AUTHENTIC SOUTH INDIAN ESCAPE

An unassuming eatery in Kandivali is dishing up some authentic, home-style dishes for patrons craving for South Indian food

- Anita Aikara

At first glance, the exteriors of Porvai don't reveal much about the story that unveils once you step into the eatery, which has born out of Advaith Nayar's love to showcase the food he ate at home in his childhood.

Advaith's grandmother's 70-year-old charming vilakku (lamp) graces the entrance. A 50-year-old refurbished wooden bench in the waiting area, teak wood and cane chairs, terracotta flooring, brass plates... all elements you'd find in a typical South Indian home, you'll find here.

The food in Porvai is uncomplicated and straightforward, yet each bite will give you a masterclass on how authentic South Indian food should be. It has recipes that Advaith has grown up eating at home, whipped up by his mother, aunts, and grandmother. Advaith's father is a Malayalee, his mom is from Tamil Nadu, and Porvai brings the best of both worlds. "South Indian food is stereotyped as idlis and dosa. I wanted people to know that it is much more than that."

The podis are all freshly ground in kitchens in South India — sambar podi comes from Chennai, rasam podi from Kerala. "My aunt grinds it at her home and couriers it to us. Raw materials sourced down South are way more authentic and hence irreplaceable for us."

I started off with the quintessential filter coffee that was served in the traditional brass tumbler. Interestingly, I wrapped up my meal with a