Honest Review of KTR Andheri
- Jusrandomly
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
But if you happen to be a die-hard fan of South Indian cuisine, particularly the decadent butter-laden Bangalore-style benne dosa, you understand just how essential it is for a restaurant to get it right. Mumbai is gradually catching up when it comes to authentic South Indian dishes, and of course, when such a restaurant offers you dishes in the classic Bangalore style, your expectations are bound to be high.
This time, we went out to check out one of the newest additions to the city’s South Indian food scene, KTR Andheri, a modest restaurant serving up some South Indian food straight out of Karnataka, right here in Andheri.
Sadly, however, our expectations weren't met.
Initial Impressions: Comfortable but Compact
KTR Andheri can be found in Verosa, Andheri West, which is known to be an active locality that boasts cafes and snack restaurants. Locating the place should not be a problem, but finding space for your car might prove challenging since you will have to keep going around in circles until you find a spot.
This restaurant looks small and compact and has limited seats to offer customers. It has a charming, cozy, and no-fuss ambiance with minimal decorations and simple table settings. While it works well for fast food, it could cause trouble if you want to enjoy a comfortable dining experience there.
Some places like this have their own appeal—they are simplistic, nostalgic, and all about the food without paying much attention to aesthetics. In a compact space like KTR Andheri, food should make up for that. Unfortunately, it didn't.
What We Ordered
We decided to keep things straightforward and ordered:
Bangalore Benne Dosa
Thatte Idli
2 Filter Coffees
Cost of the meal: About ₹500 for the portion (₹500 for a total order of two people)
On paper, the price did not seem to be high at all considering Mumbai standards and that we dined in Andheri.
Bangalore Benne Dosa: The Most Disappointing Experience Ever
We'll start with talking about the Bangalore Benne Dosa. Now, you probably know that a benne dosa from Bangalore is meant to taste:
Very buttery
Crispy outside
Soft inside
Flavorful throughout
But the one we ate wasn't good at all.
It wasn't the mouth-wateringly soft benne dosa that you can get at any restaurant in Bangalore. It was basically an ordinary dosa with a small twist—not worth the title "Bangalore style." Moreover, the accompaniments didn't make the dish any better. The chutneys were pretty standard, nothing special to say about them.
Thatte Idli: Average
Afterwards, there was the Thatte Idli, yet another famous Karnataka dish that is loved for its soft and fluffy texture, along with its large size, which is much bigger than that of the normal idlis.
This time, the Thatte Idli was an average dish to eat.
Texture: Good, although not very soft or fluffy
Taste: Normal, nothing outstanding
Sides: Mediocre green chutney
Again, there was nothing great about it, but then again, there was nothing outstanding either. If there’s one thing that can be expected from an idli, it is for it to be perfect in terms of excellence and taste. In this case, however, that was sadly not true.
Filter Coffee: Disappointment
Most South Indian dishes usually end with an invigorating and aromatic glass of filter coffee, which, needless to say, adds much to the eating experience.
This, unfortunately, did not happen at this place.
It was not hot enough
The taste was too watery or diluted
Its aroma was lacking
The filter coffee should have been hot, rich in taste, and aromatic.
Price: unreasonable high and unjustified
A total bill was around ₹500 for:
1 Benne Dosa
1 Thatte Idli
2 Coffees
It looks reasonable for Andheri prices at first glance. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the quality of the food served, it isn't very good value for money.
You would be happy to pay even more than ₹500 if it left any impression on you. However, in cases like that, once everything ends up being average, it feels as though you haven't gotten your full worth.
Ambiance and Experience
There are a couple of things that work for the ambiance here. This place has a nice and simple South Indian café style to it.
Nonetheless:
Small seating capacity could become a problem
Inconvenient parking lot
Fast food serving is convenient, but......not entirely worth it.
This restaurant is definitely better suited to people grabbing their lunch rather than those who come for the experience.
General Experience: Overrated
After trying all three food items, my experience with the restaurant was mediocre at best.
The dishes were neither great nor awful. They were all:
Benne Dosa failed to provide the authentic taste
Thatte Idli was alright
Filter coffee did not create much of an impact
When you go to a specialized restaurant, especially one specializing in a particular cuisine like Bangalore-style cuisine, you expect the food to be good.
Summary
Pluses:
Comfortable atmosphere
Quick service
Affordable prices (not worth the quality)
Minuses:
Mediocre quality of food
Not an authentic benne dosa
Lukewarm filter coffee
Limited table space
No parking facilities
Is This a Place You Should Visit?
Frankly speaking, no,If you are looking for a South Indian joint that offers quality Bangalore-style foods in Mumbai, KTR Andheri is certainly not the answer.
There are more places than KTR that offer better-quality South Indian food at decent prices. In particular, benne dosa in other restaurants in Mumbai tastes much better.
Conclusion
In Mumbai, with its ever-evolving standards for food, simply being good is not sufficient. Given the sheer number of excellent South Indian restaurants that abound, customers expect nothing less than authenticity, reliability, and that little bit of pizzazz that can make a meal special.
Alas, KTR Andheri fails to measure up to those standards.If what you want is a truly delicious benne dosa, then perhaps you should leave that task to another restaurant altogether.
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