Amma's South Indian Cuisine

"Chef Sathish Varadhan’s essential Indian restaurant focuses on centuries-old South Indian dishes like rasam (lentils with spices and curry leaves), medhu vada (doughnut-shaped fritters), curd rice (rice made with yogurt and spices and curry leaves), idli, and dosas. Amma’s, which has locations in University City and New Jersey in addition to this Center City restaurant, can also cater to your heat-level preference. Pair the delightful food with lighter-bodied red wines, crisp whites like sauvignon blancs or vinho verdes, or pale ales and lagers." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff

"Amma’s South Indian Cuisine is the type of place where, in preparation for our meal, we eat light all day just so we can fill up on specials like mutton curry with spicy onion and tomato gravy, a creamy paneer butter masala, and stacks of warm parotta. Their dining room is always packed (they don’t take reservations), and that’s because it’s one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. Come here for a fun night where you can listen to a playlist of South Asian pop and hip-hop and sip on that special bottle of chardonnay that's been sitting in your fridge unopened for months. " - candis mclean

"You're bound to over-order at this busy South Indian restaurant in Center City. That's just what happens at a place that smells this good and has a menu the size of a children's picture book. There are typically specials like mutton curry with spicy onion and tomato gravy, a creamy paneer butter masala, and stacks of warm parotta—all of which are great. But if you need to narrow down your choices, go for the $21 South Indian vegetarian special. It comes with a couple of small rice dishes, curries, soups, pickles, pakora, chapati, and dessert. Dosas are also essential, and great for sharing if you're with someone else." - candis mclean

"Amma’s is a Philly staple, with aloo bonda served with cooling coconut chutney, idli dipped into sambar, masala dosa, and lamb chettinad (a long-cooked lamb dish spiced with coconut and ginger). The Couple’s Combo, which includes chicken and mutton biryani, chicken kuruma, parotta, raitha, raitha, and dessert, is a good bet for date night night out or in." - Ernest Owens

"The menu at Amma’s South Indian Cuisine is lengthier than the number of people in Philly that would invite Jalen Hurts to their wedding, so you can expect to find something for everyone. At the casual Center City spot, you can feast on specials like mutton curry with spicy onion and tomato gravy, a creamy paneer butter masala, and dosas as long as a kid’s Fisher Price baseball bat. All of their incredible entrees are under $20—which is why this is one of our go-to’s for casual lunches with friends or spur-of-the-moment family dinners. " - Candis Mclean, Alison Kessler