Delhi loves its South Indian food—whether it’s the scrumptious masala dosa, rasam rice at your childhood favourite joint, idiyappam served with spicy stew, soft ghee podi idlis or piping hot filter coffee. And Shankar Mahadevan ‘s newly-opened restaurant in Rajouri Garden, Malgudi, is doing it right and more.
Malgudi is a modern, pure-vegetarian South Indian all-day resto-cafe co-founded by Grammy-winning singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan alongside his best friend KS Ramakrishnan. After opening four outlets across Mumbai and two in the UAE, with one soon to open in Gurugram , Malgudi arrived in the capital recently, and it did not disappoint. Shankar Mahadevan’s restaurant feels nostalgic, welcoming you with a warm, inviting moodboard While most restaurants nowadays aim for a moody aesthetic. It reminds you of all the South Indian restaurant runs you made with your family in your childhood. Yet it is modern and vibrant, in its own way. Terracotta hues, brass lighting, cane-backed chairs, teak tables evoking coastal homes and temple towns, a traditional wood swing, plush sofas for sitting comfortably with your family, hand-painted murals, Chettinad-style tilework, Carnatic motifs woven into contemporary music, greenery adding softness to the space, and an open kitchen lend a dynamic edge to Malgudi. The dedicated Filter Kaapi Barista counter becomes one of the highlights of the restaurant, where the bartenders make you mean coffee-based drinks that you would trade your classic filter coffee for, though it has its own charm. The menu leans heavily into regional flavours with a contemporary lens. You might find your traditional staples in the menu, but they arrive on the table elevated. It is organically a true-blue South Indian restaurant; however, each dish has its own twist. For dinner, Malgudi offers an extensive menu featuring its most recommended dishes—the Malgudi Superhits. We started our dinner course with two starters—Ghee Podi Thatte Idli and Podi Cheese Balls served with a tangy tamarind dip. the idlis—though soft—were not as decadently drizzled with ghee as we would have enjoyed While the cheese balls are a must-try. The podi sprinkled on top was also very underwhelming. Whereas the cheese balls were crunchy, cheesy on the inside, and sprinkled with a healthy dose of podi—a clear winner —the plate cleared up within seconds. We also had the Anna Style Crispy Lotus Root as a side, but it didn’t really impress.
