# Our story | Saravanaa Bhavan Berlin

Source: https://www.saravanaabhavan-berlin.de/en/story/

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

1. 1981 ### Chennai The first restaurant opened in Chennai, then called Madras. The chain was formerly known as “Hotel Saravana Bhavan”.
2. 2000 ### Dubai The first restaurant outside India opened in Dubai.
3. 2013 ### Frankfurt In August Saravanaa Bhavan came to Frankfurt, on Kaiserstraße.
4. 2021 ### Berlin Saravanaa Bhavan came to the capital of Germany: Potsdamer Platz 5.
5. Today ### Worldwide Today the brand has more than 100 restaurants in over 20 countries.
6. 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)](https://www.saravanaabhavan-berlin.de/en/menu/#nr-42): with a spiced potato filling.

[Menu](https://www.saravanaabhavan-berlin.de/en/menu/)

## What 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)](https://www.saravanaabhavan-berlin.de/en/menu/#nr-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)](https://www.saravanaabhavan-berlin.de/en/menu/#nr-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.

[Book a table](https://bookings.zenchef.com/results?rid=366589&pid=1001)

[Menu](https://www.saravanaabhavan-berlin.de/en/menu/)