Eat · Connaught Place
Saravana Bhavan (Connaught Place)
South Indian vegetarian in air conditioning near Janpath: dosas, idli and meals; a safe lunch or dinner after the heat, easy for first-day stomachs and for vegetarians.
- South Indian vegetarian
- Air-conditioned lunch in Connaught Place
- Easy first-day stomach
- Order: South Indian vegetarian
- Table seating
- Walk-in window: before 12:30
- Queue risk: 12:30–14:30
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Old Delhi lanes and station forecourts are crowded and un…
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
- Delhi and NCR ↗November smog and May–June heat both cut a day's walking: plan the outdoor sights first thing.
- Delhi ↗Old Delhi lanes and station forecourts are crowded and uneven: bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Delhi ↗Ignore anyone who says your hotel, the station ticket office or the road is closed; use the official counter or your app.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Hours not published
Easiest walk-in
before 12:30
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Per person
₹150–250 (≈ US$2–3)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
Allergies and diets
- Not on fileVegetarian · All vegetarian. · say: “Main shakahari hoon.”
- AskVegan · Dosa and idli are usually dairy-free; ghee and paneer appear elsewhere, so ask. · say: “Bina doodh ke.”
- AskGluten free · Rice-based dishes work; sambar and chutneys are usually gluten-free, but confirm. · say: “Mujhe gluten se dikkat hai.”
Paying
- Read the menu total; ask if service charge is included.
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Reservations
- Not taken
- Note
- Walk-in; larger groups can ask ahead (check).
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
No shared language? Point at the dish or a photo of it. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | यह कितने का है? | yeh kit-nay ka hai |
| Not spicy, please | मिर्च कम | mirch kum |
| I am vegetarian | मैं शाकाहारी हूँ | main shaa-ka-haa-ree hoon |
| No, thank you | नहीं, धन्यवाद | na-heen, dhun-ya-vaad |
| Hello | नमस्ते | na-mas-tay |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | dhun-ya-vaad |
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Service charge: 5–10% on some bills — Ask before you pay whether to add a tip.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Read the menu total; ask if service charge is included.
- Tipping: Round up autos and taxis; 10% in restaurants without a service charge; ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2) for porters and helpers.
At the table
- Eat where the queue is long and the turnover fast; hot fried food is safer than cold or raw.
- Prices on the wall are the price; where there is no menu, ask before ordering.
- Skip raw salad, cut fruit and unbottled water until your stomach settles.
Paying, diet and allergies
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetariannot on file
All vegetarian.
Show: Main shakahari hoon.
- Veganask
Dosa and idli are usually dairy-free; ghee and paneer appear elsewhere, so ask.
Show: Bina doodh ke.
- Gluten freeask
Rice-based dishes work; sambar and chutneys are usually gluten-free, but confirm.
Show: Mujhe gluten se dikkat hai.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
- Air
- Air-conditioned
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: no · stroller: caution · Idli and dosa work for children; high chairs may be available
- Access
- step-free: partial · Ground-floor seating in the Connaught Place branch (check)
Hygiene
- Restaurant filtered water is fine; the cooked food is served hot.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in; larger groups can ask ahead (check).
- Capabilities
- food · ac · toilet
- Diet
- vegetarian: all · gluten free: partial · halal: unknown
- Getting there
- Walk from Janpath or Rajiv Chowk metro · ~10 min walk
Cons
- Busy at lunch and weekend evenings.
- A chain kitchen: reliable, not exciting.
- Meals arrive fast; the room is loud.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Masala dosa | Thin fermented rice-and-lentil crepe filled with spiced potato. | A shareable main; ask for sambar and chutneys. |
| Idli sambar | Steamed rice cakes with a lentil-and-vegetable broth. | The mildest breakfast; ask for two. |
| Meals (thali) | Rice with several vegetable dishes, sambar, rasam and curd. | Unlimited refills at lunch (check). |
Price check
- locals pay
- A dosa is about ₹150–250 (≈ US$2–3) and a meal about ₹300–450 (≈ US$4–6) (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- Prices are fixed on the menu; service charge may be added (check).
- rule
- Read the menu total; ask if service charge is included.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge | 5–10% on some bills | Ask before you pay whether to add a tip. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it good for vegetarians?
Yes; the menu is all vegetarian.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Do I need to book?
No; go before 12:30 or after 15:00.No; go before 12:30 PM or after 3:00 PM.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
If it is closed or full
All places to eat in Delhi, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Delhi in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Delhi (eat)
Was this useful?
Add Saravana Bhavan (Connaught Place) to a day
Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.