Gayatri Restaurant: Just Like Dining At Home

Established in 1996, Gayatri Restaurant, which takes its name from a Sanskrit word meaning " song" or "hymn", makes dining at a restaurant feels homely. With three branches under its belt and its main branch located at Race Course Road, a stretch renown for having Indian cuisines from various parts of India; Gayatri Restaurant reinvents itself with flair of contemporary dining on delectable traditional North and South Indian fare at reasonable prices.


Entering Gayatri Restaurant is akin to being welcomed into the dining area of an Indian household. Perhaps, it is the minimal teak furniture pieces and simple white draperies, or maybe it is the randomly-placed Indian and Asian art pieces, but most certainly, the unpretentious, warm hospitality that this restaurant exudes. Dining at Gayatri Restaurant is like enjoying a home-cooked Indian dinner with your family members around the dining table back at home.


Diners will be wowed by Gayatri's gastronomic offerings of South and North Indian vegetarian, meat and seafood dishes, a wide array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and a pleasant list of sweet afters. If you do not know where to start, having the Chicken 65 ($5 for a small plate, $10 for a big plate) and the Stuffed Chicken Beancurd ($3 per piece) as entrées is a good way to start. Chicken 65 consists of at least eight bite-sized grilled chicken pieces which is similar in looks to the usual fried chicken. However, Gayatri's version is succulent and finger licking-good with the addition of spices. The Stuffed Chicken Beancurd, on the other hand, is a rare inclusion in most Indian restaurants' menus. Roasted a perfect gold, this appetizer is a marriage of interesting textures and tastes: the crispy crust of the deep-fried beancurd, the contrastingly soft beancurd filling and the mild turmeric tinge of the minced chicken paste which gives off a divine sensation when melded together.

One of the specialties of Gayatri is its Curry Fish Head ($18 for small, $22 for medium and $24 for large), a hot favourite amongst its patrons. Gayatri's rendition is a fresh and fleshy red snapper semi-stewed for 40 minutes in tamarind ( asam ) juice and coconut. The result is a spicy, sweet and sour concoction that goes on to be more phenomenal after a long sip of the Lime Juice ($2.20). Tandoori dishes are essentials that are available at most Indian restaurants, but Gayatri is almost religious with theirs. Gayatri goes to the length of displaying a wide array of fresh meats and seafood (chicken cutlets, pomfret, prawns, crabs, squids etc) in a clear display ‘fridge'. Diners can then select those that they wish to be served tandoori -style. A popular favourite is the succulent Tandoori Chicken ($6 per piece) that is char-grilled to perfection, sweet-tasting and just a tad spicy. These dishes, when coupled with freshly-toasted plain naan ($2 per piece), warmly-served butter naan ($2.50 per piece) or simply plain rice, make for a delectable meal.

Gayatri's offering of vegetarian food are just as pleasing. The Vegetarian Briyani Set ($5), rice served with three vegetables sides and poppadoum crackers proves to be a filling meal. The yellow basmati rice is ideally flavoured with spices and is neither too soggy nor too dry. Vegetarian diners can choose from the array of vegetable dishes and gravies displayed at the restaurant's counter like bitter gourd, long beans, dhal etc. What's more, diners can have side dish refills which would be served to them straight out of the warmer.

The Indians believe that desserts ease digestion, but there are more reasons which Gayatri can offer. Amongst its compilation of all-time sweet favourites includes the ever-popular Gulab Jamun ($2 per piece) - fried milk balls in golden syrup, recommended for those who with a sweet tooth. Payasam ($2.50) – a semi-thick South Indian pudding with vermicelli cooked with milk and sugar will definitely gel with those who prefer to end their meal on something warm and semi-sweet. If you desire a cool, light and refreshing dessert, Ras Malai ($3) – spongy cottage cheese flatten balls soaked in sugar syrup and thick cream milk, is the perfect treat.


Acting like perfect hosts welcoming you to their homes for lunch or dinner, the smartly-dressed service staff fuss over you by refilling your water glasses, piling huge scoopfuls of rice onto your plates and serving extra helpings of vegetables.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Gayatri Restaurant
If you like a no-frills and value-for-money dining affair, this is one Indian restaurant that you should visit. Dining at Gayatri Restaurant is as akin to dining at home, especially in the company of hospitable hosts and good company.