Rasa

Hot pink walls, smouldering incense sticks, assorted South Indian artefacts and warm service complement the absolutely authentic Keralite menu here. Food is based on vegetarian dishes influenced by the home cooking of Kerala’s Hindu Nair caste. Ambience and a fine pedigree don’t guarantee consistency across the board, however. Our mains were superb: a light, crisp rava dosa (a South Indian pancake studded with onions and green chillies, which provided hot bursts of flavour against the smooth batter); and a kayi (green bean) curry, laced with ginger and full of tender beans, cauliflower and carrots, which went especially well with perfectly cooked lemon rice. But some of the starters and sides fell short of these high standards. The coconut chutney and sambar – key partners to many South Indian dishes – were insipid. This wouldn’t have mattered as much if the accompanying idlis and masala vadai (deep-fried dumplings made with a lentil batter) had been as fluffy and light as they can be. But Rasa was full of happy chatter on the Tuesday night we visited, and on balance, deservedly so.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008

Services:

Booking: Booking essential weekends
Child facilities: Babies and children welcome: high chairs
Takeaway service: Vegan dishes. Vegetarian menu

See other:

Latest user reviews

Rasa is fantastic. We go back again and again. The food is delicious, the service is excellent and the prices low.
Anonymous  Mar 12 2008

I was underwhelmed and disappointed. The spices did not seem freshly ground and were undercooked. The flavours were insipid; Rice over cooked; vegetables mre tan usually mushy.
Anonymous  Feb 14 2008