Ishtaa | Pure Vegetarian

I have been searching for a new South Indian places and Ishtaa popped on my insta feed. After going through reviews on Google, thought to visit for mother’s birthday lunch. Ishtaa also serves North Indian & Chinese cuisines; but mostly focuses on South Indian food. We visited there during lunch hours on Saturday, and didn’t have to wait before entering into the restaurant. We were immediately drawn to their interiors. They have different types of seatings available including a few swings to sit on to dine, if you’re comfortable. For Soups, I opted for Noodle Soup and others had Cream of Tomato Soup. Soups were good especially Noodle Soup, Cream of Tomato soup was a bit more tangy than usual. For starters we ordered Gobhi 65 which is one my favourites from South Indian cuisine, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. And for starters we also ordered Dilliwali Paneer Tikka from North Indian section and it was also quite good. Later for the main course, we chose Mulbagal Dosa & Guntur Tawa Podi Idli. If I am not mistaken, Mulbagal Dosa is basically a Benne Masala Dosa and instead of Benne (White Butter) they used Ghee which enhanced the taste of the dosa. Guntur Tawa Podi Idli was also excellent and our lunch ended on the perfect note. We wanted to try Mango Delight for desserts, but it was not available for the obvious reasons. The service was exceptional, the servers were on their toes all the time and polite as well. Go for it! 5/5

Hopes were high, but the truth is a bit disappointing. The restaurant has an appealing and inviting ambiance — the interiors are truly beautiful, vintage, and very well designed. The atmosphere gives a pleasant vibe, making it an ideal place to sit and relax. However, when it comes to food, the experience did not meet expectations. The pricing is on the higher side compared to the quantity served, which felt quite less. I was expecting a much better taste for the price paid, but unfortunately, the dishes did not deliver the rich flavor or satisfaction I anticipated. There were several chutney options available, which initially seemed impressive, but none of them were particularly tasty or memorable. The waiting period after placing the order was also quite long, which added to the disappointment. Overall, while the ambiance and presentation are commendable, the restaurant needs to focus more on improving the taste, portion size, and service timing to match its premium pricing and aesthetic appeal. With a few improvements in these areas, it could easily become one of the preferred dining spots in the city.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5) Ambience: The restaurant was clean and well-organized with a nice modern setup. There was a medium crowd when we visited, including a couple of kitty parties - which made it a bit noisy at times, so you might have to speak a little louder to your tablemates The staff was polite and attentive throughout. 2)Food: The very first thing that welcomed us at our table was a set of four chutneys and four types of masala powders — a thoughtful South Indian touch that immediately set the tone for the experience. Each chutney had its own personality: the green chutney was fresh, the orange garlic chutney added a nice punch, and the classic white coconut chutney was mild and balanced. But the sweet coconut chutney truly stole the show — something I’d never tried before, and absolutely loved! We started with the Idly Platter (₹279) which included the regular Idly, Podi Idly, and another variant served with hot Sambar. The Idlies were soft, fluffy, and paired perfectly with the chutneys and powders. the Tender Coconut Delight (₹249) — which tasted like a coconut milkshake with soft coconut pieces inside. It was mildly sweet, soothing, and refreshing, but again, a bit overpriced for what it offered. Then came the Ghee Roast Masala Dosa (₹289) — crisp, aromatic, and beautifully roasted. However, the potato filling inside felt too plain and lacked seasoning, which made it less flavorful than expected. The Schezwan Noodles (₹449) were surprisingly outstanding — a total twist in a South Indian restaurant. The taste was on point, spicy and well-balanced, quite close to premium Indo-Chinese flavors. For dessert, we had Junnu (₹199) — a South Indian milk-based sweet with a jelly-like, cheesecake-style texture. It was soft, mildly sweet, and unique, though the portion felt quite small for the price. Pricing & Value: While the food quality and presentation were impressive, the pricing felt slightly on the higher side. ₹449 for noodles, ₹279 for Idlies, and ₹249 for the drink didn’t quite match the portion sizes. However, considering the ambience, service, and traditional banana-leaf presentation, it still offered a pleasant overall experience. Overall: A clean, well-managed restaurant offering a fresh take on authentic South Indian cuisine. The sweet coconut chutney is an absolute must-try! I’d rate it 4 out of 5 for taste, service, and presentation — just wish the pricing was a bit more aligned. Thanks