JOIN USTamilian feast the Rajinikanth way!
Vango lives up to its name, which means ‘please come in’ in Tamil. Situated in the heart of Noida’s sector-18 market, this outlet of the South Indian chain has been quite a favourite with its patrons and not the least because they are welcomed boisterously with ‘Welcome Sir, Welcome Ma’m’ on entry.
Though South Indian cuisine is now widely available, one struggles to find an entire list of dosas and utthapams at economical rates.
The interiors in green soothe the eye, the moment one enters and the comfortable seats are inviting because of the customised theme inspired by Tollywood actors.
While sipping the piping hot rasam and enjoying papad one realises that the menu is kept simple and authentic. Apart from a few foreign additions such as gulab jamun and ice cream in the dessert menu, the rest is a total South story.
Start your meal with snack options like idlis and vadas. One can make a choice from rice idli or rava idli. If you like them bite-sized, pick mini rice ones which are served as 10 pieces of button-sized idlis, dipped in sambar. Just pick them and pop them in your mouth to enjoy the succulent delight. Not an idli fan?
You can select from the vada range: dal vada, medu vada and dahi vada. Of which the medu vada is a must try. Although a little hard on the sides, the soft and rocky texture in the centre with apt spicy flavours makes it really tasty.
For diet freaks, healthy specials like upma, neer dosa with ishtew (sic) made in coconut milk and vegetables and appam with ishtew (sic) are available. The appam was thicker than its traditionally thinner version - with crispier sides and a softer centre. But the authentic taste more than made up for the texture.
The so-called South Indian appetizers are so light that there is always scope to order more! But the main course is still waiting to be explored. Without being too greedy one can easily order for one dosa (rice or rava) and one utthapam.
The rice dosa category comprises the usual names plain dosa; masala dosa; butter plain dosa; mysore plain dosa; onion masala dosa; ghee roast dosa; butter masala dosa; mysore masala dosa and ghee roast masala dosa. The rava dosas include rava plain dosa; rava masala dosa; rava butter plain dosa; onion rava masala dosa and rava butter masala dosa.
The uttapam menu is equally varied and includes vegetable uttapam, onion utthapam; masala utthapam and Vango’s signature utthapam which are quite a hit among their clientele. Neha Rannaut swears by their “onion utthapam.”
When with family, try their combo deals such as the all time combo; mini meal combo; snacky combo; rice combo; celebration combo and jumbo combo which range between Rs 69 to Rs 329, or try their new Chinna (Small) and Periya (Big) thali which are an assortment of pooris, rice, sabjis, curd, sambar, rasam, pickle, papad and rava kesari.
There is still more to go in terms of rice specials such as the all time favourite tangy tamarind rice, tomato rice and curd rice. Along with this is also available bissibele bhath which is a mix of rice and sambar flavoured with dry fruits and is served with papad.
For the lack of many options in desserts in South Indian cuisine, Vango has curtailed itself to offering only rava kesari (suji ka halwa with pineapple and saffron) and ada payassam (rice flakes boiled in milk and garnished with dry fruits) for the traditional sweet lovers.
After the sumptuous delight one signs off with a hot cuppa of traditional filter coffee. But don’t miss their customised glasses for beverages that go with their Tollywood theme. And if you think it is hilarious then you shall be served gunpowder (with sesame oil) as accompaniment. Mind it!