 An exclusively Southern Indian restaurant, Dosa offers a casual dining experience that feels entirely fresh. The pumpkin-colored room crackles with an animated crowd seated on pillow-strewn wooden benches or packed in at the bar, which is built for eating. Sashay into the extensive menu with the rasam fire broth, a bright tomato- and tamarind-based concoction that opens up the palate. Starters include a deconstructed onion pakora and a refreshing chickpea salad. Namesake dosas are large savory crêpes in a variety of guises, from crispy to spongy, with stuffings like a creamy aloo masala of potato, onion and cashew. Diners rip off sections of the dosa and dunk it into sambar, a traditional lentil dip with vegetables and spices, and then into one of the trio of chutneys. The menu is very vegetarian-friendly (entirely meatless at brunch), but the meat dishes offered---lamb curry, chennai chicken, calamari, and so forth---deserve special attention. Desserts include the rasmalai, a soothing dish of sweet cheese patties in cream and cardamom. Mango lassis here drink like creamsicles and are desserts in themselves. The well-chosen wines (some Indian) and beers partner nicely with the spice-laden menu, as do the refreshing cocktails made with Lillet, a French white wine apéritif. |
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Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants to find out which restaurants are offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.
