SA I.
Yelp
The first time I ever went to Singapore, over twenty years ago, I got there very late at night and after spending the night at my hotel near Orchard Road, got up early the next morning and took a taxi to Komala Vilas on Serangoon Road. This was the first of many many visits with the most recent one being in late 2017. I sat downstairs and ordered idlis, a medhu vada and upma and then totally relished my wonderful breakfast.
For those who do not know what an idling is, the answer is that it is a white colored soft discus shaped slightly sour cake, generally 3 to 4 inches in diameter, and made with fermented batter (like masa for tamales) using a mix of soaked rice and daal (lentils). Medu vadas are savory fried donuts made from the same flour. Upuma is a savory version of cream of wheat, cooked in ghee and with bits of fried curry leaves, onions, mustard and fenugreek seeds with bits of dried and green chilies plus chopped green coriander leaves.
By lunch time, I was craving the food at Komala Vilas again and upon getting there and learning about the special unlimited meals in the upstairs section, climbed the stairs and sat down at a marble topped table. In a few minutes a server placed a banana leaf in front of me with many small steel bowls. Another server came by and filled the utensils with different South Indian vegetarian preparations. I was served rice, papadums, sambar and rasam and after asking for a fork, started attacking what was in front of me. Never having expected to finish all my rice, I was surprised when the server came around for more to find myself welcoming another helping. It is unlimited and they will keep serving you until you say enough. The stomach will get filled even if the palate will keep wanting more.
I have enjoyed this experience so many times without tiring of it, often to the frustration of my wife who would like to try other terrific restaurants, Indian or otherwise on this magnificent gastronomic gem called Singapore.
My big frustration is that if Komala Vilas in Singapore can serve such delicious and perfectly prepared South Indian food, why can't other similar restaurants outside India, particularly those in the US do so? Even if some copy Komala Vilas' name they fail to replicate its food. If only the original Komala Vilas decides to expand to the San Francisco Bay Area, life could be so wonderful.