Now that I have visited the Dosa Diner at Lokhandwala abt 4-5 times, I feel qualified enough to write a review.
First, the concept behind Dosa Diner appears to be this: basically South Indian food , built mainly around the dosa, with idli, vada, appams also available.What makes it different from the standard South Indian /Udipi joint is the attempt to offer a range of innovative fillings for the dosa eg malabar prawn masala filling, butter chicken filling etc .....all dressed in a trendy upmarket ambience.
The decor at all their branches is standardised around yellow and green .. IT IS ON THE LOUD SIDE W/O BEING OVERPOWERING.A few large photoprints on the wall, but by and large bare walls.Airconditioned.Background music.
Seating is of 2 kinds: small round glass tables to seat 2-3, straight-backed cane chairs with cushions.The alternative is a largish rectangular table to seat 4, with 2 benches on either side...basically wooden planks on a brick/stone slab with a similar back. PLANKS ARE CUSHIONED AS WELL.Seating was ok w/o being described as particularly comfortable...however older people(50+) may find the seating uncomfortable, so be aware before you take your parents there.
Foodwise, menu is limited , built mainly around the dosa..they offer around 8 different kinds of basic dosa(eg rava, neer , etc) BUT they also give you about 14-15 different fillings for your choice, many non-veg, eg malabar prawn masal filling, butter chicken filling etc..so you have nearly a 100 permutations and combinations to play around with.They also serve very soft and rather tasty appams with choice of non-veg or veg accompaniment...I found their appam with chicken stew superb. In addition, for the unadventurous, they have a choice of 2 thalis.THE MENU IS CHANGED EVERY FEW MONTHS, SO THERES ALMOST ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW ON THE MENU.
Food taste is satisfactory , altho’nothing to write home about.The first time you eat there, the innovative fillings add their halo..but once the halo wears off, the food taste is just about okay.Dosa diner is DEFINITELY NOT a place for the die-hard afficianados of authentic old-fashioned Dosas and if you compare the taste at Dosa Diner with that of The Dasaparakash or Woodlands in Madras, or Annapoorna at Madurai, DD is not the place for you.So go with an open mind, be prepared to experiment , and taste their offerrings on their own terms.
Portions are small, unless you are looking for a snack only!
I have never found the Lokhandwala outlet to be overcrowded, so getting a table has never been a problem.
Service is quick and courteous.
A meal for 1 consisting of a starter, a main course, and a beverage will set you back approx.135-160Rs, depending on what you order. Once again, NOT a Value-for-Money proposition IF you are benchmarking against the Udipi.
Overall, Ambience and decor:good, Service:very good.Taste: reasonable.NOT a place to frequent regularly, but good for an occassional entry when one is looking for South Indian food which is ’’unconventional’’. Good place to take the girl/boy friend or for families with young kids.