New Indian Banana Leaf

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Banana Leaf officially taking over the site of beloved Zafran Pot changed the perfection of a restaurant closing.  The small cafe continues the legacy of offering superlative Southern Indian dishes.  New owner, Sridhar (Sri) Sambangi, a close friend of the previous owners, oversees the kitchen.  Sri’s expanded menu includes variations of their biryani that he championed.

Banana Leaf’s fresh, healthy food includes the first-ever organic chicken tikka masala in LA.  Other exclusive Southern Indian regional specialty dishes on the menu in the category of biryani are Paneer (Cottage Cheese), Chicken 65 and Dindigul (Chennai Style). The appetizer category lists Hyd Boneless fish fry; Pizza Samosa; Gobi 65, and Chicken Manchurian. The curry section features Lamb Tikka Masala, Mango Dal and Andhra Chicken Fry. Photos and descriptions are on (www.bananaleafla.com)  

The menu is small and inviting, filled with the fresh, bold flavors that have made this regional cuisine so beloved in India for centuries.  It is lively eating, filled with unusual combinations of home and street food. Standouts include fun, informal Dabba Box Lunches. A two-week rotation of new, exclusive regional items on the menu will introduce guests to as many dishes as possible. 

Hospitality at Banana Leaf follows the philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhava, “the guest is equivalent to god.” Five full meals will be offered daily to customers unable to pay.  Sri has also established a sponsoring affiliation with the UCLA hosted dinner project. 

Sri’s Hyderabadi, India background is the starting base of the Banana Leaf menu.  The area is famous for its Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, as well as the residents’ passion for it. Other Southern Indian dishes are based primarily around rice, lentils, and stews. 

Sri is already an integral part of the close-knit ethnic food community on this stretch of Venice Blvd. that has earned the reputation of serving the best Indian food in the city, if not in the country.  Sri’s passion and knowledge for authentic Indian cuisine in California are also shown in his restaurant video series on YouTube.

He has worked with close to 1000 chefs and owners in Southern California as founder-owner of Clorder, Inc.  Using the latest cutting-edge technology from his two-decade long, successful career in the high-tech industry, he designed a white label restaurant branding platform that also acts as a liaison between restaurant and delivery systems.

10408 Venice Blvd Suite: B, Culver City, CA 90232 (650) 872-9304. Hours: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5 PM to 9:30 PM.  Closed Wednesday. (www.bananaleafla.com)