Sagar - South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant, London

Address: 31 Catherine Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5JS
WWW: http://www.sagarveg.co.uk/

Summary: Interesting menu, but some dishes were just bland.

Idli with coconut chutney and sambar (Image from: The wandering foody)

We found Sagar online when we were searching for vegetarian restaurants to take one of Steve's friends. When I saw the idlis and dosas (see below for definitions) offered in the menu, I got truly excited about this place. I love both South Indian specialties based on my memories of one of my dear friends preparing them in Champaign-Urbana.

We were a bit early, so,  we started with 2 Mango Lassis (£3.25 each), while waiting for our friend to join us.  I liked it a lot, and Steve found it too thick and too sweet but nevertheless, they were gone pretty quickly. Maybe that is why we did not say no to a second serving (that came without us ordering in the middle of the appetizers).

For appetizers, we had:

• Idli (£4.45): Two steamed rice dumplings served with sambar and coconut chutney. Idli and coconut chutney were really good but not so much the sambar. I expected it to be more flavorful rather than watery. 
• Medu Vada (£4.75): Fried lentil doughnuts. Steve did not enjoy them as much as our friend, who was impressed by how well they were done. In my opinion, they were indeed well done, but somehow again, lacked the flavor and richness I was looking for. 
• Dahi Potato Puri (£4.15):  Small crispy parcels stuffed with potatoes, sweet & sour spicy chutney and yoghurt. This was the best among the three - the combination of sweet, sour and spicy, together with yoghurt, was unanimously found superior to others. 

For main dishes,  we had:

• Paneer Dosa (£6.95):  Two of us had this rice & lentil crepe filled with home made cottage cheese (paneer), potato, onion, carrot and capsicum (red & green) with mild spices. Being used to the dosas made by my dear friend, I was not impressed. Again it was bland and I found the crepe a bit salty. 
• Sagar Thali (£13.95):  Steve had this, which comes with pappadam, raitha, potato palya, kootu, dal, curry of the day, special rice of the day, paratha. He could hardly finish it, but was again not too impressed.  There was a wide variety of dishes but none of them stood out in terms of taste.

 Both dishes were pretty large, and after the appetizers, neither Steve not I could manage to finish them.  I think it is also because we felt a bit let down.

In summary, though this place is very nicely located in Covent Garden,  just across  Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and prices are very reasonable, we do not see ourselves visiting here again.

Belgo Centraal, London

Adress:  50 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LJ
WWW:  www.belgo-restaurants.co.uk
 
Summary: Moules, moules, moules!!!!

OK, it was a risk to go with a Belgian to a Belgian restaurant in search of traditional tastes. But, this restaurant did not let us down. First of all, we were served by a Belgian. Second, the menu was abundant with promising choices of food and also true Belgian beers (for a look: http://www.belgo-restaurants.co.uk/menus/belgo-centraal/belgo-menu).

We did not side-track from our initial purpose! Moules, and moules traditionelles (£12.95 - very reasonable, and what you would pay in Brussels), we ordered. Steve, of course, with frites and I with salad. Both options were really good. We did not drink beer but preferred a bottle of nice sweet white wine.  But, let's talk about the core of the matter: the moules. They were a nice size, but the taste lacked  enough vegetables in its sauce. Well, Steve says he can do them much better and I tend to agree :D Nevertheless, we were content with what we got.

For dessert, we had a tarte tatin, but it was nothing special - we can hardly remember what we felt about it. We cannot find it in the menu either. 

Overall, this restaurant is very nicely located, and it has a cozy ambiance with "cave" seating.  I can imagine coming here again before/after the show in one of the many theaters close by!