Shree Gomateshwara Bhawan Vapi – A Splendid Restaurant on the Highway

Sujit Sinha & I left Sonali’s farmhouse in Mumbai and headed towards Gujarat on a battered highway that was being reconstructed.

Our second halt was tentatively at Surat, and that was unconfirmed. Since Sujit was uncertain whether we would stay there or find another place.

So we deployed the chariot, my Mahindra Scorpio-N, on the same battered highway and drove towards Surat in Gujarat.

The distance was not much, just about 300 km. But crossing the Maharashtrian under-construction highway seemed it was like 600 km. But cursing, we went along.

We reached Vapi around 1500 hours and were totally famished. We were scouting for a place for our lunch and spotted Shree Gomateshwara Bhavan Vapi on the highway NH-48.

The chariot, Mahindra Scorpio-N, gravitated towards the open parking of the mall that houses Shree Gomateshwara Bhavan South Indian cuisine restaurant.

I wasn’t aware of its legacy from association with Shree Gomateshwara Bhavan Malad West in Mumbai; however, realised it was a popular outlet in Vapi as well.

The restaurant was quite well decorated with Gold being the major colour and brass an essential metal for its decor.

As we entered, the precincts were not full, but guests from the corporate ladder and women enjoying their kitty party were enough to declare its popularity.

The restaurant is quite elegant and well-spaced for its patrons. While it is a relatively new and specialised addition to the Vapi food scene, it’s designed to accommodate groups and families.

The wall decor in the restaurant is adorned with South Indian cultural elements, such as artwork or motifs, that reinforce the authentic theme of the restaurant.

While the seating is functional, with sturdy chairs and laminate tables, it is designed for a “dine-and-go” pace rather than long lounging sessions.

They serve wholesome, pure-vegetarian meals in a clean, family-friendly atmosphere. We took a table, and the menus appeared pronto.

Since we were fabulously hungry, an order of Cheese Paniyaram, Mushroom Chettinad with Neer Dosa and Udupi Style Mushroom Gassi with Malabar Paratha was placed.

Our order of Cheese Paniyaram, Mushroom Chettinad with Neer Dosa and Udupi Style Mushroom Gassi with Malabar Paratha came pretty soon. So the service was quite fast.

The staff overall was polite, attentive, and always ready to help with recommendations.

Now the moment of truth.

Cheese Paniyaram – I was expecting the paniyaram to be quite soft, assuming cheese would have found its way into the dumpling as a stuffing.

However, I eventually realised that the paniyram were just garnished with the cheese on the top. I felt disappointed not to find anything new.

So that made the fun escape from the dish entirely.

Cheese paniyaram at shree gomateshwara bhawan vapi

Mushroom Chettinad with Neer Dosa – This was a delightful pairing of a rich, spicy, aromatic mushroom curry with delicate, paper-thin, soft rice crepes (Neer Dosa), offering a contrast in textures and flavours where the fiery Chettinad gravy is beautifully balanced by the mild, absorbent dosa. I loved this part of lunch.

Udupi Style Mushroom Gassi with Malabar Paratha – This Ghassi also gets full marks. It was simply out of the world- bursting with flavours and nutrients.  It is a Mangalorean-style coconut-based curry that went very well with the accompanying Malabar Paratha.

So apart from the paniyaram, the meal was quite balanced, and we enjoyed it fully.

Shree gomateshwara bhawan vapi

Shree Gomateshwara Bhavan in Vapi is widely regarded as a top-tier destination for authentic South Indian cuisine.

Located conveniently near the N.H. No. 48 in the GIDC area, it has become a favourite for both locals and travellers passing through the industrial hub.

The restaurant offers a clean, well-lit, and casual dining atmosphere. It is family-friendly and usually maintains a high standard of hygiene.

The restaurant specialises in traditional South Indian flavours, but with a modern twist. They also offer meals apart from the usual fare, like idlis, dosas, vada, and uttapam.

A significant portion of their menu is available in Jain versions (indicated by a (J) on the menu), making it a very inclusive spot for the community.