world’s largest vegetarian Indian restaurant chain. From Ireland and Spain to Canada, Kuwait, and New Zealand, Saravanaa Bhavan brings the flavours of authentic Indian cuisine – quite literally – to every corner of the globe. Since January 2026, you’ve also been able to sample their delicious dishes in Belgium. As it happened, the location suited us perfectly, so we went for a proper meal in Antwerp!
An Elegant, Warm and Classique Interior
Located on Suikerrui in Antwerp, Saravanaa Bhavan is right in the heart of the historic centre. Inside, a warm and elegant interior awaits, with a classic touch. The high ceilings, arched windows and ornate mirrors complement the cream-coloured chairs and deep green sofas perfectly. The gold-coloured accents and soft lighting contribute to the inviting atmosphere.
Authentic Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
As we didn’t have much experience of vegetarian Indian cuisine ourselves, we relied entirely on the two friendly waitresses, Pallavi and Isha, to guide us in choosing our dishes. They took the time to explain the menu to us and were happy to help us choose.
We started the evening with a freshly tapped beer, a refreshing mocktail and idli vada sambar, a delicious Indian starter. It consisted of two steamed rice cakes and a fried lentil doughnut, and was served with varieties of chutney, sambar, and chilli powder. The cakes were very light and fluffy, which went down a treat with the spicy sauces. Definitely worth a try!
For our main course, we ordered ghee roast masala and Mysore masala dosa. The first was a thin, long rice and lentil crepe, drizzled with ghee and stuffed with spicy potatoes. Slightly spicy, but still quite mild in flavour. Very tasty! For lovers of (truly) spicy food, the second dosa comes highly recommended: a thin rice and lentil crepe shaped like a triangle, filled with mashed potatoes and onions, and smeared with a red chilli chutney. The menu featured a red chilli icon next to this dish, which, in an Indian restaurant, naturally says it all. Not for the faint of heart!
For our final main course, we tried channa batura: a big, fluffy fried bread, served with channa masala. This had a much milder flavour and was therefore a safer option for those who prefer less spicy food. Incidentally, all the dosas were served with sambar and three different types of chutney. We really enjoyed these sauces – some a little spicier than others – and they actually went very well with all our dishes, including the bread.
A Sweet Finale
Before moving on to dessert, we sampled the special Madras coffee, or kaapi. This is a traditional, strong, and creamy coffee from South India that is drunk during a meal. Its sweet flavour and light foam top make for a nice change from the spicier food.
We then chose two popular South Indian desserts: gulab jamun and rava kesari. The first consisted of soft, deep-fried dough balls, soaked in a sweet sugar syrup – a great choice for those of us with a sweet tooth! The second dessert was a dish made from semolina, sugar, and ghee. This, too, was very sweet and had a unique flavour.
Our Conclusion
Saravanaa Bhavan comes highly recommended for anyone who loves authentic vegetarian Indian cuisine and wants to try something new. As well as the usual curries, naans, and rice dishes you’ll find in any Indian restaurant, at Saravanaa Bhavan you can choose from a huge variety of dosas. Their idlis are also a speciality, making the restaurant well worth a visit!
