Sauji community is known for its hot and spicy non vegetarian delicacies in places where Savjis are concentrated in large numbers, like Hubli, Bangalore, Belgaum in Karnataka, Nagpur and Solapur in Maharashtra, served in small family style restaurants called Sauji khanavali. Majority of the Sauji people are non-vegetarian and hence preparation of variety of meat dishes is very common in the community. Goat meat, chicken and fish forms major component of Sauji cuisine along with other vegetarian dishes. Alcohol consumption is not restricted in the community.

I had the opportunity to taste Sauji mutton rassa at Nagpur Hotel, Pune, and ever since I have been in love with it. So when I visit Hubli for a meeting, I have another very important mission in mind – to find a Sauji restaurant in Hubli. My local colleague helps out and recommends Ambika as the best in Hubli. So at the appointed lunch hour, I set out for my Sauji lunch. We drive through the narrow meandering lanes of old Hubli, to reach a residential locality. We walk down to one of the hoses which also is the restaurant and seat ourselves in the modest settings.

The menu is simple – it is six kind of rice plates – mutton rassa, mutton kheema rassa, mutton khara, mutton champ, mutton liver and chicken rassa. Since it is impossible to try all of them I orde5r all that I can eat. We start with the quintessential Sauji mutton rassa rice plate (Rs 120) which has a somewhat oily mutton masala, unlimited rassa (curry), some onions, a lime wedge and two jowar bhakris. The mutton curry confirms what I thought when I had this in Pune – along with its close cousin Kolhapuri mutton rassa, this is the finest mutton curry in the universe.

                                  Mutton Rassa Rice Plate

I also separately order a plate of mutton kheema rassa (Rs 100) which has meat balls instead of mutton but I prefer the mutton rassa, and mutton khara (Rs 100) which showcases how simple dishes are the best. It is mutton cooked in salt and green chillies – no masalas, no oil, and thoroughly enjoyable. We end the meal with rice poured with vast quantities of rassa, which must be had using one’s fingers and making slurping sounds.

           Mutton Keema Rassa                               Mutton Khara Rassa

The ultimate joy for a foodie is to discover food gems in the remotest of places, and the meal leaves me very happy. We should all be proud of Sauji cuisine, and even those who cannot take much chilly must taste it once. So look for it whenever you are travelling around India, and chances are you will find it!

The review was anonymously done after paying for the meal.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 4.5 | Ambience: 3.0 | Service: 4.5 | Value: 5.0 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs.500 | Alcohol: No | Credit Card: No | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: Opp. Gururaj Hotel, Karwar Road, Old Hubli, Karnataka.