Review: Sagar Restaurant, King Street Hammersmith

Food: Sagar Hammersmith’s menu covers standard South Indian delicacies including Idlis, a range of dosas, vadas and authentic chutneys and sambars. It also has a section called “Bombay Chowpati Special” featuring chaat items such as bhel puri, pani puri, aloo papdi chaat and dahi batata puri.

Sagar also has a larger selection of thalis – Traditional Udupi Thali (£15.95), Sagar Thali (£13.95) and Vegan Thali (£15.95).

But for those who are not too keen on idlis and dosas or thalis can choose from the curry dishes such as matter paneer, sag paneer, vegetable kootu, chana masala or sukhi sabji alongside chapattis, parathas or puris.

Prices: Sagar’s dishes are generous and are reasonably priced. But if you frequent cheaper vegetarian eating joints such as Saravana Bhavan, you may find it a bit steeper.

But if a peaceful, quiet vegetarian meal in a proper restaurant-like atmosphere is your idea of an ideal dinner, then Sagar is right for you.

Upside: The vegetarian restaurant has put a lot of thought into its guests’ wishlist and has a separate vegan menu with a sizable selection of dishes to choose from. Sagar also serves nut-free, onion and garlic-free and wheat-free dishes. It also has a good selection of wines and beers to choose from.

A quiet and elegant place for an evening meal, Sagar’s décor is neutral with light influences of Udupi, a small town in the coastal region of the Western Ghats, about 60km from Bangalore in Karnataka. Small idols of Lord Krishna etc adorn the place.

The staff at Sagar Hammersmith are very friendly and the service is good and quick.

A tall glass of Mango Lassi at £3.25 just ahead of the meal will perk you up. It is thick and sumptuous and will remind you of the lassis back in India.  

Downside: The food is fresh, well-seasoned and authentically South Indian. But the taste is not far from the South Indian dishes served at Saravana Bhavan which is nearly half as much cheaper.

Also, the South Indian dishes are more authentic than the chaat dishes Sagar Hammersmith serves.

India news Bulletin tip: Stick to the idlis, dosas and vadas for an authentic taste of food from Karnataka. Also if you are visiting Sagar Hammersmith during the day, try the “Lunch special” thali. You can taste pappadam, masala dosa, rice of the day, vegetable curry, raitha, sambar, chutney and desert of the day all for just £5.95!

Sagar also offers a value lunch box for £3.50 but the “Lunch Special” offers more value for money and leaves you feeling full.

Also, if you have a sweet tooth, go for traditional sweets such as Gulab Jamun, Ras Malai, Sheera or payasam at Sagar Hammersmith.

 Sagar Restaurant has branches in Covent Garden and the West End in addition to the Hammersmith branch.

India News Bulletin pays for its meals and all its restaurant reviews are independent and unbiased.