Rebecca K.
Yelp
After always reading about Udipi in PGH Magazine and after hearing rave reviews from a good friend, I knew I needed to try Udipi out. Turns out, the restaurant is only 5 mins from my brother's work, so on a recent visit back home, we stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night. If you didn't know to look for Udipi, you would definitely miss it - it's located in an unassuming storefront right off the highway with some signage but not obnoxious advertisement. We found a parking spot, and for a party of 3, we were easily seated despite it seeming pretty busy. The restaurant itself is no-frills - basic booths with some artwork on the wall, nothing too fancy (honestly feels a little diner-esque). They do pack a good number of people in there - the seating went back much further than originally met the eye. Our server was attentive and helpful, providing suggestions and honesty in regards to the spiciness of the dishes.
The menu is quite extensive - many, many different options to pick from! Based on recommendations from friends and from the Yelp reviews, we started with the idli and each ordered a different dosa. The idli was tasty - the patties were hearty yet fluffy, and the spicy sambhar was nicely balanced with the relatively cool coconut chutney. It was a good starter! For dosas...they had sooo many to pick from! It was a tough decision, but I opted for the spring dosa, my husband for the spicy andhra masala dosa, and my brother for the mysore masala dosa. Each was presented with a crispy case and very flavorful fillings. I loved the veggies in mine - they were a great consistency with not-to-spicy of flavor that blended well with the potatoes. My husband's and brother's dosas were definitely spicier, but they enjoyed their respective options. This was my first time having a "real" dosa (previously ordered one for takeout from another location, but the integrity got a little compromised so it was a different experience), and I was quite pleased! The dosas were enough to round out our meals, but I am still very intrigued by other menu items, including the highly praised mango lassi.
For the price point, quality, and quantity of food, you can't go wrong with Udipi! There is something for everyone, and you won't even notice the lacking meat options on the menu. Really glad I finally had a chance to check it out, and I'm already looking forward to a return trip!