Udipi Cafe
| Address: | 14422 Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618, USA |
| Phone: | +1 813-962-7300 |
| Rating: | 3.5 |
| Working: | Closed 11:30AM–3PM 11:30AM–3PM 11:30AM–3PM 11:30AM–3PM 11:30AM–10PM 11:30AM–9:30PM |
Location
Photos 1
Reviews 6
A
A Private User
Eat at Udipi last night with my girlfriend for the first time - she is a vegetarian and I am a reasonably open-minded omnivore. I do love Indian food, and have a very basic working knowledge of things I like and favorites. The exterior is very unassuming, and the interior is simple and simply decorated. It is not a flashy place to take a first date unless they are very open-minded. I did not even know this restaurant was in this plaza, and my gym for the past 2 years is right around the corner. You might have to look out for Udipi to actually find it. I have to say that (as a server and someone who has worked in the restaurant business for over 15 years) the service is not stellar, and we did have to wait a while to order. However, that is really my only complaint (and a minor one - a young Indian couple arrived while we were at the table reviewing the extensive menu and ordered immediately so the delay was understandable). Our service in general was very matter-of-fact, food was prompt, hot, and delivered quickly and with little fuss. Udipi is more about authentic food and not concerned so much with entertainment. That being said I found the vegetable samosas delicious, excellent Indian spice tea, perfect papaduns, and an amazing puffed up bread course with the most spectacularly cooked chickpeas (must find the name of that dish), and my Aloo Gobi perfectly cooked, spicy but not overwhelming. My girlfriends Vegetable Korma was delicious and perfect as well. Even the mango lassi I finished my meal with was the right blend of sweet and sour. We went in with no expectations, and were very happy with the results. We splurged a bit before a concert as a sort of late holiday present to each other and the total bill was still only $32 and we had enough leftovers for a small lunch the next day. If you are interested in an all vegetarian menu with a wide variety of choices I would highly recommend Udipi. There was also staff on hand to answer your questions and help guide your menu choices. While we dined a 50ish couple with minimal Indian food experience and an aversion to all things "hot" was seated behind us, and the young server was again matter-of-fact but very knowledgeable. Additionally they have a lunch buffet Tuesday - Friday from 11:30 to 3:00pm (I had to ask as I would be coming back). This might be a good way to introduce someone reluctant to try vegetarian food and/or Indian food for the first time.
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Ric Rini
This is my fourth visit to Udipi over the last 8 years and most likely my last. There just happens to be many more Indian restaurants in Tampa that are better. Udipi is okay and just at the average mark. There is nothing that I can say they do really well. The restaurant is all vegetarian so if you prefer meat this is not the place for you. We started off with the vegetable samosas, I thought they tasted a bit more on the greasy end from the fryer but the contents were good and spiced well. Our main entrees are where I believe they missed. The butter masala dosai ($6.95 thin rice crepes filled with potatoes and onions ) was my entree. It lacked plenty. First, the butter marsala sauce tasted watered down and lacked that creamy texture and appropriate spices I am use to experiencing. It ranks my least favorite. The amount of the sauce they served was also inadequate. The contents of the crepe was a bit bland and since the sauce could not complement it, the entree just lacked. We also ordered the spinach and chick peas. It had decent flavor but again I found it to be watered down which is the same experience for the third entree we ordered which was the yellow lentil (cant recall the name). Overall, an okay expereince but there are better options out there!
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Nikhil Pai
We came here with a large group. Seated fairly quickly but not together because another large group had the large section. Not a problem. We went for the buffet. The buffet had several items. Most items were bad to ok. The only item that was remotely good were the Parathas/Puris and sambhar. Channa was very hard, undercooked, almost inedible. Eggplant was ok. Ive had rasam better in most places. Lima beans tasted like pickle juice. Vegetable biriyani was standard. Bata vadas were dry. I didnt try any of the other items such as dhokla and fruit salad. You get one dosa or masala dosa free with your buffet which was very good. Another problem is that you are supposed to use a clean plate every time you get more food but no one ever came by even once to pick up our dirty plates. The guy filling water would just fill up the pitchers from the sink. If you dont use filtered water at least fill them up in the back where we wont know. I would not come back or recommend anyone to eat the buffet here. Maybe the a la carte menu is better.
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Gunjan Kalra
for all the reviewers talking about staff attitude - get this - pls visit this place for the food not for the warmth of the staff - they dont mean to do it - its just that they are kinda reserved by nature - but you will never experience any problems in their service - the kitchen and wait staff is rather quick and efficient given the number of ppl frequent the place esp on weekends.. And one of the reviewer said it right - once they see you more often you will get a smile or two - no pretense otherwise.. and again its the food that on the offing not smiles.. and the staff is too focussed on getting you the good food then worrying about not being distant not receptive.. bleh.. And family friendly - hello ! my two tiny kids are not used to restaurants yet - but my elder one goes chats with the wait staff while we eat in peace.. family friendly? it doesnt get better than this. Now the food - consistently out of the world.. just plain old good south indian + north indian chat style snack goodness..
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Chandana Bhargava
Terrible experience. Unhygienic (health hazard) Food, Extremely Arrogant people and rude service. I ate the buffet, in one of the dishes (kootu) there was a mosquito, just lying there, dead in my plate. When I complained about it, they in turn asked me as to what can they do about it, and defended it by saying that it must have flown in from outside. Nasty argument followed after, with no resolution, no apologies and no remorse. We had to insist they take that dish out of the buffet for the health of everyone else in the restaurant. Finally after a persistent discussion they decided to reluctantly remove that dish from the spread. I WONT EVER be coming back here to eat. Horrible people and service.
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Srimanth Maddipatla
My suggestion is DONT GO TO this restaurant. Reason: 16th Jan 2015 , I went to this restaurant with family. We asked for seat , they responded after 10 min. We have ordered two thali and one batura and their special medley appetizers. We have tasted the appetizers, which is not at all boiled and Vada is giving very bad smell. We called them and asked about same. The answer we got it is this is what we prepare , if you like it eat other wise go. They are giving frozen food. I never ate this kind of food in my life time. Very Very Very Rude people they are. They are not giving proper explanation. Avoid this restaurant as much as possible. Please Please advise to your friends also.