Vidyarthi Bhavan
{{Short description|Vegetarian tiffin restaurant in Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi, South Bangalore}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
File:VidyarthiBhavanEntrance.jpg
Vidyarthi Bhavan ({{langx|kn-Latn|Vidyārthi Bhavana}}; {{lit|Student House}}) is a vegetarian tiffin restaurant in Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi, South Bangalore. It has been considered an iconic establishment of the area and Bangalore in general, with its masala dosa being particularly recognized.
History
It was founded in 1943 by Venketarama Ural to serve students who originally hailed from outside the city who were attending the nearby Acharya Pathasala Public School and National College in addition to other schools in Gandhi Bazaar, an area known for having a high concentration of educational institutions. At that time, newly opened restaurants would be given names that featured the word "Bhavan" (Bhavana; {{lit|House}}) at the end, which led to the establishment gaining its name.{{cite web|access-date=2021-04-26|title=Gandhi Bazaar's Vidyarthi Bhavan celebrates 75 years on their platter|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/apr/01/gandhi-bazaars-vidyarthi-bhavan-celebrates-75-years-on-their-platter-1795480.html|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426234429/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/apr/01/gandhi-bazaars-vidyarthi-bhavan-celebrates-75-years-on-their-platter-1795480.html|url-status=live}} Later, Parameshwara Udal took over before selling it to current owner Ramakrishna Adiga in 1970.{{cite news|access-date=2021-02-28|title=Bengaluru's dosa heaven, Vidyarthi Bhavan, turns 75|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/dosa-heaven-vidyarthi-bhavan-699387.html|date=23 October 2018|work=Deccan Herald|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041753/https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/dosa-heaven-vidyarthi-bhavan-699387.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=2021-04-26|title=बेंगलुरु: यह खाने का अड्डा बेहतरीन है, तो आप कब जा रहे हैं 'विद्यार्थी भवन'|trans-title=Bengaluru: This joint is the best around, so when will you come down to 'Vidyarthi Bhavan'|language=hi|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/lifestyle/know-about-vidyarthi-bhavan-bangalore-viv-3551852.html|website=News18 India|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429102921/https://hindi.news18.com/news/lifestyle/know-about-vidyarthi-bhavan-bangalore-viv-3551852.html|url-status=live}}
The Adigas trademarked the Vidyarthi Bhavan name in 2008, and ten years later sued two restaurants with similar names.{{cite web|first=Kushala|last=Satyanarayana|date=13 August 2018|access-date=2021-02-28|title=Namesake woes haunt classic Bengaluru eateries|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/namesake-woes-haunt-classic-bengaluru-eateries/articleshow/65379199.cms|website=Bangalore Mirror|archive-date=13 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813015015/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/namesake-woes-haunt-classic-bengaluru-eateries/articleshow/65379199.cms|url-status=live}}
Vidhyarthi Bhavan celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2018 with a silver jubilee celebration and by releasing a coffee table book, and India Post released a special postal cover and stamp the same year.{{cite web|access-date=2021-03-01|title=Iconic Vidyarthi Bhavan to treat soldiers as it turns 75|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/oct/25/iconic-vidyarthi-bhavan-to-treat-soldiers-as-it-turns-75-1889776.html|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028152420/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/oct/25/iconic-vidyarthi-bhavan-to-treat-soldiers-as-it-turns-75-1889776.html|url-status=live}}
Food and reputation
The restaurant features a limited menu of South Indian breakfast items and is known for keeping its decor and food as close to its original state as possible. It is particularly noted for its crispy and buttery masala dosa, considered its signature dish.{{cite web|access-date=2021-03-01|title=Bengaluru: Dosa lovers celebrate 75th anniversary of Vidyarthi Bhavan|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/oct/27/bengaluru-dosa-lovers-celebrate-75th-anniversary-of-vidyarthi-bhavan-1890698.html|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118121743/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2018/oct/27/bengaluru-dosa-lovers-celebrate-75th-anniversary-of-vidyarthi-bhavan-1890698.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=2021-03-01|title=Bengaluru's bother: The predicament of Vidyarthi Bhavan masala dosa in a parcel|url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/bengalurus-bother-the-predicament-of-vidyarthi-bhavan-masala-dosa-in-a-parcel-q9lodb|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803154624/https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/bengalurus-bother-the-predicament-of-vidyarthi-bhavan-masala-dosa-in-a-parcel-q9lodb|url-status=live}} Arun Adiga, Ramakrishna's son, attributes its taste to using different proportions of red rice, methi and urad dal in the recipe compared to other places.{{cite news|first1=Ranjani|last1=Govind|access-date=2021-03-01|title=Why is Bengaluru's Vidyarthi Bhavan so famous?|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/setting-the-table/article24047034.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 May 2018|issn=0971-751X|via=www.thehindu.com|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101224907/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/setting-the-table/article24047034.ece|url-status=live}} The restaurant is also known for its clientele, with writers in particular patronizing the restaurant and using it as a "creative meeting space". At peak times, the restaurant is so popular that customers have to wait outside before their name is called to enter and often end up sharing tables.{{cite web|access-date=2021-02-28|title=Vidyarthi Bhavan bets on tech to sell more Masala Dosas|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/industry/article/vidyarthi-bhavan-bets-on-tech-to-sell-more-masala-dosas/646183|website=www.timesnownews.com|archive-date=2 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902215335/https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/industry/article/vidyarthi-bhavan-bets-on-tech-to-sell-more-masala-dosas/646183|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Aditya|last1=Sondhi|access-date=2021-02-28|title=What is it about Bengaluru’s iconic Koshy’s that keeps drawing patrons back?|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/what-is-it-about-bengalurus-iconic-koshys-that-keeps-drawing-patrons-back/article33305731.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=12 December 2020|issn=0971-751X|via=www.thehindu.com|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127133056/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/what-is-it-about-bengalurus-iconic-koshys-that-keeps-drawing-patrons-back/article33305731.ece|url-status=live}}
See also
Notes
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{{coord missing|Karnataka}}
Category:Restaurants in Bengaluru