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I've been MIA for a short while because my social calendar in the first half of November was all over the place. It is only this weekend that I've managed to find my bearings and the first thing on my agenda is getting back to blogging 😁 I am bringing you a restaurant review today.

I had been hearing about Podi & Poriyal for a very long time mainly via social media. You know the only area where I have FOMO is when it comes to restaurants that generate buzz. So predictable no? 😆 I was able to finally check out the restaurant for myself a few months ago with my family.

Nestled in the heart of Little India, Podi & Poriyal is an offering from Arpanam Pte Ltd, a social enterprise, started by the Nadathur Family in Singapore. Arpanam aims to provide enriching experiences that celebrate Indian culture, art, traditions and customs.

The restaurant is housed in a pre-war heritage building with a brick facade diagonally opposite to the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Little India. The location is relatively less crowded and quieter compared to the eateries located closer to Mustafa Centre and the Little India Arcade.

Both al fresco and indoor dining options are available. The muggy weather compelled us to retreat to the cool comfort of the restaurant.

On entering the warm and inviting space, you feel transported to an upscale family-run eatery in a small South-Indian town. Even though the size of the space is small, it is clean and tastefully done. I loved the tall wooden pillars at the entrance representative of traditional Chettinad architecture, the feature wall made up of kitchen tools and utensils from a bygone era, the vibrant wallpaper and the different varieties of exterior + interior patterned floor tiles. The walnut-hued wood accents, interesting ethnic elements and sober earthy colors lend a calming vibe to the space.

All the decor elements including the light fixtures, fabric blinds, upholstery fabrics, curated contemporary art and framed photographs of yesteryears add to the cultural appeal of the restaurant.

For the unversed, 'Podi' refers to a spice blend in Southern India, one that is sprinkled on food to spike the flavor profile of a dish. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadi use the term 'Podi' whereas in Karnataka the equivalent term is 'Pudi'. On the other hand, 'Poṟiyal' is a Tamil word for any fried, or sometimes sautéed, vegetable dish (in Kannada the same thing is called 'Palya'). It is usually made by shallow frying shredded or diced vegetables and greens along with spices.

Podi & Poriyal offers diners a menu of wholesome South Indian vegetarian fare. Re-establishing long forgotten South Indian recipes is at the heart of this restaurant. The menu changes constantly, is carefully crafted and offers an assortment of homely meals and snacks. Also, the restaurant highlights different types of food depending on the time of day. Set meals and regional snacks are offered during lunchtime and evening respectively. Eclectic cocktails and bar snacks are available in the evening. My husband and I need to return to check it out 😁

At the heart of the kitchen at Podi & Poriyal is Jamuna paati who draws inspiration from the recipes of her own childhood and reflects fresh, nutritious food. Her meticulously planned menu includes healthy alternatives to rice, with fresh seasonal vegetables cooked in authentic South Indian spices which are a treat for the senses. The restaurant kitchen steers away from using artificial colours, preservatives, MSG, or the use of aluminum vessels. All dishes are geared towards wellness, freshly prepared with no microwaving involved. Healthier substitutes such as rock salt, coconut sugar, raw sugar and jaggery are used in their preparations. Also worth noting is that Podi & Poriyal is a low-gluten restaurant with several of their dishes being gluten-free. Also, there are dishes that are indicated as vegan.

We were warmly greeted by the restaurant staff who were incredibly hospitable. We were delighted to find out that one of the staff spoke fluent Kannada and we had a pleasant chat.

It was a Saturday morning and the breakfast menu was available. Even though the said menu isn't extensive, we had no problems picking out dishes we wanted to order (which turned out to be 75% of the menu 😛 ).

Filter Coffee

First things first - I need my coffee to kickstart the day. Like a true-blue South Indian, filter kaapi runs in my veins!

I love it when filter coffee is presented in a traditional davara tumbler. It fills me with nostalgia and takes me straight back to South India. The coffee was robust, aromatic and enjoyable.

Medhu Vadai

Next we ordered the medhu vadai with sambaar & an accompaniment of chutneys. The vadas were fresh, crispy without being oily and fluffy. The sambaar was mellow and flavourful. The two different chutneys offered different tasting experiences, both delicious in their own right.

Recommended.

Podi Onion Utthappams

This dish arrived at our table looking very appetizing indeed. There were a trio of small utthappams (rice & lentil based pancakes) with a smattering of podi, served with sambaar, a vegetable side and two chutneys. We were asked if we could identify the vegetable used to make the side dish. After a few wrong guesses (the food blogger in me was mildly ashamed), we were told it was made from raw banana. It was unexpected yet so good. This was an absolutely lip-smacking dish. Everything came together to make a delightful culinary experience.

Highly recommended.

Benne Dosai (Set of 2)

We ordered the benne dosai (a fermented rice & lentil crepe) topped with white butter and served with sambaar and two chutneys. I am used to eating crispy dosa but this dosa had a soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture which was a pleasant change. Along with the subtly spiced accompaniments, the dosa was polished off in no time.

Ghee Roast Dosai

I guess I do need my crispy dosai! Based on the staff member's suggestion, we ordered the ghee roast dosai which consisted of a crispy fermented rice & lentil crepe served with sambaar, raw banana side dish and two chutneys. This was a good dish as well. The kids enjoyed this one a wee bit more. If I had to pick between the two types of dosai that we ordered, that would be a tough choice.

Pongal

I love pongal which is a savoury lentil-based porridge. Pongal to me feels like a hug in a bowl. Earlier I used to prepare it at home with rice but since the past few years I use only millets.

The pongal at Podi & Poriyal seems to be made with millets as well. It was served with sambaar and two chutneys. The flavour was mild and comforting. The friend cashew nuts and curry leaves gave it texture and flavour. The consistency was a bit firmer than what I am used to but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

Kesari

Kesari is a semolina-based halwa (dessert). The rendition at Podi & Poriyal has cranberries and walnuts. Right off the bat, let me tell you that I am not a fan of this dish in general. It was ordered mainly for my husband and kids who have a marked sweet tooth. Considering how fast it was polished off, I'd confidently say that they liked it.

We spent a delightful morning at the cozy restaurant, exploring the little space, talking to the staff and of course, enjoying a hearty breakfast. Our overall experience was overwhelmingly positive.

It is heartwarming to know that Podi & Poriyal supports philanthropic causes with a vision to help migrant workers in Singapore and to support girl children in India.

Tasty vegetarian food with a immersive cultural experience

What I liked the most about Podi & Poriyal was the location, ambience, authentic homely style of food and the impeccable service. The decor will transport the diner to a place steeped in culture and traditions. The humble Tamil cuisine is elevated to create a well-rounded sensory experience. Here you will get mild and subtly spiced vegetarian dishes that are health & wellness-focused, with gluten-free and vegan options. Even though the items are limited, I liked the selection. Portions are generous with a variety of accompaniments provided.

That said, one of the biggest complaints you will likely hear about Podi & Poriyal is that the prices are steep (before visiting, I had heard that from friends too) and in comparison to neighborhood outlets (many of which also serve authentic and delicious food), they definitely are. But I would still wholeheartedly recommend this charming restaurant because of the overall culinary experience combined with the fact that the profits made by the restaurant are intended for charitable causes.

Podi & Poriyal is an ideal venue for couples, families, business lunches and small gatherings. Not to mention, foreigners looking for a gentle and less intimidating introduction to the diverse, complex and extraordinary world of Indian food 😊

My rating for this restaurant is