Who doesn’t love a touch of history here and there in their daily lives? Especially when it comes to food, a good story dating back to the bygone era makes the morsel even more special. While digging into a plate of piping hot dosa at Saravana Bhavan at CP née Connaught Place in Delhi, we cannot help but wonder all the years of heritage it holds and how it became synonymous with South Indian fares in the capital.
The largest vegetarian restaurant chain in the world, Saravana Bhavan has been doing things right ever since its inception. If you have ever craved South Indian food and you were able to make it to Saravana Bhavan, CP Delhi, you should consider yourself lucky. Beating the perpetually existent queue outside the Janpath outlet, and taking a bite while sipping on hot sambar will remind you of what made this place so iconic. Today, we take you on a walk through the archives of Saravana Bhavan and everything you need to know about this place.
All you need to need to know about Saravana Bhavan at CP in Delhi
History of Saravana Bhavan
Founded in 1981 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu by idli king P. Rajagopal, Saravana Bhavan started as a small shop at a time when Rajagopal’s grocery shop wasn’t making enough money. However, his mission was clear right from the beginning – to serve high quality food and create an unforgettable customer experience. This made him run the restaurant at a loss initially as he tried to source the finest ingredients.
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In 1992, when Rajagopal visited Singapore, he observed how multinational fast-food joints like McDonald’s functioned and got inspired by them. By the late 1990s, Saravana Bhavan had become a popular name in Chennai as Rajagopal opened several branches across the city. In 2000, the restaurant opened its first branch overseas – Dubai. Eventually, the chain expanded to several major cities in Indian and thereafter all over the world, including Frankfurt, Paris, London and more.
Branches of Saravana Bhavan
The iconic South Indian restaurant has 27 outlets in South India and three in North India. It is also present in 25 other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Oman, Canada, France, Belgium, Germany, Singapore, Bahrain, UAE, UK, USA, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Qatar, Hong Kong, Thailand, Netherlands, Sweden and more. They are even going to open outlets in Ireland, Thailand and Singapore soon.
Saravana Bhavan, CP Delhi
While Saravana Bhavan is a legendary name in itself, the Delhi outlet has garnered more fame than others. Today, whenever there is a mention about South Indian cuisine in Delhi, Saravan Bhavan at CP, is one of the first names to come up.
The CP outlet is as simple as it can get. Undemanding and unpretentious, the moment you walk in, you are going to be greeted by the aroma of coconut and curry leaves rafting through your nose. Their menu is fixed, featuring authentic, Dosas nee Dosai, Uttapams, Vadas, Rava Khichdi and Idiyappam and their in-house sweets and ice-creams.
What to have here?
Generously spiced and served with incredible chutneys, some of the must-haves here are the Coconut Rava Masala Dosa, Crispy Dosa, Pomegranate Juice, Paper Roast, Paneer Dosa, South Indian Parotta, Mini Idli Sambar and Ghee, Panchavarna Uttapam and Filter Coffee.
Address: P-13/90, Connaught Circle, Block B, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001
Contact: +9111 2334 7755
Visit Saravana Bhavan any day of the week, but make sure to have some time in hand so as to get your fill
Hero Image: Courtesy kappa.2.3/Instagram; Featured Image: Courtesy sourabhyadav6527/Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: P. Rajagopal is the owner of Saravana Bhavan. He opened the first outlet in Chennai in 1981.
Answer: In 2009, the brand value of the restaurant chain went down severely after the founder Rajagopal was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madras High Court. He was convicted of the murder of employee Santhakumar in 2001 and sexual harassment of Santhakumar's wife Jeevajothi.
Answer: By metro, the Janpath station is the nearest one to Saravana Bhavan in Delhi.
Answer: Hotel Saravana Bhavan is the largest South Indian restaurant chain in the world. They operate 33 locations in India.
Answer: Saravana stores is an established retail brand in Tamil Nadu. It has a net worth of INR 648.03 crores, as on March 31, 2022.
A journalism student who studied the subject only to meet SRK in person, she settled for the best way to meet him. Covering Entertainment throughout her career, and now Food, Health and Lifestyle as well, Sreetama is also a self-proclaimed plant mom. In love with all things slow and quiet, she can often be found hunting for quiet corners with a glass of wine in hand. Other loves include little, inconsequential things, like neatly tucked-in bedsheets and big, significant things, like whole cheesecakes. She dreams of being a baker and writing about food someday.
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