Review Sahana South Indian Restaurant

Abhishek Pathak

Nice ambiance and excellent customer service. Highly recommend for an authentic south India cuisine experience.

Rajib Ghimire (Raj)

It was a really great experience dining at this restaurant. The food was fantastic, full of authentic flavours that you rarely get in the restaurants here. The atmosphere and setup is elegant and tastefully done, gives that fine dining feel. While on the slightly expensive side, it is worth every penny. Absolutely recommended 👍

Gerard McCall

So. As per previously stated I do not give 5 stars for good. To get 5 stars it has to be exceptional. I was here on Tuesday 18th July 2023 by myself for a meal at about 1730hrs - 1800hrs I arrived. Quaint little place and the lady that greeted me was most pleasant. I ordered the Kahmiri Lamb Rogen Josh (medium heat) , a bowl of rice and the Goat cheese Naan. While waiting to be served a gentleman who I assume yo be the owner/manager came out and gave me a complimentary disk of Vazhai Poo Vadai which is made from banana flower. I have attached pictures (not mine). They had a beautiful flavour and dipped in a curd were just fantastic. Whe main I ordered came out and I have to say , I have tried Lamb Rogan Josh in Indian Restaurants from one end of this country to the other (see previous reviews), but this, hands down, was the nicest. The level of heat was excellent, the amount of diced Lamb was very good and the flavors were the best I have tried. The goats cheese Naan I have never had anywhere else was just to kill for. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ is most certainly deserved. If it wasn't for the fact I was visiting Auckland from Invercargill , then I would certainly be back here on a fairly frequent basis. Well done and thank you for a meal I thoroughly enjoyed.

Charishma C

Delicious food and very friendly staff. Highly recommending their south indian non vegetarian dishes. The Onam Sadhya experience was just splendid and amazing set of menu on the paper leaf. Would definitely go here again to try out new dishes.

Robson Francis

First time trying an onam sadhya, and it was a superb experience having it from this place. Excellent food, reasonable price, and wonderful customer service !! Highly recommended, and I will definitely be back to try their other food 😊😊

Asha Patel

We decided to try this South Indian place last Saturday. We were all impressed is all I'll say. Having never been there before, we decided to get lots of different dishes. I would highly recommend the Methu vada which came with the sambal and chutneys. The sambal was delicious. The Gobi manchurian dry dish was so light and flavour some, the soft noodles were also great.Overall a great little place. Staff were frriendly too. Would definitely try this place again.

Hitesh Patel

First time today for us, we found Sahana just by searching in Google for a new place to try. We were not disappointed, we were told food might take a while but we didn't even notice the time pass us by as wel were enjoying ourselves. The wait staff were very polite and helpful, the food arrived and presented well, the most important fact is it all tasted great. The spice levels were more on the mild side but still food was flavourful and we will definitely be back to try more from the menu again. A great night out

Re R

We went to Sahana for onam sadya. It was exceptional and well organized, pleasant atmosphere, well attended staff. Hats off to you guys to hold such an amazing event.

Belinda

We experienced Sahana for the first time as a takeaway meal and loved it so much we had to dine in to get the full experience. Food is AMAZING and the service is outstanding! If you’re lucky enough to have the barman there, ask for his chilli cocktail special. Delicious with just the right amount of kick!

Shivam Khilnani

Excellent food with good hospitality and ambience. The menu is really vast and impressive. Rawa Dosa and Chicken Dosa were huge and tasted great. Chicken Chilly Paratha was a very unique recipe. Food took some time in being prepared but it was worth the wait. Dim lights and slow music make it a great place for a date.

Oscar d

Food is delicious and staff are very friedly. Cosy place to enjoy great south indian dishes.

Janine Paynter

I visited Sahana for the second time in early August. The service was excellent, our waiter gave us excellent guidance on meal and wine combinations. The food was delicious. I particularly liked the cauliflower entrée. The curries weren't your average Indian - they stood out from the crowd with a complexity of flavour.

Sunny Dama

My wife and I absolutely loved the food, service, and atmosphere of Sahana! We came in for a late lunch and were delighted at the depth of flavour and how authentic the favours felt! My wife truly recommends the "Guntur Chicken" as a starter for its beautiful flavour! The "Rumali Roti" was my true favourite part of the experience! Truly recommend this restaurant to you, your family, and friends!

Dr Yash Maharaj

Hands down, the best dosa we've had in Auckland! The kids loved it too. Mini-idlis were a winner! The attentive (but not intrusive) service added to the excellence! The restaurant is very clean and the staff are clearly well-trained and experienced.

AK K

Authenticity of flavours: 5 star Willingness to help: 5 Stars Cleanliness : 4.5 Stars Value for Money: 4.5 Stars The best thing was the guy helped us make sense of the large Menu. He helped us break it down in three parts, bit like three courses and then what our best options were. We were group of five. The food is inherently spicy. I think going any milder will change the intended pallate of flavours. Tip dishes: madurai curry dosa lamb, Rava kesari (desert), kothu parotta chicken, Chocolate Dosa. Kids had lot of fun with filter coffee, pouring it in the provided bowl and back in little container. We were very hungry, ordered 5 mains, 2 deserts and Filter coffee. All up paid $190. I would recommend and will visit again. My only gripe was, there was just one person on the floor and he was very very rushed.

Mani Singh

#1 restaurant in NZ for South Indian Food. The food cannot be beaten, there is so much flavor and all the love by the chef. The service is top notch, the manager brought his chef out and got attention from all the guests to congratulate him for becoming a father of a baby boy. They served free coke everyone. I was super amazing by the service of the Manager Priyan and the staff Karuna who is always so lovely to deal with. And not to forget the awesome chef Paandi. The owners should be proud to have such an amazing team. This is the only place I am comfortable to go and not be disappointed for South Indian food.

David Benjamin

The food here is really really tasty. We order take away from here regularly and keep coming back. Highly recommend the kattu and butter chicken! They also can make things very mild if you have any guests that can't handle spice.

Varun Keshav

We are regulars at Sahana for their weekend brunch buffet. The ambience, setting and soothing background instrumental music creates a enjoyable dining experience. The place is always neat and tidy. My food experience today was no different from the one I've had on any other visit, in one word - sublime. They make the best vadaa and poori bhaji I've had in Auckland, just terrific. The sambar and chutneys are great complements to the lovely food and provide that added flavour/zing. The dosa was also a great offering. The piping hot coffee served in a traditional copper tumbler and cup is a fine touch and the payasam certainly deserves a special mention. It always satiates our craving for authentic South Indian food that we so dearly miss! My overall experience in Sahana is worthy of a 5-star rating without having to think about it. We keep going back for the lip-smacking food and the smiling faces of the restaurant staff, specifically Sasi and Gautham, their service is incomparable and one of the best we've received in Auckland, steeped in the strong foundations of a terrific food service offering - tasty food combined with outstanding service. Well done guys, keep it up!

Peeyoosh Chandra

Recently "discovered" this place. Initially avoided due to poor review and now realise that they were all wrong and false. The food here is great, and I'm very fussy so this is high praise. The people and service are excellent. To the point where this place is now a monthly visit.

Stephen Rengan

Pathetic food, ordered chicken biryani but it was just like sambar rice with cardamom and few spices in it with some chicken. If you can't make biryani please do not take that order you are better off saying we don't have it today. It seem like you just mixed some curry with rice and costed me 16$. Sorry and this will be my last visit to your restaurant. Date of order: 20-Sep-19.

Shalini Monish

Great food....amazing service.......we really thank Sashi for her fantastic work....she is very welcoming and food was absolutely delicious......proper south Indian Food.......Veg and Non-veg both were delicious....Keep up the good work Sashi :)

Connie Johnson

First we dined in the food was very generous and tasty definitely will return, the staff are very friendly the restaurant is very clean and spacious. Second time we Ordered Uber Eats excellent food again.

Arun Nair

Below average food and pathetic service. The food used to be good in the past. But now the quality has completely degraded. Now it is consistently bad.

Deepika Bisht

Amazing food, great service, clean and tidy place. Tried masala dosa and loved it. Will definitely try again. They do have lunch buffet too. The lady taking the order was very polite and professional. 5 stars from me

PPN

We were thinking of visiting this place since a long time. Whilst the Chettinad dishes on the menu tempted us, we decided to have the South Indian buffet. We were so pleased - everything was delicious and authentic. Dosas, pooris were the best we’ve had in Auckland. Service was exceptional!! Would visit again to try the Chettinad cuisine.

Nalini

Wonderful service at this restaurant! The food was very tasty and the portion size was value for money. We will definitely come again. Kudos to the auntie running this restaurant.

Nathan S. Nirmalanathan

Three of us were there on Friday (15/03) night. Lousy service. We were seated immediately. They need to set their Ac at reasonable temperature & place it so that people don't get the draft. They also should clean their Airconditioners frequently. They affect asthmatic patrons like one our groups. Service was poor. It took a long time to take our oder & more than an hr to serve. Alcohol selection was poor with no trained barman. We ordered Dosa, Naan, Chicken Lamb & Paneer. Dosa was like leather. Curries were OK. Overall experience was very poor. I am not sure what all the hype was about. Will not visit again & will not recommend.

Neil S.

Food is usually good. I have tried Chicken Chetinand and Pepper Fry several times. My only complaint is that the standard and quality can vary, maybe because they are prepared by different chefs.

Hrishikesh Sajeev

Each time I order something from here they keep on forgetting to put one or other. Last time it was a garlic naan they missed out and now no pickle and onions with chole batura. Also chole was below average ( getting the raw smell of masalas).

Paankhuri Sharma

This is one of the best South Indian restaurants I have been to in Auxkland! a special mention to Shashi who really took great care of us while we were dining! Highly recommend this place to anyone craving authentic south indian food! 😊

Bobby Zhou

Nice food, we tried the palak paneer and the chicken madras. Both dishes were tasty and came with rice. Also had the house sav Blanc which was fairly decent and a good size pour too. Only thing I felt was lacking were the usual condiments you'd expect with the popadoms (chutney, sliced onions etc). Bill was about NZD60/ which seemed reasonable for food and two wines. Worth a visit.

Yashika Mahendra

Amazing food - authentic south Indian - can vouch for that being a tamilian. Mini ghee idly is my favourite, the weekends thalis (vegetarian and meat options - available) are great and yet to try the "mini tiffin". We had problems a few times the food coming out late (and the food was worth the wait!) but of late our experience has been good. Not to forget the filter coffees (Madras filter kaapi) served in brassware. So hard to find the authentic indian food in Auckland, so this has become our favorite in the recent months.

Att Jatt

I really appreciate your service i will give you guys 5⭐️ to give 1⭐️ because of i do oder today for takeaway .i just place my order that lady who pic a call give me 30 mints to get order ready but its took near abot 1 nd half hour +. She said your order will be ready with in 30 mints i order 4 dosa but i recived only 3 dosas when i went there she said couldtake 10 min and i was wating there near about 45 minand still she was saying cant make whole order on that much time and she said could take more 15 min so it was do disappointing to wait 1 hour after reaching there ....... really very bad service

Rockran

We had an authentic thali made specially for the Ganpati festival. It was amazing and the chef came out to recommend how she would cook a masala dosa for my 9 year old. The thali takes a while and they did warn us, as they cook it fresh (you can call ahead if you like). And it’s a lot. We will be going back to try other dishes and if they are all this good, 5 stars may be close

Livc10

Delicious curry, lots of naan and friendly service! The drink menu is also very affordable. Would definitely come back again or get takeaways

Michael Ranjitsingh

Have gone to this place 4 times since it opened last year. The food has always been fantastic especially the dosa and appam (pre-order this before you go) and chettinad curries. My only negative is that the restaurant seems understaffed and there could be delays in receiving the food. The waiters and chefs are very courteous and kind and ready to receive feedback. The price is reasonable and serving size is decent. Very good location in remuera. Will definitely visit again!

Maz S

So far went there 2 times, both times on a Friday evening. First time very nice service and good food. ordered Dosas and turned out very tasty and within 20 minutes. Best for coffee. 2nd time extremely disappointed, seemed like they were having a major management/ staff issue in the kitchen. A group of people literally walked out of the restaurant empty after probably waiting for 1.5 hours may be and no food. We waited for almost 1 hour before something was served. Quality wasn't as expected as compared to the first time. Would have appreciated if they did a discount for the situation, but nothing offered.

Angela

Came here for dinner with a few friends. The atmosphere was pretty nice and the waiter was patient and friendly. I ordered the eggplant curry and it was delicious! Flavours are authentic and not too overpowering like a lot of the white-washed Indian places in Auckland. Only issue was that it took ages for the food to come up, but I guess the wait was worth it. :)

ChefZ

This place is all about their chettinad menu and the South Indian breakfast menu. Their Idly, dosa, poori & vada are absolutely marvelous and exactly how you’d taste them at a nice breakfast restaurant in South Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai & Hyderabad. The best place in town for South Indians to come for a feast that would remind them of home.

Rohan Apte

My good rating is for food. Male Server was rude initially. Needs to learn to be polite and have good greeting manners. Food is delicious. Restaurant decor and ambience is great. Give it a try but dont expect a welcoming response from the male server initially its only after you order food his behaviour changes.

JPK

Super yummy food... Medhu vada...rava dosa...masala dosa...mysore masala dosa... Chutney... Pepper chicken and more. Coffee that was served amazing well and every sip was worth it. Must go place for south Indian food. Enjoyed friday evening with friends 😊

Little Borneo Girl

We bought a Groupon voucher for two and came with three people (about a month ago). Our intention was of course to order extra dishes on top of what was offered for the voucher. When seated, we gave the voucher to the male server and his immediate response was so rude, with an angry look told us the voucher was for two, sort of snatched the voucher and disappeared into the kitchen. Someone else (a lady who is much pleasant) came out and took our order. We ordered an extra main and nann (on top of the food from the voucher) and 2 beers and 1 wine.The male server served us the dishes and at that point, his attitude changed, no longer rude. I just cannot believe anyone deserve to be treated badly because they bought a voucher. In our case, having 3 people instead of 2 is a bonus to the restaurant. We paid full price for the extra dishes.Anyway, the dishes we ordered were horrible. There were so little meat in the mains, maybe about 4 or 5 pieces of each and the gravy was very bland and thin. We ordered a goat, a chicken and a beef curry. We came here hoping for some South Indian food but went home disappointed and shocked with the service.

Dhananjay Apparao

Had a craving for South Indian food so gave Sahana a shot. Delicious food. Had a dosa and an uthappam - both were really good. Easily the best I've eaten in New Zealand. The owner was very cordial, and the service was good.

HelenMeng2000

Food was quite nice and restaurant is modern and clean. However the service is poor and the waiter didnt come up to us, we had to call for him. We had a voucher so maybe that affected the quality of the service.

Aimee.

We bought a groupon voucher for this restaurant. A shared platter, two main curries and rice to share for $30. After eating the platter I was already half full so I couldn't finish half of my butter chicken and the owner was nice and let me take it home. I originally gave this place a 5/5 but I have since changed my review to a 2/5. This is because I came back again for the second time and the service was legit horrible and they were so hostile towards us. If you don’t like people using vouchers them don’t sell them. Your problem.

Leigh Lefale

Had a brilliant experience here! Staff were super friendly, attentive and helpful. The food was absolutely delicious and filling! Although it is a bit pricier than your average indian takeout, it's totally worth it!! Love the ambience and how we were treated tonight.

Sk Keerthi

great taste, beautiful environment, customer friendly. i already recommended to my friends . They loved the food as well . Many times we ordered for takeaway. YUMMY FOOD.

Tushar Sharma

Yummy dosas! First time here. Kid friendly and has a pretty rounded menu. We tried the dosas and they were yummy. Service was very friendly and they deliver as well.

Espie

We used to enjoy going here when they first opened, but the service has definitely gone downhill. Would not recommend getting the Groupon voucher unless you're happy with the limitations they put on them that aren't listed under Groupon terms and conditions. The shared appetizers were based on the whim of the cook/waiter (make sure to call in advance so they can "prepare the apps"- and you might want to avoid the surly, male waiter who seems to be grumpy/stressed all the time). Note that the masala dosa that's in the photograph is not part of the deal (which is ridiculous since it's almost half the price of the $18 main course limit). Also, they still don't have the timing right- the poori or dosa's half cold by the time they bring out the channa/chutneys. Sambhar is usually good though. The lady owner is nice, but she hasn't been around lately. The rest of the waitstaff needs some more training on making sure cutlery is in place, timing of dishes, and service with a smile instead of making you feel like they're inconvenienced by your presence.

Loks

Excellent food. Authentic south Indian flavours. I am a big fan of dosa and finally found a place that I can regularly visit. Highly recommend this place if you love Indian food.

Karyn Bycroft

I've had takeaways a couple of times and impressed with flavours and quality of food. Friendly service and good timing from phoning to food being ready.

Divya Nagappan

Warm and friendly staff and excellent classical Indian food :) would definitely go back. Highly recommend for a very authentic Indian taste :)

Scotsman

Fantastic attentive service - have been visiting many Indian restaurants throughout Auckland, but this one stands out. Great authentic flavours, level of spice, and friendly owners.

Srimathy Anand

I visited with my family today for Dinner and would rate the south indian food is authentic and good quality. My favourite was Onion Rava Dosa and Sambhar Vadai. There is so much variety the kids loved it .

Jasbir Sehrawat

Awesome food great service. Well decorate really enjoyed food spl south indian.thanks sahana team. Highly recommended this place .Goog luck.

Anand Srinivasan

I was just passing by and dropeed in to get some chettinad curry as takeaway. My family enjoyed the authentic tasting curry and it was amazing. Sasi the hostess was quite cheerful and kept us engaged while the food was being prepared. My family is from south india and we really enjoyed the food from this restaurant. Will definitely visit with my friends.

Harvie

This was an embarrassment. I arranged dinner for 9 friends. The quantity of people changed and I rang the resturant 3 or four times to inform them, leaving my pone number and no reply from the restaurant. The staff were trying but clearly unexperienced. We waited for wine and beer orders then had to go to the bar in frustration. They gave false information on the entrée and there was not enough for everyone. This was not good as i asked the question several times.After complaining they bought out more samosa's. The main were not enough for everyone. They served us warm beer, this had not been chilled. When we came to pay the bill they tried to overcharge me. They say it is Southern Indian cusine, but to be honest it tastes like any other Indian food. Do yourself a favor and go to another resturant.

Springjock81

So glad we decided to come here tonight. We will be regulars from hereon. Food fabulous, service first class. Bring your custom to this restaurant, it is well deserved and you will be very satisfied. Thank you Sahana 😁

T

Good food, friendly staff, good food selection, vegetarian friendly, reasonable pricing, and all around probably one of the best Indian restaurants in the area.

Katherine Setiadarma

Came here for dinner and received great service and loved the food. We were vegetarian and were pleased there were a range of options. We tried the Sambhar Vada, Eggplant Curry and Dhal Makhani, and a butter naan. They were all great, though we particularly enjoyed the Dhal and butter naan. Will definitely be back and recommending to friends.

Tanvi Kumar Rao

Have been there several times now and we love the food. Love how the spices are made from scratch for sambhar and rasam, feels as if it's right out of mum's kitchen. Biryani is delicious, very different and comes in a big serve. Chinese menu is good too. Last night we ordered vegetable pakora; was so different than the Indian pakoras but enjoyed it to the core. Also not to forget about the amazing filter coffee, hospitality and decor of the place. We will keep visiting them.

Terry B

Have just had our second takeaway meal and will keep coming back, the flavours are awesome. The lamb rogan josh and the goat madras are fantastic and a couple of our guests really loved the 12 spices fish curry. Thanks again. Cheers Terry

Sarge Tagious

I am from New Delhi, India and love eating out. I also consider myself to be a connoisseur of Indian food! I have now had the pleasure of having Sahana's food twice and I must say that it is probably the best southern Indian food I have ever tried. The hostess Sasikala is gracious, staff is friendly and efficient and the food is divine. Thanks for amazing dinners Sasi. Sachin

Christie Xavier

Chennai, South India is here in Auckland at Sahana. Sahana offers authentic South Indian fare. Thosai, idly, sambar, chutneys and podi; Curries. All seem to be home cooked with fresh authentic Southern flavours! Very much worth a visit if you are into South Indian fare. The service is quietly efficient and caters for individual idiosyncracies too. Highly recommended.

Hemant Wagh

Went with the family. This was our second visit to this Indian restaurant specialising in South Indian cuisine. The food was awesome and authentic. We had Mysore Dosa, cheese Dosa, idlis and Vadas with some superb sambar and chutney. The service too was friendly with Narsimha taking good care of us.! Definitely worth a visit. Try out the South Indian snacks if you really want something other than the usual 'butter chicken'

Don

Had takeaways idly and sambhar with thairu vada.. partner had paneer butter masala... best sambhar I've ever had in Auckland.. thairu vada was delicious too...Fairy-Anne Glenn Guiang

Mark Vella

Family run equals attention to diners and to the quality of the food Wife and I have been waiting a while for this restaurant to finally open as we have been bereft of a local Indian cuisine establishment for some time. Also, we were impressed in the lead up that it was advertising that it would be South Indian cuisine which we were keen to try. Well, we have been twice since it opened a short time ago just to check that the first experience wasn't just a lucky night. It wasn't - both visits confirmed that this little place offers great value for money without the expense of quality and flavour. We are so used to eating Indian cuisine from large chain outlets that it becomes very predictable and I suspect toned down for European tastes. Sahana, however, offers the real deal. While you can get the usual favourites I would recommend trying items from the South Indian section of the menu. The sides are great as well with the onion bajji way better and different to what I have had before. Great selection for vegetarian as well. We are hoping they will do well in a restaurant that has seen a number of different iterations in its time from bistro through to Thai. Oh, and the best news - its BYO - very appealing to the locals. Looking forward to being a regular

Review Sahana South Indian Restaurant - Auckland Central