Kamat Hotel (Clock Tower)

You cannot have missed this joint, even if you went out of your way to avoid it (and why would you do that?). A 56-year-old chain of restaurants specializing in South-Indian snacks, Kamat has a presence in all the states of this region, except Kerala. Even sunny Goa has its share of Kamats, and it's only apt - this is exactly the kind of place you'd bring a tourist friend who wants to sample the great sizzling delights of the average Indian dosa. Kamat's the place for clean, tasty food that will reaffirm your faith in all things good.

What started out a most basic breakfast and snack centre has now become a big establishment scattered across town. Each Kamat Hotel is a hub of hungry foodies, crowding the now swankier dining halls. There's an AC section at each restaurant, but even the non-AC hall is perfectly respectable for families. Couples and women prefer to stick to the AC rooms, which are comfier though not always with enough leg-room.

The masala dosa here is undoubtedly the most popular choice. Kamat does certain things differently when it comes to food. You can get some very good sugar-free fruit juice here, and the Amul butter with your dosa comes in individually-sealed packs. They also serve low-fat butter occasionally. Cool, huh?

Other must-haves include the vada-sambar or idly-sambar (an overflowing bowl of sambar with a suffused vada sunk in it), the onion uthappam, and the tomato baath. All the dosas are popular, and among the sweets, you'll do well to go with basundi, rasmalai or gulab-jamun. The restaurant usually has its own sweet store on the premises.

To satisfy diverse tastes, Kamat also has a North-Indian menu, complete with naan and chilli paneer, the most requested dishes. Noodles and vegetable manchuria gravy is popular with lovers of Chinese food.

A restaurant with quite a history in the city, Kamat is however, is synonymous with its South-Indian snacks. And you won't have any trouble following this happy tradition.

Other Kamat Hotels in town:
1. Abids - 2473-6510
2. Nampally - 2320-2251
3. Saifabad - 2323-2225
4. Kamat Hotel, SD Road