Pondicherry is a culturally rich Indian union territory near Tamil Nadu. If you plan a getaway to Pondicherry, try these fabulous restaurants. As a food blogger, these Pondicherry restaurants are my favourite.
Pondicherry is a food lover’s paradise and has plenty to offer when it comes to good food.
The food served at Pondicherry restaurants is diverse and quite different from other tourist places in South India. The place has a strong French influence in its heritage, architecture, and food.
One can see influences of English, Portuguese, French, and Dutch Cuisine , interspersed with South Indian delicacies, coastal flavours , and continental favourites to cater to tourists from all over the World.
The French Quarter, colonial architecture, fusion flavours , and local bakeries ensure that Pondicherry is a beautiful retreat away from the hustle-bustle of a metropolitan. The slow-life vibe of Pondicherry will make you fall in love with it.
Hina Gujral
My Favorite Pondicherry Restaurants
I hope you will love these restaurants too!
1)Bread and Chocolate: Highly recommended and with good reason, this is heaven for bread and chocolate lovers – and the best part, everything on the menu is organic and locally sourced ( there are gluten-free and vegan options as well ).
If you’re looking for a perfect breakfast smoothie bowl, sourdough sandwich, or chocolate croissant, head straight to Bread and Chocolate at Auroville.
We suggest going early on weekends as most bakery items go out of stock by noon. Also, there are limited seats, so it’s best to reach early and grab a perfect spot.
My Favorites: Summer Tartine Breakfast, Croissant, Cinnamon Roll, and Chocolate Palmiers , and Babka
Summer Tartine – Bread & Chocolate
Iced Coffee – Bread & Chocolate
- Tanto Pizzeria: Are you a pizza lover? Then Tanto Pizzeria at Auroville is your go-to place for all things pizza. This joint promises woodfired pizza with a thin-crust Italian-style base, fresh tomato sauce, and delicious toppings.
The ambience is fuss-free with open-air sitting, and the place has a rustic, al-fresco feels. On a hot day, a thin-crust pizza, a grilled fish platter, and a massive pitcher of their iced tea or fresh juice are exactly what you need to chill with friends.
My Favourites: Woodfire Oven Pizza
Chicken Pizza – Tanto Pizzeria
Oven Grilled Fish – Tanto Pizzeria
- Coromandel Cafe, La Maison Rose: A pretty pink café at White Town, La Maison Rose is a quiet little spot for a romantic dinner date. Modelled after the pink villa of the same name in Paris. La Maison Rose has a luxury boutique, bookshop, and cafe.
This French-themed cafe has indoor and open-air seating where you can spend hours sipping a chilled beer or a glass of wine along with deliciously crisp calamari or a good steak. The menu has plenty of French-inspired dishes tweaked with local flavours.
My Favourites: Moroccon Spiced Prawns, Crispy Calamari
La Maison Rose
La Maison Rose
- Villa Shanti: This Pondicherry restaurant is another gem at White Town’s heart. One can visit this place for its colonial feel and old-world charm. An old bungalow courtyard converted into a restaurant; Villa Shanti is the perfect spot for a family dinner.
Villa Shanti is well known for its fusion flavours. Here you will get classic Indian food with a French twist – from the traditional French dessert, Crème Brulee, to chicken tikka, there is a lot of variety on the menu.
It is highly recommended to make a reservation, especially during the weekend, as it is a popular Pondicherry restaurant.
My Favourites: Watermelon Gazpacho , Murgh Adraki Kebab, Tandoori Fish Tikka
Villa Shanti
Villa Shanti, Pondicherry
- Marc’s Cafe : If you are a coffee lover or enthusiast, visit Marc’s Cafe at Auroville. From the best cup of coffee in town to great pastries and a fabulous Masala Dosa (Sunday Morning), you get it all at Marc’s Cafe.
The best part is they offer a variety of learning experiences for coffee lovers from time to time. I love the look and feel of this cosy cafe. You can also buy a variety of made-in-India coffee powders and beans at their cafe.
My Favorite: Coffee, Pastries, Masala Dosa
Marc’s Cafe, Auroville
Coffee and Almond Croissant
Masala Dosa on Sunday Morning
- Café Xtasi: This café at MG Road is a must-visit in Pondy for their star item on the menu – Pizza! What’s unique about this place is – handcrafted woodfired pizza and half-and-half style customizable toppings.
One gets to order their pizza in a half-and-half style with different toppings on each half of the pizza.
One can also opt for pasta or a salad if you’re not in the mood for pizza. Café Xtasi is a popular joint among locals and travellers. It is almost always packed, so plan your visit accordingly.
My Favorites: Iron Pie Pizza, Sausezz Pizza
Cafe Xtasi
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Masala Macaroni is an Indian-style stir-fry pasta. It is spicy, vegan, and one of the ways to use all the leftover vegetables from the fridge. Be sure to watch the video!
The Story of Masala Macaroni
During the era of the ’90s, while I was growing up, masala macaroni was the only pasta my mother used to make. And we ( me and my brother ) used to love it.
Her version of desi macaroni pasta was inspired by Indian Chinese Cuisine , with a truckload of vegetables ( probably her way of sneaking veggies into our diet ), a few sauces like green chilli and ketchup, spices, and of course, the elbow pasta (macaroni).
Even to date, it is one of my favourite pasta dishes. I love anything with macaroni – whether it is creamy macaroni salad or spicy stir fry, I have a soft spot in my heart for macaroni pasta.
Over the years in India, masala macaroni has become a widely popular comfort food. It is part of the street food fair and restaurant menu and is commonly made for breakfast or lunch in many households.
Ingredients Required
When it comes to ingredients, this masala macaroni recipe is very flexible.
Pasta: As the recipe’s name suggests, elbow pasta or macaroni is a key ingredient. Many versions of masala pasta use penne as well.
Vegetables: I like to add onion, green peas , carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage to my masala pasta. Other vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli, baby corn, sweet corn, and zucchini can also be added.
Spiciness: The spicy flavour in this masala pasta comes from green chilli, green chilli sauce, black pepper, and my secret tomato chilli sauce.
Fresh Herbs: A mix of green or spring onion and coriander gives this pasta the right notes of freshness.
Other Ingredients: Refined or Vegetable Oil, Garlic, Salt
Optional Ingredients: Grated Cheese, Cream, Red Chili Flakes or Oregano, Fresh Basil
The Secret Sauce
The masala macaroni has a sweet, spicy, garlicky taste with a hint of tomato sourness. And you get it right with my secret sauce. It is an easy blend of – fresh tomatoes, dry red chilli, garlic, ginger, tomato ketchup, and water.
Trust me; once you try this secret sauce, you will not need an array of readymade sauces to make the BEST masala macaroni.
This secret sauce is easy to make, vegan, gluten-free, and meal-prep-friendly.
Watch Masala Macaroni Video
Storage Suggestion
It is very easy to store pasta dishes. Transfer the leftover masala macaroni to a container with the lid. Store in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days.
As the days pass, the macaroni pasta becomes a bit dry. While reheating, add more of my secret sauce or cream to freshen it up. You can easily reheat this masala macaroni in a microwave or stovetop.
Hence it is perfect for lunch boxes , potlucks , or picnic meals.
More Pasta Recipes
- Basil Pesto Pasta
- Tomato Sauce Pasta
- Makhani Sauce Pasta
- Pink Sauce Spaghetti
- Summer Pasta Salad
- Chicken Pasta Salad
- Creamy White Sauce Pasta
If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach other food lovers like you.
Ingredients
For Masala Macaroni
- ▢ 4 Cup elbow macaroni (approx 500 gram)
- ▢ ¼ Cup vegetable oil
- ▢ 2 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon green chili chopped
- ▢ ½ Cup red onion, sliced
- ▢ ¼ Cup carrot, diced
- ▢ ¼ Cup capsicum, diced
- ▢ ¼ Cup cabbage, shredded
- ▢ ¼ Cup green peas (fresh or frozen )
- ▢ 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon green chili sauce
- ▢ ½ Cup secret sauce (see recipe)
- ▢ Salt & Pepper, to taste
- ▢ 2 tablespoon green onion, chopped
Ingredient for Secret Sauce
- ▢ 1 Cup fresh tomato, diced
- ▢ 2 dry red chili (subsitute with fresh red chili or chili paste
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ginger, roughly chopped
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves
- ▢ ⅛ Cup tomato sauce or ketchup
- ▢ ¼ Cup hot water
Instructions
Prepare Secret Sauce
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Grind to a smooth paste. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Prepare Masala Macaroni
- Cook macaroni according to packet directions in the salted water. Once cooked al-dente, transfer to a strainer, rinse with room temperature water, and set aside in the strainer itself to cool down completely.
- Heat oil in a stir fry pan. Add garlic, green chili, and onion. Sir fry for 1 minute. No need to brown the onion or garlic.
- Add vegetables, salt, pepper, and stir fry over high heat for 1 – 2 minutes. Do not cook the vegetables for too long.
- Add the secret sauce, white vinegar, green chili sauce, and combine all the ingredients together nicely.
- Simmer the sauce for 1 minute and then add boiled macaroni pasta. Combine with the sauce. Cook for 1 – 2 minutes for the pasta to absorb the sauces.
- Add green onion, stir to combine, and masala macaroni is ready.
- Serve Masala Macaroni warm.
Recipe Notes:
- Do not cook the vegetables/sauce/macaroni for too long. This pasta recipe is about the quick stir-frying technique to create a smokey flavour.
- You can moderate the quantity of each ingredient to suit your tastebuds.
Nutrition
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