Mangaluru: From sabudana tikkis and samak rice to singhada puris and vrat-friendly desserts, restaurants across Mangaluru are serving special Navratri thalis that combine traditional fasting recipes with festive indulgence. With menus tailored to dietary restrictions and prices ranging from budget-friendly options to elaborate spreads, hotels are seeing diners explore seasonal culinary offerings during the festival.Devabrata Mondal, executive chef at The Ocean Pearl, said the hotel had taken care to adhere to fasting-related dietary restrictions while preparing its special menu.“For Navratri, we do not use onion or garlic and avoid root vegetables. We use rock salt and ingredients such as sabudana, samak rice, and kuttu or singhada flour. The menu is priced at Rs 499,” he said.KP Singh, general manager of The Ocean Pearl, said the hotel witnesses a noticeable increase in diner footfall during evening, with around 200 to 300 diners visiting as people step out to enjoy festive meals.At Hotel BMS, the focus is on variety, with a themed spread featuring dishes across courses. Chirag Ariga, director of the hotel, said the festive offering was designed to give diners a range of options.“Our concept is to offer nine dishes across categories, from starters and mains to drinks and desserts. The thali features 17 items, including faldhari ras, thepla, dhokla and sabudana tikkis, and is priced at Rs 277,” he said.Meanwhile, Sana-di-ge restaurant at Goldfinch Hotel is offering a Navratri thali featuring traditional fasting preparations. Baban Mundon, chef at the restaurant, said the menu followed Jain dietary principles and included dishes such as aloo jeera, shahi paneer, samak pulao, sabudana kheer and singhada puris.“We receive around 35 to 40 orders for the thali daily, exclusively during lunch hours. Footfall peaks during the final two to three days of the festival,” he said.The restaurant also accommodates special requests by customising thalis, depending on the availability of dishes and ingredients in the kitchen.With families and devotees seeking meals that align with festive dietary practices, the special thalis have added variety to Mangaluru’s dining scene, bringing traditional Navratri recipes to restaurant tables while catering to different budgets.
