Craving a snack after doing some grocery shopping? Come to Tatva Cafe at 15801 Manchester Road feeling hungry and leave feeling satiated. Located next to Bharath Bazar, the 1,300 square foot space has been whipping up delicious South Indian food since opening its doors to the public last fall.
Jars of freshly made snacks line the walls, and glass containers of achar, India- style pickles, sit behind the counter. Listen to the jingling of the colorful wind chimes hanging from the ceiling mingle with the traditional Indian music playing from the speakers. Owner Ms. Reddy says Tatva symbolizes the five elements of the universe. The decor is meant to evoke memories of traditional Indian cafes like Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular chain in South India.
“We wanted to make it South Indian authentic, like how you typically have the Rameshwaram Cafes in India,” Reddy said.
In the coming months, the cafe has plans to have a live pani puri station outside the cafe, just like in India, Reddy said. “So we’re waiting on some permissions [from the city right now]. Once that is done, probably we’ll have a live pani puri station like typical India, where people come and [eat pani puri] sitting outside,” Reddy said.
The mark of a good cafe is in its beverages, and Tatva Cafe’s chai is like no other. Reddy calls it Irani chai, and explains that the milk is boiled for 3 hours and uses “secret ingredients” to make the tea thicker.
“There are people who love our chai. They come all the way, like 30 miles from Lake Saint Louis. I have customers from Maryland Heights who just come for tea and go,” Reddy said.
Of course, chai time would be incomplete without the accompanying snacks like pakodas, vegetables dipped in a spiced batter, fried to crispy perfection. Or, try some punugulu, a crispy, savory snack from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh made with rice and urad dhal batter.
But what Tatva is known for is their dosas, a crispy, savory lentil pancake that’s typically made out of a fermented batter of rice and urad dhal.
“If you have tried dosas in any other Indian restaurant, those are crunchy, in and out. But ours are small sized, thick. We have special batter we prepare by our own chef,” Reddy said.
Tatva’s menu isn’t just limited to their tea and snacks; don’t miss out on the thali combo, which includes rice, flatbread, a choice of five curries, a lentil soup called Sambar, spicy pickle, a crispy savory lentil chip called Papad, and a dessert. Not feeling that voracious? Opt for a combo of rice, flatbread, and a choice of two curries for a few bucks less.
Or, if it’s looking to be a quick meal kind of day, pick up some steamed rice cakes called Idlis, or try Vada, a savory lentil donut fried to crispy, delicious perfection. And don’t leave without trying the poori, fried flatbread with a choice of a side of dal, curried lentils, chole, curried chickpeas, or a paneer side dish.
Tatva makes their food fresh, in-house, every day. The produce comes in fresh from neighboring grocery Bharath Bazar to craft their signature curries.
Reddy explained that while the ingredients might vary, the menu typically adheres to a vegetable fry, gravy gravy-type curry, a paneer side dish, and a lentil-based dal dish. “So we ensure we have all these four types of [curries]. But the vegetables change every day. One day it’s okra, one day it’s brinjal, one day it’s bottle gourd,” Reddy said.
Have a dietary restriction or allergy? Don’t hesitate to ask for accommodations, as Tatva offers egg-free and onion- and garlic-free options.
“I feel there’s no such space for them [vegetarians] where they can come and eat with freedom, like not thinking about what dishes we are using, whether we are swapping [between using] Veg or non-veg [utensils]. They are free from that stress. They just come enjoy the food,” Reddy said.
Visit their website or follow Tatva Cafe on Instagram for more updates.
