A last-minute guide to Onam feasts in your city

One of Kerala's biggest and most extensive festivals, celebrated with much fanfare is Onam, with Onam Sadya or Onasadya being one of the most important parts of this religious commemoration. The festival has several aspects—it marks the homecoming of the mythological king Mahabali, falls in the first month of Malayalee calendar and the sadya is a multi-sensory experience that brings together fresh produce, diverse textures and tastes.

It is the sadya that has made Onam immensely popular across India with restaurants and home chefs rolling out Onasadya menus, complete with discounts and home delivery options.

DELHI

Zambar

Zambar with their special Onam Sadya meals has an extensive and exclusive menu to celebrate this day with elan. Ranging from crispy pappadams and nendran chips to tangy mango and lemon pickles, it takes you through an elaborate journey of Kerala with dishes such as kootu curry, beetroot thoran, drumstick ulli theeyal and much more. To finish off this delicious meal, desserts such as ada paradhamam and pal payasam are there to sweeten your day.

Where: Ambience Mall, Gurugram

When: 20th, 21st & 22nd August, 2021

Lunch Time: 11:30 am - 4:30 pm

Dinner Time: 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Dine-in price: 999+ taxes

Price for home delivery: 1095+ taxes

Contact: +91 9958564400

Sana-di-ge

Their onasadya menu comprises 21 items from the flavourful avial, mild olan and the curd-based pulissery; all offset by the crunchy papaddams. Along with the signature pal payasam, they have a Kadalai Paruppu Payasam made with channa dal, for additional variety. To sweeten the deal, they have a 15% discount if you make reservations in advance.

Where: Commercial Centre, 22/48, Malcha Marg, New Delhi, Delhi 110021

When:18th - 22nd August

Dine-in only: 1599 + taxes 

Contact: 91 40507777, +91 8197590773 , +91 9870651064

Mahabelly

Founders Thomas Fenn and Zachariah Jacob with their restaurant Mahabelly created a hub for food from Kerala in South Delhi. Their Onam Sadya spread of 23 lip-smacking items for the weekend are nearly sold out for Saturday. You could go to their Instagram page @mahabelly to book now for Friday and Sunday.

Where: MA-A05, Ground Floor Restaurant Block, DLF Avenue, Mandir Marg, Saket, New Delhi, Delhi 110017

When: 20th - 22nd, August

Dine-in Price: 1099

Takeaway: 999

Home Delivery: 1199

Contact: +91 9017906907

MUMBAI

St Regis

The 5-star hotel has curated a delivery menu to bring home festive dishes from Kerala. Their meal of about 15 dishes with signature items like the sublime pumpkin erisherry with cowpeas, tongue-tingling pineapple pachadi and a flavourful beetroot and carrot thoran. The best part is that this large satisfying meal can be shared by two.

When: 20th - 22nd, August

Home Delivery only: 2,250 plus taxes

Contact: +91 86575 22956, 022 61628422, 022 61628000

Saffron, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu

The Onam Sadya at the JW Marriott Juhu promises to be a lavish affair. The lunch-only meal experience demands that you go with an empty stomach ready to be pampered with food and spectacular service. On calling them for enquiry, they informed that they are almost full, but they can make a reservation if you call tonight or tomorrow.

When: 21 August

Dine in only: 3000 plus taxes (Reservation required)

Contact: + 91 22 6693 3344, +91 90046 16506

Nair On Fire

This year is the second edition of the Nair On Fire’s ‘Unsadya’ Onam menu. Their menu includes all things non-vegetarian from seafood, chicken and buff meat. Although it is widely believed that Onam is a vegetarian affair, there are sub-cuisines in Kerala that serve non-vegetarian dishes too. Their ‘Unsadya’ menu has a Trivandrum chicken fry, Kerala fish curry and Kerala buff roast. Even the dessert section has a sweet dish with a difference—palada payasam with boli which is a sweet lentil-stuffed paratha.

When: 20th, 21st and 22nd August 

Delivery only: 1150 (pre-booking recommended)

Contact: 9324059522

Saffron by The Sassy Spoon

If you want the taste of Kerala on Onam without calling for a large meal, Sassy Spoon’s cloud kitchen has a few dishes to satiate your cravings. Their menu is ‘more Kerala and less Onam’ with dishes like the spicy Tellicherry Pepper Rasam with Roast Chicken, Prawns Chilli Fry and Paneer Kofta Gassi, Kerala Style Paneer, among others.

Outposts: Saffron by The Sassy Spoon, Nariman Point and Powai

Contact: Nariman Point - 9833950969 | Powai - 9819544195

Direct Ordering Link: https://saffronbysassyspoon.dotpe.in/order

BENGALURU

Kappa Chakka Kandhari (KCK)

The extensive Onasadhya at KCK is an elaborate selection of 26 items and is fit for five very hungry people. The takeaway feast is aptly called Onasadhya - Feast in a Box. Apart from this, they have an interesting menu featuring a wide array of payasams available for takeaway. There’s the unique chakka pradhaman of ripe jackfruit stewed in jaggery and cooked with coconut milk. The rich creamy payaru payasam is made with whole green moong sweetened with jaggery, cooked in coconut milk and flavoured with cardamom.The Thrissur-special palada payasam is made with rice flakes or ada, simmered in milk till it turns creamy and garnished with cashew. There really is more to payasam than the regular pal(rice) payasam and KCK wants you to know.

When: 20th and 21st August

Takeaway only: 4750 plus taxes for Onasadhya—Feast in a Box that serves 5 people; 350 plus taxes for 500 ml payasam and 650 plus taxes for 1 litre payasam

Pick-up Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Pre-order on www.kckonam.com

Karavalli

The iconic south-Indian restaurant at the Taj in Bengaluru is renowned for its Onam Sadhya feasts. Although they are sold out for dine-in on Saturday, takeaways are available. On Sunday, there are still some spots left for dine-in and takeaway. It’s filling up fast, they said.

When: 21st and 22nd August

Dine in: 1800 plus taxes

Takeaway: 2000 plus taxes

Contact: +91 80666 04545 and +91 9243770002

Chef Pillai

The new restaurant by renowned chef Suresh Pillai has a Sadya menu from his home town, Kollam. Known as the Quilon Sadya, it has dishes such as a thickish mango curry and three types of payasams, including one with pineapple, served with boli. The takeaway feast is available for preorder and each item comes in shining copper containers; a truly festive touch.

When: 20th, 21st and 22nd August

Takeaway only: 999 plus delivery charges

Contact: +91 8943150000 & +91 8943250000

(With inputs from Avantika Bhuyan)