Annalakshmi

Do your bit for charity

Food

Service

Atmosphere

“Join me for dinner tonight!”, insisted Sandy.  “I’ll bring you somewhere interesting, I won‘t take “No” for an answer”, she added and hung up.  Yes, Sandy's tried almost everything in town.

Me? My staple diet consists of fast food and hawker fare.  I couldn’t get myself out of this “date” and was ready by the time she rang my doorbell.  

“You’ll love it”, she quipped.  We parked at Mid Valley and started walking.  “Hey, I’ve been here lots of times so what’s the surprise?”, I think. “Here we are!”, she stopped outside a grand looking door.  I couldn’t hide my surprise..Annalakshmi? Wow, it looks expensive even from the outside.. Before I could utter a sound, I was pulled into the restaurant.

Stepping inside (more like falling in), I was overcome by the splendor of Indian art and handicrafts around me.  Everything was beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like this before.  Sweat started to form on my forehead though, “Could I afford the meal?” 

Sandy explained the restaurant’s concept to me.  Annalaksmi, a unique restaurant, is a project of Temple of Fine Arts International, offering  authentic buffet of delicious vegetarian Indian culinary to the public. It is a pay-what-you-want restaurant and the proceeds go to charity.  I love this idea, it’s nice to know that I am helping in whatever little way I can. 

This place is very clean and quiet.  I tried the chapati , stir-fried cauliflower and potatoes, dhall (chickpeas curry) and fresh Pappadum, which is usually eaten in accompaniment with rice and dipped in curry.  My favourite? The lassi drink, of course.  I remember being so full that Sandy had to help me get out the door.

Annalaksmi Restaurant has since moved away from Mid Valley.  I heard that it’s been relocated to The Temple of Fine Arts in Jalan Berhala, Kuala Lumpur.

Soon, I’ll be the one knocking on Sandy’s door and inviting her out to dinner.  No prizes for guessing the venue!