A new South Indian restaurant, Bengaluru Cafe, is set to open in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood this spring, marking an expansion from its original location in Fairfax, Virginia. The cafe, owned by Sri Saravanan, will be situated at 809 N. 2nd St. and aims to introduce the city to a completely vegan and vegetarian menu inspired by the culinary traditions of Bengaluru, the capital city of India’s southern Karnataka state.
Saravanan expressed enthusiasm about the Philadelphia market, citing its vibrant downtown area and easy accessibility as key factors in the decision to expand. “We have been doing the first location for close to two years, and based on this success, we wanted to expand. We picked Philadelphia because the downtown area and the accessibility are pretty attractive,” he told What Now Philadelphia.
Menu Highlights and Unique Offerings
Bengaluru Cafe will be Philadelphia’s first South Indian restaurant to offer an entirely vegan and vegetarian menu, showcasing a variety of authentic dishes. Guests can expect to find popular items such as chaats and shareable plates, including tomato masala salad and vada pav, a beloved Indian street food featuring a spicy potato fritter served on soft pav bread accompanied by tangy chutneys.
One of the standout features of the menu will be the dosas, which are thin, crepe-like specialties. Options like masala dosa, stuffed with spiced potatoes, and Mysore masala dosa, layered with spicy red chutney, will be available. Additionally, the cafe will offer a selection of refreshing beverages, including milkshakes, fresh juices, South Indian filter coffee, and masala chai, perfect for pairing with the dishes.
A Garden-Inspired Atmosphere
In keeping with the name and inspiration of the cafe, the interior design will reflect a garden-like atmosphere, reminiscent of Bengaluru, often referred to as the “garden city” of India. “We brought in a little bit of a garden atmosphere with bamboo lighting. It has a greenery look, and it’s natural. The tables and chairs are natural wood,” Saravanan noted.
As the opening date approaches, Saravanan and his team are working diligently to familiarize themselves with the local clientele. He remarked, “We are working to understand the demographics because it’s not just a family crowd; it attracts a lot of tourists, and footprints are going to be mixed. We are excited to open and go live.”
Bengaluru Cafe is expected to open by the end of March 2024, and Saravanan is optimistic about this timing, stating, “Good things happen in March.” For those interested in staying updated on the cafe’s progress, more information will be available on their website and social media platforms.
