Our story
From Chennai to Potsdamer Platz.
South Indian, all-vegetarian cooking from Tamil Nadu: dosa and idli, sambar and rasam, rice and curd. In Chennai since 1981, in Berlin since 2021.
Our story
- 1981
Chennai
The first restaurant opened in Chennai, then called Madras. The chain was formerly known as “Hotel Saravana Bhavan”.
- 2000
Dubai
The first restaurant outside India opened in Dubai.
- 2013
Frankfurt
In August Saravanaa Bhavan came to Frankfurt, on Kaiserstraße.
- 2021
Berlin
Saravanaa Bhavan came to the capital of Germany: Potsdamer Platz 5.
- Today
Worldwide
Today the brand has more than 100 restaurants in over 20 countries.
- 2026
St. Wolfgang-Straße
Our second Berlin restaurant opens at St. Wolfgang-Straße 4 in Mitte.
What reaches your plate
Dosa and idli start from a fermented batter of rice and lentils: dosa as a thin, crisp pancake, idli as a small steamed rice cake. In Tamil Nadu, idli or dosa with chutney is a typical breakfast.
With it come sambar, a lentil and vegetable stew with tamarind, and medu vada, a fried lentil fritter. Our menu has 33 dosa dishes, six uthappams and, on Saturdays and Sundays, ghee pongal.
First time? Try the Masala Dosa (No. 42): with a spiced potato filling.
MenuWhat is in the Special Meals
In Tamil Nadu, lunch means rice, sambar, rasam, kuzhambu and curd. All of it is in our Saravanaa Special Meals (No. 156), together with poori, poriyal, kootu, raitha, appalam, pickle and a sweet.
In India a thali is a round platter with small bowls along the edge. The Special Meals is not meant for sharing; the smaller one is the Mini Meals (No. 158).
South Indian filter coffee
Traditionally it is brewed with a little chicory in a cylindrical steel filter, served in a tumbler and bowl and poured back and forth between them until it cools and froths.
All vegetarian
Our menu has no meat and no fish. In India, vegetarian usually means with dairy. Our menu includes ghee, paneer and curd.
At Potsdamer Platz since 2021
We have been cooking at Potsdamer Platz 5 since 2021. Drop in or book a table.
Online booking is for 5 to 12 people. Groups of up to 4 can simply walk in; for 13 or more, please call us.
