Being of Indian origin, I am always on the lookout for a taste of home, and in particular, I have a soft spot for dosa. I happened to chance upon Nalan while walking through the basement of the Capitol Theatre a few years ago, and have repeatedly gone back, while bringing friends along as well.
Ambience, Service and the Staff
Nalan is conveniently located next to the central fountain in the basement of the Capitol Theatre, and brings back memories of restaurants back in India where my family and I used to go for our regular weekly treats. I have been here sevearl times, and most recently, with friends as a party of 6. We made our reservations via Chope. Reservations can also be made via Quandoo (use the referral code DEBASHIS5259JNW for 500 bonus points on your first reservation when signing up via iOS or Android).
Nalan has the ambience of a casual dining place which is perfect for grabbing a bite on the go, a meal in the middle of the day alone or with colleagues, or to casually catch up with friends and colleagues. The restaurant has an open space that lies between the corridors and a central water feature, and is simply but tastefully decorated with comfortable seats. While I have been here several times, during my visit with my party of 6, we were seated at a table in the rear by the water feature giving us plenty of privacy by the friendly and professional staff who served us water immediately. Menus were provided at the table via a QR code.
The Food
On the day, we were sharing. Each of us ordered dosas – ranging from the plain, the standard masala dosa, and the onion rava masala dosa, to chole batura, and a selection of vegetarian dishes – the malai kofta, the chilli paneer, and the baigan ka bharta. We also got our selection of drinks – mango lassis, and masala chai – for each of us.
Their service here was very quick, with drinks coming out in under 5 minutes, and the shared vegetable dishes beginning to come out about 5 minutes later.
Our mains followed with all 6 of us getting our items in the next 10 minutes.
I particularly like their dosas (or thosai) here, and my favourite is there Onion Rava Ghee Masala Thosai. Among my other favourite items here are the Chole Batura (large, puffed up fried pieces of dough served with chickpeas), and the pav-bhaji (ghee-fried bread served with a spicy potato curry, lime and raw onions).
Nalan also offers a selection of vegetarian curries which includes paneer, mushrooms, and an assortment of vegetables.
The Price Point
Nalan is very reasonably priced. On this particular evening, we ran up a bill of just under $170 for 6 people – which is under $30 per person. This included beverages, individual mains, and shared items. I’ve gone there with friends and typically find that around $50 for 2 people is more than enough to enjoy a freshly prepared, hot, tasty, Indian vegetarian meal.
The Final Verdict
Nalan is a great value destination, suitable for a quiet dinner on your own or with a loved one, or to catch up with friends and colleagues during or after a day at work. I’ve been there several times, and continue to go back while taking friends, and recommend this to anyone looking for a great value Indian vegetarian meal.
Address: 3 Stamford Rd, #B2-54 Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905
Phone: +65 6336 6404
Website: https://www.nalan.com.sg/
