This second branch of Swades Vegetarian Restaurant is located on the first-floor mini-food court of the All-Day Shopping Centre beside the Institute Of Management Technology in Academic City. It’s not an easy find if you don’t have business or classes in the area. Across the hall from Swades is authentic Chinese restaurant, Dragon Seeds (who gives these restaurants their names?).
There to try their South Indian breakfast, I ordered idli-vada followed by masala dosa. My dosa, ready in literally three minutes, was served in a stock, partitioned, plastic food court tray – sambar in one compartment and coconut chutney in the second and of course the dosa in the big compartment. The dosa was really good and far better than the last place I tried in Barsha South.
Masala dosa 
Potato “masala” 
Masala dosa
My idli-vada took some time to be served because they made both fresh. I liked the idli but not so much the vada which had an aftertaste of ajowan caraway seeds (which I actually like but not in a vada). I also tried their AED1.5 karak chai which was spot on if a little on the sweet side.
Idli-Vada 
Karak Chai
Service was friendly and chirpy for so early on a Friday morning. Like the main restaurant in Karama, this food court branch also offers a full range of Indian food, including a thali and chaat. It’s obviously aimed at the academic community and is appropriately priced. They make deliveries throughout the area. Definitely worth a try if you’re in Academic City and craving Indian food.
Hey! Now read this –
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.