The Malayali harvest festival Onam has begun! Although the auspicious festival celebrated across 10 days includes multiple cultural activities, it is incomplete without its magnum opus–the Onam Sadhya or Onasadhya. The traditional Kerala meal is served on a banana leaf featuring over 25 dishes, all vegetarian. Sometimes the number of dishes goes up to 64! Perhaps, that’s why it is such a major attraction for everyone. Every Malayali household prepares a Sadhya, which is enjoyed with friends and family–consider yourself lucky if you are invited to someone’s house where this grand meal is prepared. If not, fret not. Whether you’re keen on enjoying Onam Sadhya at a restaurant or a lavish spread from the comfort of your home, bookmark these places which offer authentic experiences.
1. Dakshin Coastal, ITC Maratha (Mumbai)
The recently reopened South Indian restaurant is bringing the festivities to you with an elaborate Onasadya feast, served from afternoon to midnight. You’ll get to taste 26 dishes including must-haves such as Kadamba Thoran, Olan, Pumpkin Erissery, Ulli Theeyal, Parippu Pradhaman and two more payasams, Parappu Payar Curry, Pineapple Pachadi, among many more curations.
Availability: September 8, 2022 from 12pm-12am
Price: INR 3,500 plus taxes per guest
2. Saffron & Lotus Cafe, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu (Mumbai)
Relish the traditional recipes and delicacies of Kerela at not one but two restaurants at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. Saffron and JW Cafe offer an unforgettable authentic experience through a lavish feast which includes Olan, Kalan, Pachadi, Thoran, Erriserry, Avial, Theyal, Inji curry, Paruppu, Sambar, Rasan, and much more. It’s the ultimate festival of flavours!
Available from 12:30 pm-3:30 pm at Lotus Cafe; Price: INR 2,900 plus taxes
Available from 12:30 pm-4:00 pm at Saffron; Price: INR 2,750 plus taxes
Contact: + 91 22 6693 3344, +91 90046 16506
3. Kappa Chaka Kandhari (Chennai & Bengaluru)
For a nuanced yet truly traditional Onasadhya meal, head to the award-winning restaurant this year. Comprising 26 dishes, the vegetarian course is prepared by Namboodiri cooks from Kerala to give you that authentic experience. The restaurant doesn’t restrict its menu to dine-in only; you can also choose to order in the Onasadhya Festive Meal in A Box with the same number of dishes. The menu includes Uppu, Cheru Pazham, Chena Chops, Nendrakai Nuruku, Sharkara Varatty and Pavakka Kondattam; pickles such as Manga Achar, Naranga Achar, Nellika Achar and Inji Puli along with Beetroot Kichadi and Pineapple Pachadi; an elaborate selection of vegetables like Olan, Cabbage Thoran, Avial and Koottu Kari; Nei-Parippu with Matta red rice accompanied with delicious Kerala Sambar, Kalan, Pappadam and Rasam. End your elaborate feast with the delicious Kerela Payasams such as Ada Pradhaman, Palada, Chakka Pradhaman and Parippu Payasam, which are also available to order separately (or additionally) to sweeten your festivities.
Availability for the Onasadhya dine-in: September 6-8 for lunch and dinner (available only with advance booking via the website); Price: INR 900 per head plus taxes
Availability for Onasadhya Festive Meal in a Box for Takeaway: September 6-8 for lunch from 10:30 am-1 pm (available only with advance booking via the website); Price: INR 4,950 plus taxes and serves 5 persons
Availability for Onam Special Payasams for takeaway and delivery: 4 varieties of payasam available in 500 ml & 1000 ml packs–available from September 6-8 10:30 am-9 pm (available only with advance booking via the website); Price: INR 700 plus taxes (1 litre)/ INR 375 plus taxes (500 ml)
4. The St. Regis Mumbai
Don’t have the time to head out for an Onam Sadhya? Don’t worry, the chefs at St. Regis Mumbai have got you covered. You can indulge in the delectable Onam box which will be delivered to your doorstep courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy on Wheels. Treat yourself to 21 delectable dishes including Kaya Varuthathu (Banana Chips fried in pure coconut oil), Avial (Turmeric scented slow-cooked strips of vegetables with ground fresh coconut, shallots and finished with crushed shallots, curry leaves and Coconut Oil), Erussery (Pumpkin with red dried beans preparation, Finished with roasted coconut mixture), Rasam (Lentil and tamarind based broth finished with cilantro and black pepper), Thoran (Stir fired Cabbage with mustard, green chillies and freshly grated coconut), Pineapple Pulissery (Sweet and Spicy yoghurt based curry with pineapple), Kuthari Choru (Red Boiled Rice), Cheru Pazham (Small Banana), Palada Pradhaman (Rice Flakes Hot Pudding with cow milk, clarified butter and sugar), among others–all from the comfort of your home.
5. Fifty Five East, Grand Hyatt BKC (Mumbai)
Experience authentic home-style cooking through a massive feast prepared by chef Marina Balakrishnan. With 27 dishes on the menu, Oottupura’s Onasadya is a vegetarian meal served all together. The large spread includes pickles, fresh and fried bananas, spiced buttermilk, and a variety of papadums. Main vegetable dishes include pulissery, spiced yoghurt with a coconut base; avial, mixed vegetables in yoghurt sauce; Kerala-style nadan sambar; and pachadi, Kerala-style raita, all served over piles of Kerala’s signature matta red rice. What’s not to love?
Available on September 11 from 12:30-4 pm
Price: INR 3470 per person, inclusive of tax
Contact: 7045950135/ 7045950137
6. Nair On Fire
Celebrate the homecoming of Kerala’s legendary mythical King Mahabali via a king-sized feast at Nair On Fire. The menu features 25 veg and non-veg dishes, packed with flavours! This year’s specials include Vali’s Parippu, Thakkali Rasam, Pineapple Pachadi, Chicken Morichathu (pan-roasted), Mathanga (Pumpkin) Erissery, Travancore Olan, Kanthari Chicken Curry, Fish Curry, Kochi Avial, Parippu Payasam, Semiya Payasam with Boli and other delicacies.
Available on: Thursday, September 8 /Saturday, September 10/ Sunday, September 11 for lunch from 12-3 pm
Price: Veg- INR 1,350 / Chicken- INR 1,750/ Seafood- INR 1,950/ Buff- INR 2,250
Available only for home delivery in Mumbai (a preorder is recommended)
Contact: 93240 59522 to order / DM @naironfireindia on Instagram
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7. JW Kitchen, JW Marriott Bengaluru
Offering signature Onasadhya dishes in a contemporary style, JW kitchen promises a memorable culinary experience. From live counters serving Nei Appam, Banana Dosai, Meen pollichathu, Karuveppilai Kozhi Rasam and a traditional South Indian seafood counter to the crowd favourites such as Palada Pradhaman and Pazham Pradhaman, there is much to enjoy and relish at this special brunch this Onam.
Available on September 8 from 12:30 pm–3:30 pm
Price: Starts from INR 2,950/- ++
Contact: 8884494037
8. Kerala Cafe (Mumbai & Pune)
Savour a lavish feast that is truly befitting a King at Kerala Cafe. The traditional multi-course meal comprising 27 dishes is packed with vibrant colours and punchy flavours, and served on the Banana Leaf. It doesn’t get more authentic than that! You can either choose to enjoy the Sadhya with your loved ones in the restaurant or from the comfort of your home through a takeaway.
Available from September 7-10
Price: INR 849++ (for dine-in), INR 949++ (for takeaways)
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9. Savya Rassa (Chennai, Pune & New Delhi)
Experience the Grand Onasadhya with over 30 traditional dishes including signatures like Kootu curry, Kalan, Olan, Thoran, Erissery, Palada pradhaman, among others–a feast to relish in the company of friends and family!
Available till September 8 in Chennai, Pune and New Delhi
Contact: 9940091899 (Chennai), 9130095522 (Pune), New Delhi (9311122401)
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10. Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Gurgaon
Can’t head down south? Don’t worry, The Westin Gurgaon brings the flavours of Kerala to you. Chef Rekha Raghavan will prepare a melange of Kerala-style flavours this Onam through a lavish Sadhya meal comprising traditional dishes. You wouldn’t want to miss it!
Available for lunch and dinner from September 8-10
Contact: +91 124 497 7777/ 72900 13905
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11. Feast, Sheraton Grand Hotel Bangalore at Brigade Gateway
Indulge in a sumptuous celebratory meal at Feast. The spread includes traditional Sadhya dishes like Kootu Curry, Malabar aviyal, Kaya Mezhukkupuratti, Malabar Rasam, Thalassery Vegetable Biryani, White Pumpkin Mor curry, Vendakkai Pachadi, Pineapple Pachadi and much more. The authentic Kerala flavours coupled with the restaurant’s decor and traditionally clad staff will surely transport you to Kerala.
Available on September 8 from 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Price: INR 1,750 ++
12. The Konkan Cafe (Mumbai)
Devour a traditional Sadhya served on a banana leaf in an ambience inspired by a Nallu Kettu (a typical single courtyard house in Kerala) at The Konkan Cafe. The team has specially curated an authentic menu bringing traditional recipes and delicacies of Kerala with dishes such as Olan, Kalan, Pachadi, Thoran, Erriserry, Avial, Theyal, Inji curry, Paruppu, Sambar, Rasam and many more.
Available on September 8 from 12:30 pm–2:45 pm
Price per Sadhya: INR 2,022 plus taxes
Contact: 022 66650808
