211 Karangahape Road,
Newton
Auckland,


(09) 377 7781

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Put your hand up if you reckon you could become a full time vegetarian. Nope, me neither, but every time I have a good vegetarian meal, it is something which I give serious thought to.

This time around, it’s the turn of Rasoi, the long established South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Karangahape Rd, to try and lure me away from the meaty side. One of the best meals I’ve ever had was a 100% vege dinner in Kerala in South India, so maybe there’s every chance.

You’re definitely not heading along to Rasoi for the décor. The interior’s just a basic café, with Formica tables, almost too bright lights, and shared jugs of water to douse the chili flavours. Rasoi’s most popular dish is one of the thalis, basically an array of rice, curry, dhal and Indian bread. The cheapest is the snack thali at $6.50. I’ve had the Deluxe Thali here before ($16.50) and with rice, 2 x curries (usually potato and eggplant), dhal soup, yoghurt soup, a papadam and a samosa, it’s the kind of meal that can get you through the longest of days.

Today, I’m showing Gandhi-like restraint though and have ordered the Uttappam ($11), basically a fried rice pancake studded with onion, chilli and coriander. It’s served with a spicy dhal soup and a coconut sambal (spicy sauce), and is just the thing on a cold winter’s day. Ironic really, because it’s a cuisine that’s really based in the tropical climate of South India. I finish the meal with a zingy cup of spice-laden masala tea and a piece of sweet cashew barfi.

It’s been a good meal, but it’s still not enough to lure me way from the occasional chorizo sausage or eye fillet steak with onions and mushrooms.

Still, it is very authentic South Indian food, and a lot, lot cheaper and quicker than a long flight to Chennai or Bangalore.