Place: MTR 1924 London
Location: 3 Village Way E, Rayners Lane
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with family)
We’ve been dining at MTR for over a year now, and this post has been long pending. So, here’s a culmination of most of our visits.
For South Indian fare, everyone talks about Saravanaa Bhavan or A2B, but not much about this gem of a place. While the former restaurants originate in Tamil Nadu, MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Room) is a Karnataka-based franchise, serving authentic Kannadiga tiffins. MTR is an everyday brand for almost every South Indian, thanks to its ready-made/packaged food (not related to the restaurant anymore).
A bit of gyan here: South India has five states, and while most of us eat Idli and Dosa (among other dishes), each state has its own regional style. “Tiffin” (not to be confused with the confectionery here in the UK) is not a box, but a small meal or snack. We South Indians usually have tiffins like Dosa and Idli for breakfast. It is not typically a full meal unless you eat more than one or multiple tiffins.
Back to MTR, they have two branches in London: a dine-in restaurant in Rayner’s Lane and a take-away only joint on Kenton Road. We frequent the Rayner’s Lane MTR at least once a month. It’s a small, brightly lit restaurant with about 12 tables and a decent ambiance.
Let’s now talk about food!
Rava Idli, a dish invented by MTR back in the 1940s, is their trademark dish. Served with coconut chutney and vegetable curry (known as sagu), this steamed semolina rice cake is a typical Kannadiga dish. While I’ve had better in India, this one is still a decent dish.
Their Vada is one of the best you can get in London. Crisp on the outside yet soft on the inside, it literally melts in your mouth.
Sambar Vada is another perfect dish. Delicious!
Their Masala Dosa is a little different from those at the Tamilian joints I mentioned earlier, but it is in a league of its own.
Benne Masala Dosa is their most popular dish. Made with generous amounts of fresh butter, this is similar to Masala Dosa, but is smaller in size, and a bit thicker. What’s not to like when they is so much butter? 😁
I love their Poori as well for they are really soft and light, and served with vegetable sagu.
My usual favorite, however, is their Onion Rava Masala Dosa. While all other dosas are typically made with rice batter, this one contains more semolina (rava) and is much larger and thinner (Also, this is probably the only item where one serving fills my tummy 😜).
Bisi Bele Bhath and Khara Bhath are some other popular dishes that I love. Our lil one loves their Cheese Dosa which is super yummy. They also serve specials on different days of the week, for example, Mini Tiffins on Tuesdays and Akki Roti and Mirchi Bajji on Fridays. While I like all of these, their Mini Tiffins deserve a special callout as you get to taste small portions of their main delicacies.
They also serve hot and cold Badam Milk, but I’m a fan of their latter. Not too sweet, it is just perfect for my liking.
For those with a sweet tooth, I recommend the Badam Halwa, although their Kesar Bath is equally good.
Overall, MTR 1924 is a hidden gem and a must-try for anyone who loves South Indian tiffins. While the place is run by Gujaratis, the kitchen is maintained by Kannadigas who bring authentic taste to all their dishes. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the place is always impeccably clean, which adds to the overall dining experience. The service is super quick, and the staff is courteous, attentive, and always ready to help with recommendations. However, my only concern is that while the food usually lives up to our expectations, there are times when a few dishes are underwhelming. But thankfully, this is rare, and we usually leave with a happy tummy. The fact that it is easy on the pocket makes this a must-visit.
PS: Don’t expect this place to serve any North Indian delicacies and dishes like other South Indian joints do. They only serve tiffins (which means limited menu offerings), and that is what makes this place authentic.
Food: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Meal for 1: £8 – £12
Verdict: 9/10
