Kal Dosa Indian Restaurant Review

Kal Dosa’s prominent position on Gloucester Road makes it a beacon for Bristol foodies. It’s ideal for a celebratory family meal, a date night, and a quick bite to eat after work – there are long tables for groups as well as cosy booths. We arrived on a chilly evening and felt our spirits lift as soon as we stepped inside the bright, welcoming restaurant.

The menu promises a journey across Southern India, featuring the diverse cuisine of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. It was conceived by the three owners, who explored Southern India by train and wanted to bring the nostalgia and flavour of their travels back to Bristol – lucky for us.

During the day, a delectable thali menu is available, perfect for work lunches. There’s a veggie and a meat option to choose from – in fact, the entire menu has plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices. We visited in the evening so ordered from the main menu, choosing to start with Byadgi chilli beef. The shredded beef was wonderfully spicy, a superb dish to warm up our palates. Next, we tucked into one of the show-stopping dosas – a pancake the width of our table packed full of spicy masala potatoes, served with sambar and chutneys. We shared one as we had our eye on the main courses, but if you’re looking for a light bite that still packs a punch, a dosa is ideal.

From the mains, we eventually agreed to share the Coorgi pork and the chapala pulusu – there were so many dishes we wanted to try. The roast belly pork in kachampuli, cooked with cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper, was a hearty, warming, stew-like dish. The pulusu, with its sea bass fillets and tamarind and cherry tomato sauce, was sweet and succulent. We also shared a portion of Malabar paratha, a deliciously buttery, flaky bread perfect for mopping up rich sauces.

The food at Kal Dosa is exquisite. It’s full of flavour and the dishes are interesting and varied – this isn’t your standard curry house. The service was also excellent, with friendly, attentive staff. We’re looking forward to coming back for a thali lunch sometime soon.

16 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AE

https://www.kaldosa.co.uk