Saravanaa Bhavan in Oude Pijp

Total unfair service and poor staff management

Great service and decent South Indian Vegetarian food.

Overpriced food, rude stuff and disappointing experience

Really disappointed with the quality of the Saravana Bhavan. The quality of Saravana Bhavan has been failing continuously and this has been one of the disastrous trip for me in Netherland. Dropped into this restaurant with high hopes of south Indian vegetarian food but got disappointed heavily. The place is located next to tram spot and has lot of footfall. We tried onion utappam, sambar vada, parotta kuruma and curd vada. Except sambar and curd vada which was above average in taste others disappointed us. The sambar and curd vada tasted good but was not soaked for enough time. Also the warmth of sambar vada was missing. Onion uthapam only had words of onion but real onions were minimal in the uthapam and the onions were not scattered enough making partial side as just plain uthapam and other side with onions. Parotta and kuruma was even worse. The parottas were more like flat and hard rotis rather than soft. Some places were hard to break even and the potato malasa was a bit more salty. Service was ok but not the best expected. Reall a disappointed trip and wasted our time

Food was okay overall. The cauliflower chilli cheese dosa was too cheesy and became soggy. However, the Schezwan fried rice and Gobi Manchurian were really good. Service and atmosphere were good and the place was clean. Note: water is charged separately.

Very wide choice, tasty food, affordable, friendly service, ideal for larger groups!

I've been to this restaurant twice in the past and have vomited both times afterward. I don't know what you put in this food, but my body can't handle it, and I've never had these symptoms at any other restaurant. For that reason, I'll never go back.

The food is really fantastic, we had a delicious Tali meal!!!

My go-to for Indian or a casual, tasty, reasonably priced meal in Amsterdam. The interior isn't trendy or fancy, but the food is top notch.

Eaten umpteenth times at Saravana Bhavans' in Dubai. Compared to that here the taste is Avg at best. Dosa was not crispy-bordering soggy. Sambar was also Avg. Idli- I think was reheated in the microwave. Not sure.

Absolutely authentic place with real Indian dosas and other diches and even the drinks - sugar & salt lemon soda (!!!) and chai. Greta for real lovers of Indian food.

Delicious dosas and mango lassi. Great selection of food and a quick service.

I had South Indian meals here. It tastes very similar to the chain of restaurants in TN. Quality wise excellent. I miss to get that taste in Dublin one. I thank the Chef for providing me the superb food.

This used to be one of my favorite Indian restaurants, but service, food and vibe is just not the same anymore. Won’t come back.

Food was good. We had idli with yummy saambar and three varieties of chutney. Idly was a little dry. We also had fluffy parotta, awesome pongal, rava dosa, mushroom munchurian and very tasty kesari. We were offered with bottled water. But, that's ok. We had our water bottle. Friendly employees especially the chef, very friendly and polite. There were a lot options on the menu.

Come to this place for the most authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisine period. Taste did not disappoint. Ordered 2 different dosas both amazing.

Best masala dosa I have had in Europe! ❤

Dined in last week. Had dosa, medu vada and coffee. Medu vada was good. Dosa was horrible, it was more like powder. There was something wrong with the batter. It didn’t taste good. But the worst was the coffee, honestly the worst coffee we ever had. The guy waitressing was rude and the seats with green sofa wouldn’t accomodate two people opposite to each other, our legs were hitting each other- so uncomfortable. Please leave little space for people’s legs and take classes on South Indian coffee making, please.

Great authentic south indian food

We were there today for dinner and the food was substandard

Amazing South Indian food and pleasant staff! Their parotta and gobi 65 are too good!

The service was good but the food could be much better.

This Indian restaurant has the largest selection of dishes I have ever seen. It wasn't easy making our selections, but we each chose an appetizer and an entree. The dishes were very flavorful and delicious. The portions were good sizes too. Service was good. Had I been in Amsterdam longer, I would have visited again. It was authentic Indian comfort food.

Cozy. Tasty. Authentic. Best dosas! (Whole year not enough to try once every of them)

The service was quick. Food was of course tasty as always. Vada was good too

Great selection of amazing Indian dishes. We had the Dosa and could not be happier! Very nice location as well. Highly recommending.

Worst experience, no proper management, staff has very very bad attitude (man in blue safari clothes), food is not good, not recommendation

One of my favourite places to come for authentic south indian food and everyone I have recommended this restaurant to has also loved it!! Definitely try their dosas!

Really tasty butter milk and Mysore masala dosa

A very good place for south indian food in Amsterdam.

Delicious food. Inexpensive. Friendly.

Pretty fast service and the filter coffee just felt so natural and authentic. Idli was a bit stiff but the medu vada was crispy and fresh. Good variety of chutney with varied levels of spices.

Delicious and nice (matching) atmosphere, I like to come here

A huge selection of authentic Indian vegetarian dishes. Affordable, clean, and fast.

Great place for south indian food! Authentic taste just like in India. Many vegan option. Will go again for sure!

The experience was terrible once again. The food was poorly prepared and the overall presentation was disappointing — it felt more like a court test than a restaurant. Additionally, the toilets and handwashing areas were unhygienic and poorly maintained. I strongly advise against visiting this place — it’s not worth the money and is overpriced for what it offers Spended two meals for €19.99/- per meals.

We ordered rava masala dosa and it was really good but the size was not that good at all so had to order something else along side(1 person). The chutneys and sambar tastes amazing. One thing is that they dont serve tap water which should ideally be an option available in good restaurants. But everything else that we ordered was really good and overall a good place for South Indian food.

Portion sizes are less. Order ice cream fruit salad and only got pineapple and apple pieces only Also coffee is sour

Lovely food, real Indian taste. 100% recommend!

i ordered veg biryani. there is nothing just some pcs of carrots and mutter with rice i pay 20euro for this. never ordering from here. delivery guy have no bag nothing when he arrived food was cold.

I visited Saravana Bhavan last Sunday, and it was an absolute delight for anyone craving authentic South Indian cuisine. I ordered the masala dosa and filter coffee, and both took me straight back to India with their spot-on flavors. Unlike many places that tweak spices to suit local palates, Saravana Bhavan stays true to its roots, delivering bold, authentic tastes that hit all the right notes. The masala dosa was crispy, perfectly spiced, and paired with flavorful chutneys and sambar. The filter coffee was a nostalgic treat, served in traditional style with that unmistakable frothy goodness. The service was impressively quick, even with a bustling crowd, and the staff were courteous and attentive, adding to the pleasant experience. The restaurant itself is spacious, with a warm and inviting ambiance that makes you feel right at home. Overall, the combination of authentic flavors, excellent service, and great atmosphere makes Saravana Bhavan a must-visit for South Indian food lovers. I’ll definitely be back for more!

Looks short handed. Food is so so

Sept 6th 1130am. Dosa and vada was nice. Idly was probably from previous day. Hard and stale. Did mention to the manager. He gave a refund. The quantity needs to improve on the sambar. Neat place.

Very authentic. My go to for Indian cuisine in Amsterdam. As staff for what they recommend.

Food very tasty and service is best friendly staff 😄

Chana Masala is a quintessential dish from India which is cooked on a low flame with lot of time and care. I was excited to see that listed in the menu while placing the order from UberEats. It was so disappointing to see the way the dish was tarnished. It was cooked in so much hurry, the onions and tomatoes were half cooked. There were only few specs of chickpeas and it was filled with half cooked onion. The gravy was watery, the spices hadn't infused. The bhatura which should be soft and fluffy, was stale and hard which made it difficult to eat. As someone familiar with Indian flavors, I felt let down, since this dish usually represents some of the most comforting and aromatic elements of Indian cuisine. I hope the restaurant can take more care in preparation, as the menu description sets higher expectations.

Authentic south Indian food with great taste😋

Vegan and dishes that can be modified to be vegan are clearly marked - their is a wide selection Food presentation is excellent, service was quick. Quantity of food to price is generous Space was clean and music level allowed for comfortable conversation Atmosphere has room to improve - the space feels dated

Love the dosas, and there is a good variety of dosas idlis and other South Indian foods. The cheese masala dosa is my favorite. Prices are reasonable. The service staff are all very friendly. The mango lassi is also nice.

Perfect south Indian taste in Holland

Had a dosa today! It was goood 🤩

One of the best Dosa restaurants !

This doesn’t look like a great restaurant from outside but the food was really good. We ate masala dosa and medhu vada. A word of warning that the food can be VERY spicy so check before ordering. I was unable to eat the potatoes in the middle of the dosa even though I’m used to eating spicy food. The dosa themselves were crispy and flavourful. They came quickly and were hot. Very vegan friendly and items were clearly marked on the menu. I’d definitely return if I came to Amsterdam again.

A place for your Indian food cravings outside India

Ghee roast dosa was awesome. Chutneys were good and adequate. Vada was fresh. South Indian thali was delicious. Bisi bele bhat was disappointing. Coffee also refreshing.. Overall satisfied.

The quality and taste of the food were 5/5. So why a 2/5? Two reasons: 1) The portion. As a "normal-sized" male, I could easily have 2x the portions that were served. 2) EUR 5.5 for tap water for a company of two people (that was served warm for that matter). This is diabolical. I assumed it would be included, as in most other restaurants, but was surprised to find that in my receipt. Mind you, we are in the Netherlands (not the Sahara), where water ranks among the top 5 cheapest in the world.

After seeing the restrooms, my appetite plummeted. It was a truly filthy mess. And the restaurant just isn't clean.

If you want real South Indian food only then this is the right place to so go there and order dosa idli sambar etc but not chapati bread with palak paneer it won’t be so satisfying as the South Indian dishes

Stopped by for a quick dosa fix and wasn’t disappointed. The masala dosa was crispy, flavorful, and came with plenty of chutney and sambar. Definitely hit the spot. Also got the filter coffee, it’s strong, smooth, and just the right amount of sweet. Nothing fancy about the place, but it does the job if you’re craving proper South Indian food in Amsterdam.

Was very disappointed in the quality of the food. Rice was stale and overcooked. Paneer was almost flavorless. At least the price was on the cheaper side I guess?

We were visiting Amsterdam from the US and were excited to hear that Saravana Bhavan had a location in the Netherlands. Without hesitation, we jumped into a taxi and headed there for both lunch and dinner. The food was absolutely amazing—authentic and just like what you'd get in India. The manager was incredibly kind and even treated us to a free dessert. I used to dine at Saravana Bhavan in Chennai over 40 years ago, and this visit brought back so many wonderful memories. The service was excellent, and the staff were truly courteous. A fantastic experience overall!

Amazing food and service. I could charge my phone while I enjoyed dosa and chai.

Really nice authentic Indian vegetarian food.

The food has a really nice taste to it . Great option for vegetarians .

Food was good but service was lacking

Very bad food. Please don't try. I was today there. We ordered uttapam, chettinad dosa and mini idli plate.

Went to Saravana Bhavan today . It didn’t look like it used to look before anyways. Staffs were friendly and nice .We ordered idli vada take away . Paid for it (just confirmed again with the bill) , but got only idly(They should have informed us if they didn’t have it ) also no cocunut chutney etc. Disappointed. Plz check bfr u leave restaurant that u got everything.

The food quality is quite bad. The few times we have been there we either got stale or even spoiled food. The last time we got a paratha that was clearly microwaved. The staff is super friendly when we point these out but they can't really help it since they are not the ones cooking. And sitting near the kitchen, it smells like leaky drainage. It's sad since this restaurant was good at some point. And compared to the actual Saravana Bhavan in Chennai, this is really really bad. Quite disappointing.

Perfect destination for the pure vegetarian people like me in Amsterdam. I had my breakfast and dinner at the same place as I loved the food and place. Spring roll, manchurian, mini Idli, dhosa Sambhar, Biryani —> everything was super delicious. Staff were so friendly and supportive. Pure indian vibes. 5/5🫰

Food is very good, service and atmosphere mediocre at best.

Food is okayish. Service is super bad. Btw this is one of the few restaurants that will not serve tap water (force you to buy bottled water). Waiters are not one bit friendly. Overall I’d give this a miss - walk 500m ahead and you will find Anna vilaas which has way better food and service.

My wife and I ordered a special Sarvana Bhavan South Thali and North Thali. Firstly, the quantity of food was less. Raitha was too bitter, it seems like the onions were stale. Sambhar and rasam were tasteless. The north thali was okay, but the food had a South Indian taste, with no “daal” and no refills. Lassi was refreshing. I have always had meals at Saravanaa Bhavan due to vegetarian concerns but this time it was disappointing.

Quick service, tasty food. Loved it.

Loved the place and food too! Highly recommended and definitely coming back..

Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5) Saravanaa Bhavan Amsterdam; Not Worth the Price, Lacks Authentic Flavour I recently visited Saravanaa Bhavan in Amsterdam, hoping for a comforting Indian meal. I ordered chana with rice and a masala dosa, but sadly, the experience was underwhelming and quite disappointing considering the price. 1:Masala Dosa: The dosa itself was okay, but the potato masala inside lacked the mild warmth or seasoning that even a traditional, non-spicy masala dosa should have. It tasted dull and felt unnecessarily altered. Chutneys: All were below average bland and lacked freshness. Sambar: Again, overwhelmingly sweet, which just doesn’t work when you’re expecting a savory accompaniment. 2:Chana Curry: Honestly, this was the worst part. The curry was overloaded with garlic - not just aromatic, but intensely pungent, to the point where one bite made me nauseous. I love garlic in moderation, but this felt like the entire base of the curry was just garlic paste. 3-Rice: The only edible part of the meal. For the price I paid around €20–€30 (₹2,000–₹3,000) this felt nowhere close to authentic or worth it. If you’re craving real Indian food in Amsterdam, I’d suggest exploring other options.

We've been to several other locations in England and this one, very busy, certainly didn't disappoint. Service swift and food typically tasty. Always reliable when it comes to Masala Dosa, so good I ate two and drank the samba sauce!

100% vegetarian restaurant,perfect test,lovely staff, I felt at that time that I am in India

Eat only if you doesn’t have any other Indian option, the staff is rude and service is delayed. Dont eat any other thing than dosa

Podi dosa was good, the chutneys and the sambhar served with the dosa tasted really good. However, the indian tea was a bit too watery, which was disappointing.

Best food and amazing service!! Loved it.

Delicious food, authentic in my opinion, it was on the table quickly and the service was neat and friendly. I will definitely eat here again.

Highly recommendable for all the vegetarians out there.

This place in my experience is extremely unpredictable. I've eaten here three times. Once it was middling. Once it was amazing. And in March 2025 at lunchtime, the mushroom biriyani I had was pretty bad. Just extremely bland and ... no effort made. So yeah, maybe you'll get lucky. Maybe you won't.

Authentic Indian, meaning the dishes are a bit spicy, but incredibly delicious. Recommendation: vegan thali. Sensationally good.

We were so excited about visiting this place and I thought I’d visit it many times during my stay in Amsterdam but that didn’t turn out to be true. While we tried unusual items like veg manchurian that saravana bhavan isn’t known for and got disappointed, we’re surprised to find that some of the usual items they’re good at like vada sambar and uttappam were below the par too. Only item we loved is ghee roast dosa and the chutneys. Its absolutely delicious and I’d steer clear of the rest of the menu.

Great food, could do with a revamp, but the portions are good and lovely delicious food

We love coming here for dinner. We've enjoyed everything so far!

Food was tasty as usual and the service personnel were super fast and very professional

Yummy food and smiling waiter. Lightning fast service (not used to this in Netherlands). We ordered Dosa, Mini-idli, Vada & paneer butter masala. Mini-idli was a find, and kids loved it. Their speciality is South Indian and food was very fresh.

"Had the Mysore Masala Dosa at Saravana Bhavan and it was absolutely spot on—crispy, flavorful, and satisfying! The service was quick and friendly, and the ambiance was clean and welcoming. A must-visit for authentic South Indian vibes!"

I have been visiting this place since 2016. Decor changed, service quality changed, and worst of all, food quality also changed. It becomes difficult to visit this pla e as food taste has dropped considerably. Masala dosa bhaji is more gravy and not fry making ur dose soggy. Paneer 65 was fried paneer with no taste served with ketchup. Lassi glasses have changed and conical at the bottom..so less volume to fill. List can go on. It is a global brand strong enough to attract new customers, but limited repeat customers going forward unless they change.

We were craving for Indian food and booked expensive cab to reach here only to find out it was closed for maintaining but it was allowing is to book a table online for same date and time , we checked before booking cab! Very sad and disappointed … please check before going there …

Masala Dosa was really delicious and crispy. It had a nice texture to it. Sambar and chutneys were complementing it just right. The only disappointment was the filter coffee. It wasn't good at all.

Obviously Saravanaa Bhavan food is good. However, the customer service is poor and they’re not welcoming. Disappointed.

Very tasty food, reasonable prices. Suitable for vegans, vegetarians and kosher keepers

Our experience with the takeaway service was disappointing. The person who took our order gave us an outdated menu with incorrect pricing. When we pointed this out, he responded rudely, particularly toward my wife. This level of service was unacceptable and left us feeling both dissatisfied and disappointed. It unfortunately ruined our stay in Amsterdam.

The taste is almost Indian. But, modified to the Netherlands taste.

Authentic Indian food fir reasonble prices. Except for the drinks..

I had a fantastic experience at Saravana Bhavan — the masala dosa was absolutely delicious! Crispy on the outside and perfectly filled with flavorful, mildly spiced potato masala. The chutneys and sambar served alongside were fresh and authentic, just like you'd expect in South India

The food transported me to India...vegetarian with lots of flavor and delicate presentation. The service at the height. And the cozy atmosphere.