Where & What to Eat in Puducherry
Puducherry is a tureen of different flavours and food. It is home to Creole cuisine- a juxtaposition of Tamil and French cooking. The proliferation of cafes and restaurants by people of different nationalities has endowed Pondy with cuisines from all over the world. Freshly baked baguettes, croissants and ratatouille along with Masala Dosas, rasam and payasam are all that you need to let your taste buds delight in every single bite. Eating at one of Puducherry’s restaurants forces a question to mind: what has been borrowed and what is intrinsic? The answer is none. It is not unusual see a road-side food vendor dishing out plates of curd rice or a Tamil chef bent over a pizza oven. Whether it is rasam or ratatouille, there is no dearth of options when it comes to Puducherry’s food and dining.
Local delights
Where: Baker Street, Chez Pushpa, The Botanist Lounge, Villa Helena, Kooraikadai Restaurant
Cuisine: Indo-French
Open:
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 400 onwards per person
Pondy’s culinary extravaganza is an orchestra of French conventions and typical South Indian flair. Honouring its superfluity of coconuts and seafood, a number of curries have evolved over the years combining the French and south-Indian flavours. Kadugu Yerra is perhaps the best exemplar combining the staples of mustard, and curry leaves with vinegar. Idli, dosa, uttapam, and rice are staples. French delights like crepes, baguettes, and croissants dominate the platter equally. The most popular dessert is paal payasam (rice-milk pudding). Traditionally all meals were eaten on banana leaves. You can still find some restaurants following this custom even today.
Must Savour: Kadugu Yerra, Idli, Dosa, Uttapam, Crêpe, Baguettes, Croissants & Paal Payasam
Indian Coffee House
Location: 125, JN Street, opp. muthu silk house, MG Road Area, Puducherry, 605001
Cuisine:
Open:
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 830 per person
The most interesting factor of all the Indian coffee houses is its ambience- the strong nostalgia of the 60s and 70s that still linger on. Pondy’s coffee house is no different. Located on the busy Nehru Street, this café/restaurant is almost an institution. Its hangover of the bygone days coupled with the filling and pocket-friendly food is an experience that takes you back to a time you might not have known but can amply absorb here. At this coffee house, there is no pretence. You get whatever you come for- food that tastes unchanged and fantastic.
Must Savour: Filter coffee, Pongal, Semia idli
Surguru Spot
Location: 12, JN Street, Near Vinayagar Temple, White Town, Puducherry, 605001
Cuisine:
Open:
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 830 per person
With all the staples of the quintessential south Indian meal, Surguru Spot is a respite for when you’re hungry and tired. This is one of their three branches and by far, their best. The staff are well acquainted with the menu and will guide you through it as you desire. They can be a little uptight but are committed to their job. The service depends on how busy a day is, so you have to be a little patient. Once seated, you can let your hair down and devour the food in front of you. (They serve only vegetarian food.)
Must Savour: Masala dosa, Uttapam, Filter coffee
Dilliwaale6
Location: Door No. 6, Marine Street, White Town, Puducherry, 605002
Cuisine:
Open:
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 830 per person
The sheer extravagance of North Indian cuisine is elaborated in the menu of this restaurant. Here you will find all the street food and staple dishes that a ‘Dilliwala’ loves and reveres. Engrained in the DNA of all the desis, these food items will not disappoint you. The extraordinary decor of this restaurant is borrowed from Bollywood and an air of joviality and comfort prevails. Their service and servers are both well and impressive. Located very close to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Dilliwaale6 is for those times you want to savour the taste of rich-oily goodness on the French quarters.
Must Savour: Pavbhaji, Dal makhani, Gulaab jamoon
Hotel Sri Kamatchi in Biriyani Veedu
Location: 50, 100 Feet Rd, Sundararaja Nagar, Thanthai Periyar Nagar, Puducherry, 605004
Cuisine:
Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 750 for two
Hotel Sri Kamatchi is one of the best places serving Indian cuisine in all of Puducherry. It is a fan favourite and has remained so for years now. Whether it is a typical south Indian dish or an indulgent plate of biriyani with a side of the most delicious curry, this restaurant will stupefy you with their deft service and expertise. The décor, laid-back ambience and the courteous staff ensure that your experience is just as good as the meal you devour. Moreover, they serve their food on banana leaves- a custom typical in southern India.
Must Savour: Prawn kamatchi, Nattukozhi biriyani, Mutton dosa
Tanto
Location: 29, Diagou Mudaliar Street Between MG Road and, Mission St, Puducherry, 605001
Cuisine:
Open: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 350 for two
At Tanto you can expect a meal that will satisfy the thunderstorm in your stomach and the wanderlust in your eyes. The food is delicious, the decor uplifting and the staff friendly. The ingredients are sourced from the gardens and beaches around Puducherry and everything used is organic. With a vast variety of vegan, vegetarian and seafood options, you can only expect the best of the best at Tantos which in Italian means abundance. Whether it is a pizza baked in the goodness of the wood fire ovens, or a lasagne bathed in the most delicious sauce, you can expect the heartiest meal at this Auroville restaurant.
Must Savour: Pepperoni pizza, Lasagne, Tiramisu
Villa Shanti
Location: 14 rue, Suffren St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001
Cuisine:
Open: 11:00 am - 03:00 pm | 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 3,300 onwards, per person
Puducherry’s Villa Shanti is an epitome of elegance and hospitality. With options of indoor and outdoor dining, this restaurant has strived for excellence in all that they do. This is reflected in their expansive menu and the locally sourced ingredients. The ambience is luxurious and a definitive win if you’re looking for extravagance. The building in which the restaurant is located is itself opulent and graceful. You’re almost too quickly enamoured of it. They also have delicious and lip-smacking vegetarian options making sure that you don’t feel left out. The staff are courteous and well-trained. So, sit back and relax and enjoy the delicious food and atmosphere. Their café bar is just as good and exciting. At La Villa Shanti, you’re truly spoilt for choice.
Must Savour: Spaghetti, Pan seared barracuda, Rosé
Café Des Arts
Location: 10, Suffren Street, White Town
Cuisine:
Open: 08:30 am - 07:00 pm
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 3,300 onwards, per person
This Instagram-worthy café is quite the Queen Bee with its fun décor and exciting ambience. Housed within a 19th century heritage building, Café des Arts impresses you with their foods that can be customised to suit your taste. There is also a bookshelf within, so, you can pick out a book and indulge in stories as you bite into their most perfect waffles. The casual feel added to the elegance of European flourish makes this café a must visit. Its yellow walls with the quirky graffiti can be spotted from miles away- there is no way you can miss this café.
Must Savour: Waffles, Banana Nutella Crepe, Masala Chai, Baguette Sandwich & Croque Provençale
Bakers Street
Location: 123, Busy St, Near Clock Tower, MG Road Area, Puducherry, 605001
Cuisine:
Open: 07:00 am - 10:00 am | 12:00 pm - 03:00 pm | 06:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Pocket Pinch: ₹ 3,300 onwards, per person
It is no exaggeration to cite Baker Street as a paradise for all those people with an intractable sweet tooth. However, this bakery is not limited to only these options. Their offerings of breads and other breakfast items is astounding. The display of all these confectionaries arranged in absolute delight evangelise even those sworn to distaste. The fragrance of baked goods and the vanilla in the air caramelise into a heaven where all gluttony is forgiven. With a bustling counter, service tends to be mostly (self-service) and tricky but the wait is worth it in the end. Whether you’re hopping in for breakfast or for take-aways, this store will ensnare you completely.
Must Savour: Cheesecake, Stuffed omelette, Éclairs
