Another year older, and light years wiser. That is how the old saying goes! Maybe not.
To start the year, and my birthday, on a high; my fiancé...or Fiancé (typing the 'my' is cumbersome and really, I should not have more than one at any given time) found an all veg, South Indian restaurant with three locations in Zone 1. Well done Fiancé!
A mix of eight people, Veggiesaurs and T-Rexes, tried it out and the general consensus was 'great night, great company, and good food.'
The menu was predominantly South Indian (duh!), with a good few North Indian options as well. Most of us ordered dosa and shared a few curries.
I know it's as wrong to compare restaurants as it is to compare people, but in some cases, it's difficult not to. This is one of those cases.
Like Saravanaa Bhavan, the food is authentic South Indian food and the mark up in price is, on average, about £1.50 per dish. Not bad considering it's in Covent Garden.
Personally, I prefer the taste of the food at Saravanaa Bhavan, but that does not mean that I disliked Sagar at all. Their Payasam (vermicelli, sago and sweet milk pudding) was amazing and the taste was reminiscent of my mother's cooking. On the other hand, their Paneer Dosa was more potato and less spice than I would like.
Sagar's Muttar Paneer was oil free, creamy and full of coriander, the Sweet Lassi made it onto my wedding drinks reception list, and somehow, despite the commotion of out inability to order anything coherently, the staff not only got everything right, but also managed to bring all the various dishes at the correct times, to the correct people without us having to say anything else to them. That's what I call good customer service.
Now comes the negative: we were dining downstairs and the venue felt cramped. I think the claustrophobic effect is, in part, due to the spiral staircase in the room. Maybe when you go up it, the cramped feeling dissipates. I confess I didn't check.
The area that Sagar really outdoes Saravanaa Bhavan: Location. I'm not sure why I put that in bold seeing as Saravanaa Bhavan has restaurants dotted across the globe, including Vancouver, New York and Singapore.
Comparing the Rayners Lane location and Sagar, Covent Garden alone, Sagar wins.
Rayners Lane is not exactly inconvenient to get to, but unless you live in Harrow, know someone who lives in Harrow, or you plan on getting your eyebrows threaded cheaply and perfectly, you probably will not go to Harrow. Whereas, tourists and locals alike will all venture into the heart of the West End.
Hey, Saravanaa Bhavan! If you're out there, silently reading my blog, you could beat Sagar on London location if you opened a restaurant in Central London...just outside my flat...or in my flat...or just send your chefs around to cook for me...everyday...
Price: Approximately £145.00 for 8 people eating and drinking with total abandon. Starters - check, Mains - check, Drinks - too much sweer lassi and a little beer...check, dessert - a half check and, service charge.
Veggie Friendly: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 2/5
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