For lovers of dosa, a delectable crisp crêpe made from fermented rice flour, few things compare to a masala dosa from Saravana Bhavan. The dosa’s flavour and texture, the potato filling, the sambar, the tomato chutney, and the coconut chutney (which separates the wannabes from the real thing). Delish. And pure veg if you care about such things.

With friends and family, we have munched on dosa, idli, vada, and drunk “half metre coffee” (check out this video on how it’s made) at Saravana Bhavan in Chennai, India.

For years, there were hushed whispers about the owner, about the lengths to which he went to get rid of a rival for a woman’s affections. According to a recent NYT article, he seems to have gotten away with murder.