THE ABSOLUTE BEST. Full disclosure: I'm not Indian, but this place is typically filled with all Indian people. I usually get their Mumbai Thali -saag paneer, chana masala, flavor rice, roti, dal, dessert & more - but I've tried many other items when I've come with friends and EVERYTHING has been so flavorful and delicious. They are known for their dosas which are huge and fresh. I also love their pongal, both savory and sweet. Consistency is key here. Sometimes one item will be especially good, but I've never had anything less than a great experience. The staff is also always very kind and attentive. Although we moved further away, we still go here once every week or so, and now our neighbors and friends do too. Note: The location on 1st ave is far superior to the other, even though the menu is the same. I go to both but prefer this one on 1st ave. read more

Four stars for food but one star for abysmal service so two stars on balance overall. This is an update on my review 9 years ago.

Update- I put the same review on Google and they launched a personal attack on me blaming my character and Intentions and that I wanted free food. Like the $10 will save my life. I have updated 350 plus reviews but till date no other restaurant owner has been so disrespectful and rude. -------------------------------------------- This place used to be good, one of the better South Indian spots around, but honestly, they've completely lost their standard. I've ordered from them several times, hoping it was just a one-off mistake, but every time something goes wrong. One time, they sent just one idli instead of two. This time, the idli was straight-up uncooked. The worst part is When I've called to explain, they don't really take ownership. Instead of apologizing or offering to make it right, they get defensive and try to justify the mistake. They'll say, 'Next time we'll do better' but that next time never improves. Honestly it's a very juvenile response from someone in restaurant business. No refund, no replacement, no accountability. It's frustrating and disappointing, especially from a place I used to like. I'm attaching photos of what I received. This isn't how food should be sent out. Definitely not ordering again. read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Undercooked idlis - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Food is very good. Place is small and service is ok. The dishes are large and barely fit on the plates. If you like south indian dishes , then this is the place. read more

Good south indian food! The special rava masala dosa was perfectly done- crispy and filled with spicy potatoes on the inside. The chutney, sambar were so good. The fiery gunpowder masala dosa was also amazing. Mango lassi was nice and thick, spiced buttermilk was ok, the onions did smell a bit old towards the end. They need more people to wait on tables and serve the customers or at-least someone to seat you when you arrive. The order came within 15 mins but the wait time pre and post is not a nice thing considering we were only one of two tables in an empty restaurant. But will try again cause the food is definitely good. read more

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Love this charming restaurant! It's my go-to when I'm craving South Indian food. The South Indian thali is a great value and includes rice, sambhar, rasam, different vegetarian curries, and dessert. Service can be a bit slow (seems like they are understaffed), but everyone is so warm and welcoming. Note, it gets super crowded on the weekends. I would definitely go back! read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - 66. South Indian Thali - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

My go-to spot for South Indian food! Love the dosas here ! perfect for a good meal. The portions are huge, and good value for money. Also try their filter coffee to end the meal on a good note. It's a no frill spot with great service! read more

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Good dosa! I would definitely recommend the South Indian specialities here, the masala dosa was so crunchy, flavorful and delicious especially when paired with chutney! The papdi chaat we ordered was okay, so I would definitely stick to South Indian style dishes here. The service was awesome, they gave us extra chutney and brought the food out pretty quickly. I will say that they close their kitchen 5-10 minutes before the actual time they close, so come here before 9pm! read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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This has been one of our favorite dosa spots for a very long time. I give it a 5 star for the food but I do think there were a few things they could improve on and that's why overall I gave it a 4 star. Food: We ordered the dosas, I asked for them to be spicy and told them we actually want it spicy and unfortunately they just didn't do it. For the chili rava dosa we asked for extra chili and honestly we could barely see any chili in the dosa to begin with. The sambar was really good but needed a little bit of salt. I loved all the different chutneys and one of them was a bit on the spicer side. My husband got the uttapam and he said he really liked it. We usually get their cocktail idili here as it's one of our favorites, I highly recommend you try it. This time we got the cauliflower manchurian, it was fine, an average dish. Service: We came for an early dinner and it seemed like they might have been short staffed. We didn't have to wait long to be seated or get our food but for ordering and other basic service needs like refilling water, it would take a long time. Price: The food portions are very big here and considering this, the prices are very reasonable. Ambiance: This is a fairly casual restaurant but comfortable. read more

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Such a lovely restaurant great food clean place very nice service I love the place Barbara

A2B has been our go-to spot for authentic South Indian cuisine in NYC for years. After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, we returned for indoor dining a fee times and have enjoyed our experience, even though there is certainly room for improvement in some areas. The idli vada combo, the Rasam, and the butter masala dosa were as excellent as ever. The portion size of the Rasam is quite generous (enough for 2-3 people) and has a strong, spicy kick to it, so order it only if you can handle it. The Rava Masala dosa was a bit chewier than I remembered, lacking its usual crispiness. The idli wasn't as soft as i expected. The Rocket Dosa, the Bullet Dosa (filled with Pav Bhaji Masala) and the South Indian Thali are all excellent. Would highly recommend the Gulab Jamun to wrap up your meal. Service has been a bit of an issue each time i have visited. One time, they sent our food to another table. Another time, they started serving food without cutlery on the table and kept bringing us more food without paying heed to our multiple requests for cutlery. Some of the staff seems a bit inexperienced and they likely get overwhelmed by the demand the restaurant sees on weekends. I hope they resolve the service hiccups soon! If you're craving South Indian food in NYC, this place is definitely worth a visit! The need to overlook a few things on the service front, but it continues to be among the best South Indian food that Manhattan has to offer. read more

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As a South Indian, I do not recommend this place. We came in at noon on July 4 and noticed only 2 other tables occupied yet had to endure a full 50 min wait to get our meals. For a brand like Adyar, I thought they are way understaffed. The food itself was less delicious than most average South Indian spots. The only salvageable items were the uthapam that came with the thali and the paneer and chana curry. The dosa had shredded paneer which was not applied evenly throughout the dosa. It was stir fried and with no masala. Big boo! The major disappointment for me was the sambar which was bland and watery with large chunks of melon in it. If you're a fan of that style of sambar, you might enjoy it. Overall, if you're visiting NYC and looking for South Indian places, this one is totally passable. Sorry, Adyar team. read more

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Worst staff I've ever encountered -- zero manners and absolutely no professionalism. I simply requested a dish to be made less spicy, and instead of accommodating (or even politely declining), they outright refused to serve me. The staff was extremely rude and dismissive for no reason. Restaurants are supposed to provide hospitality, but this place clearly doesn't understand the basics of customer service. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Avoid at all costs. read more

Quick service, amazing food and good ambience. Mr. Ali was super hospitable. Excellent South Indian coffee

We came on a Monday night so it was quiet. We ordered Samosa chat, which was excellent. It was not too sweet as it sometimes happens in other restaurants. The dosas were outstanding. It's very easy to get bad dosas. The masala (potato) was nicely spicy. In fact, the spice level was perfect, leaving just a little tingling in my mouth (onion chilli masala dosa). The other members of our party also loved their dosas. We'll be back. read more

I was at this South Indian restaurant with some others. I'm a fan of dosas among other South Indian treats and I was looking for another spot and while I didn't find the dosa in particular to be that good, the other stuff wasn't bad. To drink I had a Chaas which is listed as Chass on the menu and is $5.45. Said drink is a yogurt shake (or rather buttermilk) with salt, ginger, and spices. You can think of it as a slight variant of a spiced more sour version of a lassi and it was fine. For food, I believe two of us went with I went with the Thalis which are all $20.95 or a buck extra for takeout (likely due to the number of containers necessary.) I went with the Bhavan Grilled Thali with 1 idli, 1 vada,1 masala dosa, 1 vegetable uttapam which was served with sambar, three chutneys (coconut, tomato, and cilantro,) and dessert. Another person got the South Indian Thali and the last person had some type of curry. My favorite of the group by a good amount was the Uthappam (or more commonly spelled Uttapam) which is kind of like a thickened pancake/crepe and is considered to be a variant of a dosa. The mixed vegetables consisted of carrots, cilantro, peas, onion, and tomato. This was well flavored especially from the onions and had a pleasant texture and I would definitely order again solely for lunch. The Dosa was alright. It was a bit softer than I would like and the (aloo) masala filling was sparse and not particularly well flavored at that. The Idli (soft steamed cake made of lentils/rice) was a bit bland though I tend to find the case though this one in particular was a bit softer than usual. The Vada (or Medu Vada) which is a fried lentil flour donut was well textured though a lot less spiced than other versions I've had. The Rasam was alright. It could have used a bit more vegetables and was like everything else a bit less spiced. Of the chutneys, the Coconut was a tad watery, the Cilantro was a bit light as well, and the Tomato was the best of the bunch being well flavored and thicker. For dessert it was Kheer but due to the vermicelli and the fact that this place is Southern Indian, I would call this Payasam. I presume it's not listed as such as it might be confusing to some of the locals who don't know Southern Indian words. It was not overly sweet and unlike most of the other dishes pretty well flavored and I would get again. I'd go back for the Uthappam/Uttapam and the dessert wasn't too shabby either. The food here is less spiced then I would like with even the dishes that I tend to find a bit bland being even more bland than usual with a very good example being the aloo masala having less cardamom and just less well masala than usual. If you don't mind a lighter style of Southern Indian, it's not bad. read more

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Yummy place for dosas. Service was slow and the ambiance is nothing special but the gunpowder dosa was delicious and huge!!! If you are in the area and craving a dosa this place is a good bet!! read more

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Food freshness is 5 star if you go early. Later on, they give you less hot food. I think it's pricey. For thali they give all carbohydrate stuff (2 rices), ( 2 flour-made stuff) the real dishes are just 2 types plus a soup. The rest is just noise. Who I going to eat all that u healthy breads? So silly. So You walk away still hungry. They add a fee for using credit card and more fee for take out box. Then you pay 15-20% tip. For little bit of food , $31 is expensive. Service is sometimes good. Most time it is just functional. One waitress that does everything including take outs. If it's cheaper I would go 6-8 times a month. But for what it is I go about 10 times a year. They lose more business in the end. read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Yellow Bread, fried bread, rice, and I ate the last bread - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Food was mediocre Service mediocre Ambience good It was a take out, they put in the potatoes inside the wrap, even though asked them to put it in a separate container Gave less sambar/ gravy read more

Everything was great. Staff was a little bit confused as to when things were going to come out but otherwise were super polite and considerate. I would definitely go again when craving South Indian food. read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Dhosa, Bhel Puri - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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The place doesn't look like much from the outside and has limited seating inside but the quality of food is exceptional. Their menu is extensive so there is something for everyone, lots of vegetarian and vegan options. South Indian dishes are recommended. The service is good. There is no parking at this location. It can be seen from regular traffic. They offer dine in, Togo and delivery through all major apps. I highly recommend their Sambar. They have restrooms open to public. read more

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Excellent Indian food! Have eaten here and gotten takeout many times. Large variety of vegetarian dishes, fresh and tasty- seasoned to perfection- not too mild or too spicy. Highly recommend! read more

The food here is amazing. Dosas are to dye for. So far, my favorite Indian restaurant in NYc. Today today we had this lace cheese dosa read more

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This vegetarian restaurant, which serves tasty and reasonably healthy Indian food, was one of my regular spots from which I ordered delivery at least once a week during the stay-at-home days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I especially love their breads (phulka and paratha), although the phulkas are best when eaten at the restaurant when they are served hot and fresh to dine-in guests. The aloo palak is my favorite main dish, and pairs well with the yellow daal. As fate would have it, the one time I brought my mother here, everything was undercooked and underseasoned, which was a major letdown. Usually, the food is great. Service tends to be a little abrupt, but I never have high expectations of congeniality from the staff here, so I am OK with the curt behavior. read more

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If you're looking for delicious and authentic food, this is the place! The decor isn't anything to brag about and service can be a really slow/hit or miss, but the food is fresh. All vegetarian w vegan options. read more

I love this place! Great food, flavorful and perfect balance of spices. I am so happy to have found authentic Dosa in the city. I will definitely be back. Attentive service. read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Tomato, Onion, and Chilli Uthappam - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing South Asian restaurant. Ambiance feels like you are in India with the decor, paintings and music. Restaurant was vegetarian only, which is a tell-tale sign that it would be amazing. Dosa was huge, flat and crispy, although I wish there was more potato filling to accompany each bite. We tried the Mysore Rava Masala Dosa which came with a potato filling, onion with gunpowder spread. Super delicious. Dosa was served with coconut, tomato, cilantro, and sambar. Recommended Dishes: Mysore Rava Masala Dosa read more

I've been here multiple since this review and the service has gotten a lot better. The food remains to be the hands down BEST South Indian food in NYC. read more

I did not receive my order of Bhel Puri. The Onion Rava Masala Dosa was so hard I could not even take a bite. The Bhindi Masala was so soggy and just a pile of mush. Very big disappointment. So I spent money to not be able to eat. read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Onion Masala Dosa- hard, I could not eat. - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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If I could give zero stars i would. This place is below average. Not what it used to be. The dosa was cold and when I addressed it with the server, she refused to do anything about it. There are better Indian restaurants for dosa! Avoid this place and save your money!!! Worst experience ever!!!! read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Masala dosa - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Tried several times always consistent with quick service . Carb laden though . Very few few choices .

Adyar Ananda Bhavan is a hidden gem! I never even noticed this place in the neighborhood until someone recommended it, but now I'm planning on making it a weekly habit. The best part of the meal was the onion chili rava masala dosa. This is the semolina version of their dosa, and it comes with pieces of onion and chili embedded in a giant crisp sheet that takes up half the table. Hard to decide which of the four dips was my favorite. Possibly the coconut chutney. The rest of the meal didn't quite live up to the dosa, but I won't hold that against them. We got aloo chana (chickpea potato curry) that was good. The paratha was very forgettable. (Should have just gotten a second dosa instead!) The mumbai royal thali is excellent and includes two delicious curries. The vegetable biryani is good but not that memorable. The masala tea is delicious (not overly sweet). The badam milk was not my favorite. read more

Very good, no nonsense South Indian spot with delightful Dosas! Just as I finished mine, I saw a huge & tempting plate of Chola Bhatura served on the next table Guess what I am trying next! read more

I have tried rava dosa in 5-6 different places in NYC and finally found the one! Adyar Ananda Bhavan was worth the 25 mins walk from my place, early last Sunday For appetizers we got the Medu Vada (which are fried lentil flour donuts served with sambar and chutney- they were crispy and hot! Really good!) I got the Paneer Rava Masala Dosa (Semolina crepe stuffed with cottage cheese and potato filling)- Best in the city! and my partner got the Mysore Masala dosa (Rice flour crepe stuffed with potato filling and a spicy paste spread) Must try! And don't forget to order their filter coffee! South Indian filter coffee are just the best! read more

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There were many reviews criticizing this place for service when I looked up this place. Hence, I decided to order it through delivery to solely focus on the taste of the food. I tried many Indian food but this place sells Southern Indian food, which is slightly different from the typical food we know. One thing to note is there is no option for beef/chicken, but lambs are available I think. Anyways, I was amazed by how good the dosa and curry were and definitely checking this place out at least thru delivery to try some of their food if you are worried about their service experience. Hopefully they get more positive reviews from people who dine in in the upcoming months and years so that people can check their amazing food out! read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - Dosa and curry - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Super mediocre food, horrible service. Even if you like stale chutneys and bland sambar, do NOT go here. The manager or the old man running the place has a terrible attitude. If you are indian you will get shouted, scolded. If you are white, you will be treated with a smile. Either way, the food is $hit. Dosas made of rubber, chutney made of stale frozen coconut, Gobi manchurian made of rotten cauliflower. I wonder if they even have a real connection to Chennai adyar anandabavan. Even after reading this, if you want to eat here, do online orders. If you call to place a takeout, you will hear an earful from the old man, and he will hang up before you finish talking. read more

As an Indian who grew up in India the only Indian food I really go out to eat is Dosa. When I found out we had an option in the midtown area and that too a place with a name that reminds us of a prominent South Indian restaurant chain, we headed there. The place had just opened for the evening and we were the first walk-in customers. The service was quick. We ordered a masala dosa and a rocket masala dosa (their version of paper masala dosa). There were 3 types of chutneys and sambhar which all tasted fresh and good. But the shock awaited us wrapped inside the masala dosa. The quantity of the potato based masala was ridiculously small in proportion to the dosa. I wondered if it was an error and asked the manager. He said this is their regular portion. I then requested an extra portion of masala, which of course was charged extra. I have no complaints about the quality of the food or the ambience of the restaurant, but this disappointing quantity of potato masala totally left a bitter taste in what was otherwise a delicious meal. As someone who goes to every restaurant that serves dosa around the city, I have never had this experience before. read more

Adyar Ananda Bhavan - This is the amount of masala that comes inside a masala dosa. - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

We were overcharged and not given change--the staff seemed a little out of it. The food was fine, overpriced for what you're getting. I expected my $14 gunpowder dosa to have potato filling, which it did not. No napkins in our takeout bag, either. I won't be returning: for these prices, just go to Saravana Bhavan read more

I had dinner this evening for the first time at Adar Ananda Bhavan. I had the Chana Masala and enjoyed it very much. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very nice. I will definitely eat at this restaurant again. read more

I don't think this place is part of A2B chain. food is ok but not like A2B .. small place tough to get parking around tough it's in New York no closer parking available around. Hygiene is good and ambience is nice .. Service is good as well. If you are expect A2B taste not the place read more