Dosa
Category: Indian/Pakistani [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission995 Valencia St
(between 21st St & Liberty St)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 642-3672
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Sun 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
805 Reviews for Dosa
One of Dosa's Favorite Reviews
Splendid
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I finally tried Dosa and let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
A little pricy for Indian but the food was delicious and the service was great. The food reminded me of a friend and her cooking style. Too bad she lives in L.A. and I've moved back to S.F. :(
I tried the Spinach & Cauliflower Vadas, Dahi Vada, Chatni Masala Dosa, and the Rasmalai. So good. So much food. So full.
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Flavor was a bit lacking, but the taste was okay overall. Not worth the price. But I'm giving it an "A-OK" because the waiter was trying to be helpful with ordering suggestions. In fact, all the staff were nice and with no eye rolling when my straw-challenged one year old dripped Mango Lhasi on the table.
One thing I have to note: I usually wipe down a table before I give my son food because, as I've learned , food will often end up dropping on the table before it ends up in his mouth. Well, I forgot to wipe our table down before I gave him the piece of french bread I brought from home. As soon as I gave him the bread, he dropped it on the table. This triggered my "Oh Sh*!" reflex, and I quickly picked up his bread and wiped the table with one of his baby wipes. That wipe was so brown afterward that my first reaction was to hide it from embarrassment! Maybe it was just the spot I wiped? Not sure, but the sight of that dirty, grimy baby wipe from our "clean" table may have colored my overall opinion. I feel bad about writing this, but also feel it has to be said.
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Pricey and busy, but get the COCONUT RICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
went to this place on my bday and it was small and crowded, but I loved it. The food was tasty and the portions were generous. They look small but are filling. Watch out for the $38 four course meal. It can be confusing because the way it is written on the menu it looks as if it means $15 for a four course meal. Again, not a big deal and we just overlooked it. I would def. suggest this place!!
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I took a vegitarian friend of mine to this restaurant. This place is very cute, and has good service and atomosphere. Although I am not vegitarian, it was very filling. Uttapan (pancake dosa thing) sampler plate was great, but one of them was really spicy. Vegitable curry had great flavor and not too spicy.
You can get as great food at a restaurant on 16th (Packwan?) for1/2 the price, but I like this place better.
So good! Amazing food, great atmosphere, good service! It gets a bit crowded if your party is more than 5. We waited for a table on a tues night for about 15-20 minutes at the bar. We got 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and each had a drink that was absolutely perfect. Not belt-breakingly full but definitely didn't leave hungry!
Great Southern Indian food with lots of variety, especially of the vegetarian fare - that is pretty common with Indian food though.
The best thing about Dosa, minus the er-dosas, is the coffee. Thick, sweet, perhaps a dash of coconut milk, try it, the bloody mary, not so much... but unique.
The hostess, I think Rebecca was her name, was professional, kind and got us to our table in no time.
The Mysore Masala Dosa is great for a newbie, that or the Paper Dosa which may sound a little less exciting but believe me, is worth it.
It is also worth it to check out Brunch because they have these little yogurt appetizer things that are great and the Uttapam sample platter is delicious. Oh also the coconut red sauce that they give you is awesome on... pretty much everything.
NEWBIE NOTE: To save from oh-so-faux-pas Southern India embarrassment, the large brownish/red "sauce" they give you is actually soup, not for dipping.
The food was enjoyable -- at least the fraction of it we got to actually eat.
When we were about 3/4 of the way through the meal, a staff member jumped on the table, scooped up all of our dishes and left us staring at an empty table in shock. I know what your thinking, we should have just told him we weren't done -- but there really was no notice what-so-ever. He just reached in and grabbed stuff. Not a word was said, no "Are you finished?" or opportunity to take the food with us.
Its not like we were holding up the table. We were actually eating fairly quickly because we had just waited a very long time to get food. In fact, there was at least a 35 minute wait between being seated and the next time anyone talked to us.
So the food is good, a little pricey, and you must be ready to defend your meal like an angry dog.
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What's left to say?
I think their mango lassis are a bit small, I guess, but I'm still on board to become a regular.
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The best thing about Southern Indian food is that it is not just overpowering curry but more delicate spices. Dosa successfully accomplishes the subtle spices of Southern cuisine.
I have tried the dosas as well as appetizers, curries, desserts and coffee. The entire dining experience here is superb. Every dish is a little surprising. Take, for example, the ice cream. It is this super cold super frozen desert - and the texture and consistency is different from traditional ice cream. This, like the overall Dosa experience, it is a step above, and surprises your pallet and expectations. The servers are generally very helpful and attentive. Its a smaller and the seating is intimate. The portions are not huge, so you can taste a few different dishes each time you go.
Don't expect your typical Indian restaurant experience at Dosa. Instead, expect a surprising, delicate and delicious meal. It is subtly different and intriguing amidst so many generic Indian restaurants.
Can anyone say: San Francisco's hottest new brunchoen spot for the weekends? I almost hesitate to spread the love for fear of not getting a table the next time I go there!
The mung sprout salad and non-vegetarian curry specials [weekends only :-( ] are absurdly delicious, and I can hear the "ooohs and aahhs" around me from people enjoying other fare. I can only imagine how delightful this must be if you're a vegetarian [most of the food is] - if not, it's still a whole new way to eat Indian. The cocktails are light but fun and appropriate for the food. A must-do restaurant for the savy eater in the Mission district!
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I've been wanting to try Dosa for a long time now and I finally went on a Saturday night dinner date with one of my main gays. I've only had Indian food once prior to Dosa, and it was at Nan n' Curry after a drunken night which was followed by a #3000 (diarrhea). I guess Indian food didn't mix well with all my alcohol. Anyway, Dosa was a complete different experience for me. Everything that we ordered was yummy-licious and the ingredients were all so fresh. We ordered:
*Rasam "Fire Broth" Soup- This soup is full of flavor and it's pretty spicy. It was really addicting!!! I couldn't stop eating it!
*Cochin Calamari - This was ok. I personally like my calamari fried and crunchy, but this was sauteed.
*Spicy Mung Masala Dosa- First time having Dosa and it was good especially with all the different sauces
*South Indian Lamb Kofta Curry with Coconut Rice- I'm not a fan of lamb meatballs but this dish was delish.
The only reason why I'm giving it four stars is because the Lychee Lush drink I ordered tasted like shit! But, I can't wait to go back to Dosa!
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I was a bit skeptical when I walked into this place. Trendy Indian restaurants usually bring out cynical side of me, mainly because they lack the authenticity in the eating experience. Cloth napkins? I'll stick to the paper ones thank you very much. Silverware? The only eating utensil I need is attached to the end of my right arm. Ceramic dishes? What happened to the stainless steel plates with the three compartments?
Despite this skepticism, the food was actually decent. And entertaining. One of the waiters came over and offered to show my friends and I how to eat the pani puri dish, but after seeing that there were two brown people at the table to provide assistance, he figured we could manage. Little did he know, I'm an awful friend. One of my buddies tried to carefully poke a hole in a puri and ended up shattering the whole thing. Another poured the pani into his puri only for it to come leaking out all over his arm and the table. My roommate just said f*** it, ate his puri and then took a swig of the pani. Needless to say I laughed my ass off. Almost as funny as watching me eat with chopsticks...
The bhel puri was excellent and the sambar that came with nearly every dish was suspiciously addicting. I was not too pleased with my paneer utthapam (I guess the place is called "Dosa" for a reason) but liked most of my friends' dishes. Waiting staff is also courteous and vigilant with the water refills...but we did go on Sunday for brunch when it wasn't too crowded.
Overall, the food was good but seemed to be catered to fit the chic ambiance of the restaurant...in other words, it was overpriced ($8 for a plate of six pani puris? Aren't Indians supposed to be frugal?) The taste is more westernized as well, so I probably wouldn't bring my Indian parents here (that would be equivalent to bringing your Asian parents to P.F. Chang's). Go here if you want to eat some good, semi-authentic south Indian food that won't leave your clothes smelling for weeks after (damn you Naan N' Curry)
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You know a restaurant is good when you are trying to figure out when your next visit will be as you are exiting from your first visit. Dosa is one of those places. I am not super familiar with South Indian fare, but I know Nish (my friend on Yelp) loves Dosa and so do some of the people I know in the real world, so I have really been wanting to check it out. Friday night I was finally able to team up with my partner in crime Jen O. for an early dinner and we both agreed on Dosa.
We decided we would try the 4 course tasting menu, because the portions are a bit smaller and since there was two of us we ordered two things from each course and shared. Plus, at $30 per person, this is pretty reasonable.
We also did the wine pairing and shared, so for $16 each we got to sample six wines. I don't recommend the wine pairing though, because though the wines are actually quite good and so is the food, The wine does not enhance the flavor of the food because the spice wipes out the wine. Honestly, Jen and I both agreed that a nice cold glass of beer would have been better with our meals.
So here is what we had. My favorites are marked by an *.
1. Starter Course
* Cochin Calamari -Tender calamari, sautéed with a mildly-spiced coconut milk sauce, served with mixed greens. (Incredible)
Dahi Vada - Lentil dumplings, topped with cool Strauss organic yogurt, piped with tamarind & mint, mildly spiced (Too beautiful to eat - but we managed.)
2. Mini Dosa
Paneer Dosa - Dosa filled with spiced, grilled farmer's cheese, peas and cilantro. (Excellent)
* Chatni Masala Dosa - Our signature South Indian savory crepe filled with creamy, spiced Indian potatoes, onions, cashew nuts with a spiced chutney spread of blended baby eggplant (Excellent x2)
3. South Indian Curry
** South Indian Lamb Kofta - Spiced natural & free-range lamb meatballs in a creamy sauce of tomatoes & spinach served with lemon basmati rice and raita (Yes, it is as good as it sounds).
* Kerala Chicken & Cauliflower - Tender free-range chicken in a grated coconut sauce with green beans and tomatoes, with basmati rice and raita made with Strauss organic yogurt (Delicious)
4. Dessert
* Kulfi (Indian Ice Cream) -Pistachio
Gulab Jamoon -Two soft, lightly-fried milk and dough balls served in a warm, cardamom flavored sugar syrup (Almost identical in taste and texture as pancakes soaked in syrup, except no maple taste. Too sweet for me).
Ambiance - We were seated in a roomy corner next to an open window on a warm night in the Mission district - Bitchin'
Service - It was great. Our server was really cool and whenever she was too busy to get to us, she sent her crew to make sure we were comfortable and cared for.
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i actually went here with a good friend from south india... we actually left because the food was not good and NOT authentic... kinda like calling taco bell authentic mexican cuisine.
I had a terrible stomach ache 3 days afterwards. You will not find me here ever again. Way too much hype and they do not deliver.
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If this place is hyped, as I was not aware of it when my friends brought me here, then it's worth it. The food here was rather more refreshing than your typical Indian food. Not as greasy, and fresh, crisp flavor everywhere. I tried the Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, and Spicy Soy Sausage Uttapam, and they were all good. The Pani Puri can get messy as you have to poke a hole into a puffy pastry-bread, fill it with veggie fillings and drizzle sauce into it. Uttapam was something like a thick Indian pancake with different sauces you can eat with. Try it out if you want some good Indian food that's a little different and refreshing.
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I'm a fan of this pretty restaurant. First of all, of the vast vegetarian variety of their menu. Went here for brunch on a Saturday afternoon during when they were serving "Chaats". At first, I thought it's a really interesting starter, and our waitress seemed to recommend it so much to us (and other tables), but after it got to our table, we thought that the portion is not really worth the price. If it's $6-$7 it's still reasonable. We're talking $9 here for 6 pieces of chaats.
The dosas on the other hand are delicious. We had the masala dosa and it was really tasty. The pappadums they served earlier was great too. I thought the pappadums were the best among other pappadums Ive tried. And also, go for the Chai or Soy Chai. Not only they are deliciously creamy and thick, they are refillables! yummy
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I was looking for a restaurant with good vegetarian options in the Mission to entertain a friend from out-of-town. My peeps have always had warm words for Dosa, so I thought I'd check it out. It was a wonderul, smooth experience. We rolled in about 7pm expecting a wait and were told our table would be ready in 45-50 mins. Lo, 45 minutes later, we are being seated at our table.
Until I looked at the menu, I didn't quite realize how different South Indian food is from North Indian food. All of the Dosas and Uttapams looked great, but I really was out-of-my depth in terms of being able to make smart menu choices. As if she read my mind, our server glided to the table and asked, "Have you guys been to Dosa before? Have you eaten South-Indian food before?" When she saw our bewildered and blank faces staring back at her , she chuckled and gave us a crash course in the menu, asking a lot of questions to provide us with recommendations.
There wasn't a false step in the recommendations she gave us. Every morsel was tasty, beautifully seasoned and lip-smacking good. The food euphoria Dosa elevated us to made this a stellar evening.
I have to give a special mention to our server. I only wish I knew her name. She had black and white polka-dot nails...She was phenomenal! Not only did she know the menu inside out and give great recommendations, but when she heard my friend Sarah coughing, she brought her a special broth on the house. How nice was that?!
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I only have been here once, my boyfriend friend took us there to eat. Little portions. The menu is huge, didn't know how to really order but we order chicken curry, I forget what kind but not enough meat for 4 people. None of the items were big portions. We order some other stuff but I can not remember but I do remember it wasn't;t enough. The taste was good. Nice and Spicy. I read that this is the best Indian restaurant... I am not sure about that one. I would want to go back and try other stuff since they are considered the best Indian.
The dosas are awesome. Masala, mung, the sauces and the soup that come with them are just intense. The chile shrimps are hot... Cool vibe, cool atmosphere, good music... Like Ahnold said, I'll be back.
We are wandering, somewhat aimlessly in the mission. Just left a lame Mashable party at Mighty and are in need of food. We take a look at Spork's menu and it seems overpriced, the torta shop has just locked its door and I really don't feel like tacos. Its either going to be cheesesteak or Dosa and so it is, my first time at Dosa after many times passing by looking in the window.
It's a little fancier than what I am used to for Indian, living in such close proximity to the great restaurants in Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, but it is a nice departure from the non-existent décor and spotted water glasses of my favorite places. Dosa is packed, we sit at the bar, I order a dosa and a side of the hadi rice. The service is perfect and if I were starving I would have gone with the tasting menu. As expected by the looks of the place, Dosa costs more than I am used to paying.
Dosa is a great place with a warm atmosphere but it still does not compete with my favorite Southbay places.
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Good Indian food and excellent service...
But really overpriced. Meal for 2, which was 2 Dosas and 1 shared curry, was $50. That's not including drinks or dessert.
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Very different than your standard Indian food. But encouraging that there are large groups of Indian families here for their special dinners. LOVE the dosa's. You need a reservation on most nights, but might get lucky and get a seat at the bar.
Note to self: need to go back.
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Had a great meal here last week. I love that they can make most uttapans and dosas gluten-free! Yum! Now if only there were some meat options in the dosas! (You can get meats just not in a dosa.) Nice decor.
Will never go back...
Was here 2 months ago with two friends from the city. We had an early reservation (6:00 PM) and arrived on time, well maybe 2 minutes early. They asked if we were all here and we said yes, Allison just parked the car and was walking across the street, this we brought to the attention of the hostess as we pointed at Ali out the window (she was 40 feet away). We were told we could not be seated until all of our party was present and she walked away.
Ali arrived in the building moments later and we waited for the hosted to return (I think she was lighting candles or something). When she did, she indicated our table was not ready and to have a seat at the bar, it would be a few minutes. We sat and waited--asked over and over if we wanted a cocktail, to which we politely declined. Finally they indicated our table was ready and pointed to one of the tiny tables in the window made for one, two if drinks only. We asked if they had anything else (lots of empty square and rectangular tables in the back) and were advised it would be 15 minutes--so back to the bar and yes, we ordered cocktails this time. They got us.
After finishing our drinks--literally, the moment the last gulp was down, before the glass hit the bar--our table was ready. We got a square table, but it was one of those cozy ones against the wall where one sits on the bench, back to the wall, the second in the chair. Did I mention there were three of us... Yes, they expected 3 to sit at a table for 2, luckily all of us and the surrounding patrons were not the girth of your typical American.
Food was ordered and consumed. At the moment the last bites were taken, we were asked if we wanted anything more and replied no (we decided dessert would be at Bi-Rite). Before the last sounds of "o" in our no's were out, the table was cleared, including the glass of water that I was in the process of reaching for.
Honestly I cannot recall the food in detail. It was not bad and I do not recall it being wonderful either. All I recall is being treated like crap and feeling they only viewed us as a revenue source to be processed as quickly as possible. It felt like the establishment had a contest with the staff to see how quickly they could turn over tables and how high they could get each bill. It was all about their profit with no consideration to the customer.
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Yes. Dosa is worth the hype. Once again, I wanted to hit one of the big hipster havens and write that, really, it was seriously over-rated. I'm thrilled that Dosa proved me wrong, and provided a delightful dinner adventure.
We arrived, this Saturday evening, right when they opened. There were already 3 or 4 parties waiting but we were seated immediately in a fabulous window table. It helps that it was a gorgeous July evening in the Mish, which made for great open-window dining.
From the moment we sat down, the service was EXCEPTIONAL. Our server was charming, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the food and wine. I hate it when I ask a server for a suggestion and they reply with "I dunno. (*giggle*) Everything is good!" Not at Dosa! She had useful suggestions, and great explanations about every menu item and the wine to go with it! THANK YOU!
It's been a few years since I've had Southern Indian Food. I love it. It's hard to find so I consider it a big treat! I wasn't sure if Dosa could live up to my hopes but they absolutely delivered -and then some.
We ordered from the prix fixe menu with wine pairings. As each course was laid out, Steve and I argued over whose choice was better. (I maintain that all of mine were.) The food was DIVINE! Each plate contained a symphony of deliciously spiced treats and just the right amount of cardamom--which to me means cardamom in everything.
I hate to say it, but I wasn't thrilled with all of the wine I sampled. I had a pinot noir before dinner that I didn't even finish -and I LOVE pinots! I also didn't expect the tempranillo that was paired with the 3rd course to be a rose. If I could knock a half a star, I would, but everything else made up for it in spades.
Four course prix fixe dinner for two with wine pairings and two extra cocktails came to $150. They aren't cheap eats but there's plenty of bang for the buck. We went home with full tummies, leftovers, and very happy faces.
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The wait can be long. But I think it's worth it. The jumbo prawn masala was tasty. The dosa was really like a huge crepe, but the chutney was what makes it taste great! Also really like the lamb curry, I love the creamy sauce infused with spices. You may be paying a bit more compare to the typical Curry N' Naan but the food is wonderful. Try it!
This place is the perfect combo of what I enjoy in a dinner spot:
- tasty menu
- good wine list
- correct energy
- consistently helpful and friendly staff
- equally appealing bar and seated dining
I have been here numerous times and have not once been disappointed.
Tough for parking sometimes, but it's the Mission, so of course we plan ahead.
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Great food, but being from Po-Dunk Davis I found the atmosphere to be pretty overwhelming(loud). But the service was great and the food was a delight. Would recommend to anyone who likes Indian Food.
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1 dose of dosa at Dosa = 412 real doses of dosa in India. I came for the food - I left because of the prices.
What Valencia Street needs is a street vendor serving the same food - it would taste better and you would not have to overhear somebody talking about their magical trip to India.
Skip it.
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Update:
I got a response from the owner Anjan within an hour of my posting imploring me to consider the price differences between SF and India, and suggesting I may have made a racist comment.
What I was actually saying in my review - is that I have been to South India myself and had the pleasure of eating some wonderful food there. I remember how delicious the dosas tasted throughout Kerala, Karnaktaka & Tamil Nadu. And while of course street food, such as dosa, is so very much less expensive in India then here in San Francisco, I guess I expected that the food at Dosa would at least taste as good, if not better. It didn't. That's all. Not worth the price of admission.
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2nd Update:
I got an 2nd email from the owner now calling me a "bonafied racist". He starts off his tirade with "Fortunately, I don't need to deal with moronic, ridiculous comments like yours. Yelp is a forum for thoughtful consumers, not self-acclaimed cultural quacks." and "A little trip to India doesn't make you an expert on South Indian culture!"
WTF - Who is this nut job Anjan and why does he think it is okay to harass me about my post? Why does he think that Yelpers need to be experts to be qualified to post here? Lighten up Anjan and focus on your business, not me.
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I kind of don't want to write this review, since I live a few blocks away and don't want the wait to get any longer than it already is at this tastiest of Indian spots in the City...but it's only fair to the folks at Dosa to give them their just reward for serving some seriously delicious stuff. This is good, honest, fresh, kick-ass Southern Indian food like you've probably never been lucky enough to have it.
Check out their wine list, too--I've never been disappointed.
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Holy Moly this was good!
My cousin asked me if I have had southern Indian food before. My response? Yes, of course.
The reality? Not like this. Everything was amazing. I did not even understand what I was dipping into - an array of chickpeas, spicy sauces, eggplant, yogurt, everything under the sun.
Even the desserts were superb.
One caveat: my tummy was doing flipflops the next day. But it was worth it.
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Great Restaurant but SOUTHERN Indian is like a different country to the more popular North Indian Cuisine. Dont expact Nan or Bhuna or lime pickle or any kind of Balti dishes. Interesting but not the Indian Food you might be accustomed to which is a minus for me. Well run restaurant though.
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I rarely give five stars to any place but I'll have to give it to Dosa they deserved it. Being that i only tried Indian food one other time in my life(and i didn't like it) i may not be able to judge the food as well as the next.
I do know the customer service was amazing! Being that I've worked in the customer service business for years, i can honestly say that place made me want to go back.
The hostess was delightful, and she called my dad when i our table was ready so i could take him on a little stroll through my new "hood". I'm sure other place may do that but I'm never experienced it.
Our server was awesome, i think she could tell this was our first time in an Indian restaurant, i think it was the clueless looks on our faces as we explored the menu with dishes we could not pronounce but we tried. She recommended some dishes we would like and also this lightly fried wheat bread..just to die for..i may just go back to order that.
I decided to get the Keralab Chicken and Cauliflower with coconut rice, it was great..but it was so spicy! I'm not one for spicy food but it was great, especially with that bread.
I also had a very good glass of white wine, which made the meal delicious.
As i stated before I've never really been to any Indian restaurants but for me Dosa(currently) is as good as it gets!
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I've now been to Dosa -- whether for dinner or for a weekend brunch -- at least twenty times since they opened, probably more. Having just eaten at Udupi Palace's new SF location down the block, I was reminded about just how good Dosa' cuisine is. They continue to take South Indian cuisine in new directions, without veering from tradition too much, and Anjan and Emily (the owners) remain a charismatic fixture of why this place keeps packing them in.
I can't wait until their Fillmore location opens: you can count on me stuffing my face both there and at this original location, just don't get too close, I might bite.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/05/2005
Update 3/24:
Have been back to Dosa now four times, and while it's still crazy busy, the service… Read more »
I've only been here a few times. I think i've tried almost everything. All in all it was ok, its good but nothing really stood out. hey who knows, maybe its just me.
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The food was great, 5 stars for Indian food. No sick, oily feeling later because the food was really, really good.
I ordered a *nice* glass of wine and received a very small pour-- half a normal pour. My choice was more expensive than the others at our table and no one else had this "problem" with their lesser wines.
This doesn't seem like good practice to me. At first I thought my judgment was wrong but later in our long meal I ordered a second. It too, was very small.
As I held it up and really looked at it skeptically, one of my dining companions asked if I ordered a half glass. At that moment, a waitress retrieved the glass "If we could just take that back and finish pouring...."
I appreciated that with my stink eye they corrected this mistake but I still paid full price for that first half pour. i was with a large group of work people & did not feel comfortable bringing this up with the waitstaff-- "Hey, do you remember that first glass I asked for? That one was small too!!!" I left feeling nonplussed although the food was fabulous.
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I wanted to take my family out to a nice dinner, but i just felt embarrassed after taking them here.
-This place is just too confident for it's own good. It looks nice and fancy, but is really just a facade of intimidation trying to get you to say to yourself, "Oh, I should really like this place, because it's neat looking."
- "Have you been to Dosa before?" The waiters and waitresses ask before they didactically try to convey the importance of the menu on metaphysical levels that can only be attained with repeat visits. The staff is comprised of lame people that probably talk really loud on cell phones in public places and partake in lame fire related hobbies (i.e. twirling fire balls on strings) and they poo poo cool fire hobbies like making instruments and cars that shoot fire. Our waitress spent about 10 minutes trying to explain the menu, which really made me uncomfortable, especially since the menu is really not that hard to understand.
-I liked the fiery fruit salad (it didn't shoot fire balls), but their signature potato dishes are so bland, and you pretty much just eat sauce for dinner.
-The push button on the bathroom door does not work, you have to use the dead bolt. I learned this the hard way, as did another poor soul who caught a glimpse of me wiping :(
Really, my main issue with this place is the staff and ambiance. This place thinks it's way better than it is.
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It's way too expensive for what it is, but the food is really good. Stick to the dosas, the other dishes are not so great. The coconut gelato in a coconut shell was delicious. Not the friendliest service I've encountered.
Can't wait for Udupi Palace! (thanks Jennifer C. for the 411)
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