Smart Cook is an Indian restaurant in Al Barsha South. Located in the Al Salam Building near Miracle Garden, it has taken over from Wildberry, a crazy Indian Italian concept. Its interior has not changed much from the Wildberry days but seems (thankfully) less purple. What’s important is that it’s clean and respectable, somewhere you won’t feel embarrassed taking your family to. I was lured there by the promise of a South Indian breakfast. And true enough I was offered all the goodies I usually have – dosa, idli and vada (yes, I usually have all three).
The second dosa (spoilt by the sambar) 
Nice Karak 
Interior 
The first, burnt dosa (sent back) 
Lovely idli, stale vada
The first masala dosa I was brought was burnt on one side. I sent it back. The second was better but nothing like the golden crispy dosas you get at some of the better dosa restaurants. At least it was not oily, I’ll give it that. What undid it completely was the sambar which, if entered in a competition for the worst sambar on the planet, would definitely win a prize. In addition to spoiling my dosa, it did nothing to help the equally disappointing vada. I cut my losses and had my surprisingly good idli with chutney (also good). So all in all in a disappointing experience. Will I be back? Not for breakfast, I won’t.
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Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on: xerxes@dellara.com