Santé Spa Cuisine Review: Redefining Conscious Dining Through Fresh, Vibrant Food In 5 Indian Cities

Disclaimer: The author visited the restaurant twice at her own expense. This is not a sponsored article. The images used in this article are the author’s personal photos and are not to be reused for any purposes whatsoever. Read about our editorial policies.

My first dining experience at Santé Spa Cuisine was so memorable, that I couldn’t stop myself from revisiting the place! A random find while looking for vegetarian restaurants in Chennai, Santé turned out to be a refreshing getaway amidst the noise of the city. 

As you walk into Santé, the iron gate opens a doorway to a soothing white and green Tuscan-styled retreat that puts the urban mind at peace. The elegant plating of their fresh, nutrient-dense food further adds to the visual appeal. But, do they manage to prove that healthy dining can also be exciting? Hell, yes! 

Santé (meaning ‘health’ in French) is the brainchild of Sonal Barmecha, a health enthusiast turned entrepreneur. Her belief in conscious eating led to the establishment of this green restaurant chain, which now has branches in Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai & Ahmedabad. 

Now, let me take you through my amazing dining experience at Santé, with the list of the delicacies that I enjoyed the most here, beginning with the top 3 highlights.

Best Parts About Santé Spa Cuisine

Farm-To-Fork Experience

Santé’s promise of serving the freshest, unrefined ingredients sans any artificial colors or preservatives, makes the dining experience quite wholesome and earthy. Yet, the vibrant colors of the food, achieved with the use of natural ingredients, makes the meal extremely alluring. 

I was reassured by the manager that all their ingredients are organic and sourced from local farms every morning. Even their sauces are prepared daily by their in-house chefs. 

Scrumptious Vegan Delicacies 

Santé is one of those few restaurants that offers nourishing yet delectable vegan dishes. Their vegan options are not just limited to mere salads, but extend to serve a complete three-course spread, including desserts. 

Soothing Seating Spaces 

Santé offers two seating options. The outdoor space features a cozy porch and a patio-style seating area nestled amidst lush greenery. Whereas, the indoor area with glass bay windows offers a rustic fine dining atmosphere. 

You can take your pick based on your mood. Both spaces serve as a perfect stage for a family gathering as well as a romantic dinner date. 

The Ambience At Santé Spa Cuisine

Pronounced white walls interweaved with myriad shades of green, potted plants, bamboo pendant lights, and cane chairs, give you the impression of a meticulously crafted cafe. 

Among the curation of antique furniture that decorated the outdoor area, one that particularly caught my eye was the book rack. It featured rustic, hand-crafted, white wooden writing desks of varying leg lengths. These were carefully stacked like a house of cards to form an impressive bookshelf with a collection of fiction and non-fiction. 

Seeking respite from the heat, we chose to sit indoors. Here, the space greeted us with amplified zest under the glow of hanging lights and dramatic arches. It is this interesting weave of old-world European architecture and natural beauty that made the interiors a class apart.

Food & Drinks At Santé Spa Cuisine

Before I delve into detailed food descriptions, let me tell you about their creatively designed menu card that kept me engaged till the food arrived. 

The menu featured a wide variety of global vegetarian dishes with a snippet of the ingredients used and the culinary process involved. It clearly labeled gluten-free and vegan dishes to avoid confusion. The card also had fun illustrations and the dessert page offered a detailed cookie recipe that can be easily prepared by rookie cooks like me. 

You can take your time going through their exotic array of dishes as it’s sure to leave you spoilt for choice. I ordered a mix of both vegan and non-vegan dishes. Here’s the list:

Crunchy Chlorophyll Dimsums On Red Curry

This dish was an art on a plate. The green glimmer on the dimsums was so mesmerizing that it made us pause and admire before we dug in. 

A little research revealed that the translucent sheen and melt-in-the-mouth texture of the dimsums is achieved through carefully done tapioca flour wrapping. On the inside the dimsums were made of all things green — broccoli, pak choy, baby spinach, and basil. A clear justification of its name. The red curry base of the Chlorophyll Dimsums was equally flavorful. 

Woodland Pizza

I’m a big fan of thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas. However, Santé’s ragi base Woodland Pizza Bianco had an unconventional taste. It was intensely flavorful, quite unlike the commonly found whole wheat crusts. Topped with fresh olives, marinated mushrooms, arugula, and basil, this pizza was a roller coaster ride with flavors bursting at every bite.

Note: Santé’s head chef Mr. Josaya Pani also recommends their delicious gluten-free pizzas made of almond flour and cauliflower bases such as Tokio and Pizza Peperonata.

Multigrain Garlic Bread With Low Fat Cheese

Santé’s handcrafted breads are deliciously soft and yummy. We loved the low-fat cheese topping that allowed us a guilt-free indulgence.

Zucchini Zoodles with Hemp Pesto

For pasta lovers on a diet, this keratosis-friendly dish is sure to tantalize your palate. Interestingly, the platter had a striking resemblance to Santé’s logo. The absolute green encircled in white with a leaf in the center. 

The vibrant and creamy sauce was crafted with a blend of spinach, hemp, and vegan cashew cheese. It had a warm and rich flavor that was curiously soothing on the palate. 

The zoodles had a crunchy texture and were served with a variety of vegetables (cherry tomatoes, purple cabbage, basil, garlic, etc.) that created a surprising medley of flavors popping one after the other. 

Activated Charcoal & Coconut Milkshake

Santé offers a wide variety of health-boosting energy drinks. Most of these are loaded with superfoods like figs, matcha, nuts & seeds, spices, and activated charcoal in this case.

Flavored with a mild natural sweetness, this detox milkshake had an exciting tropical flavor of coconut milk paired with the crunch of flaxseeds and cashews. 

Saffron Affogato 

The ice cream was exotic with strands of saffron and pistachio praline. However, the coffee that it came with deserves a special mention. It was a shot of single estate pure arabica Marc’s coffee sourced from Auroville (Pondicherry). The bold, full-bodied, rich taste and invigorating aroma that it added to the affogato still lingers in my memory.  

Pure Coconut And Palm Jaggery Ice Cream

My recent memory of vegan ice cream was at The Culinarium, Ooty, and it was delicious! Hence, with expectations set sky high, I went ahead and ordered Santé’s famous coconut and palm jaggery ice cream. And it didn’t let me down.

It had tiny tender coconut and crunchy roasted coconut pieces in an otherwise smooth, mouthwatering blend of coconut cream and jaggery. Deliciousness at its best.

Note: All non-vegan dishes on Santé’s menu can be customized for Vegan foodies with a minimal charge. 

The Service At Santé Spa Cuisine

Service at Santé is prompt and friendly. All their staff are well-versed with the menu and often offer suggestions as per your food preferences. With minimum waiting time, the food arrived within 15 minutes, despite last-minute dessert orders.

TWT Tip: If you’re big on teas and cookies, there are lots of varieties stacked for sale on a white cabinet near the reception. You can find Santé’s own hand-baked cookies, teas from Yuva Soul, and Kombuchas from Umami Brew. 

TWT Experience Summary At Santé Spa Cuisine

Striking all the right chords with conscious eaters, Santé reigns its niche by redefining the concept of ‘healthy eating’. The vibrant culinary style appeals to even the most hard-core non-vegetarian eaters, making them view vegan dining beyond its presumed mundanity. 

From cauliflower steaks, detox energy shakes, gluten-free pizzas, vegan sushis to guilt-free ice creams, Santé’s menu has a treat for every palate. Their exotic food served in a chic ambiance takes you back to nature and allows you to indulge in a holistic healthy dining experience.

Inclusivity Checklist: 

✅Wheelchair-friendly

✅Family friendly

✅Toddler friendly (high chairs)

✅LGBTQ+ friendly

✅Vegan-friendly

✅Eco-friendly

✅Farm To Fork 

✅Organic ingredients 

✅Outdoor seating

✅Clean toilets

✅Valet parking

✅Free street parking

✅WiFi

Prices Of Meal For 2 At Santé Spa Cuisine: INR 2000

Timings: 11 am – 11 pm

Phone: 09600105801

Official Website: http://www.santespacuisine.com/index.html

Location: Santé Spa Cuisine

Frequently Asked Questions About Santé Spa Cuisine

1. Do you need to make a dining reservation at Santé Spa Cuisine, Chennai?

Yes, making a reservation is always safer, especially if you are a big group. Solo patrons can walk in without a reservation.

2. What type of cuisine is served at Santé Spa Cuisine?

Santé Spa Cuisine serves a global vegetarian & vegan fare that includes Continental, Asian, and Indian delicacies.

3. What are the must-try dishes at Santé Spa Cuisine?

Some of the must-try dishes are The Vegan Bortsch Soup, Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, The Vegan Green Buddha Bowl, Truffled Cream Cheese Dumplings, Thai Spiced Mushroom Dimsums, Avocado Dynamite Sushi Rolls, Pizza Peperonata, Spicy Korean Tofu Bowl, Salted Caramel Mud Cake, Dark Decadent Brownie, Tender Coconut Affogato, and their Energetic Beverages like Anti-Oxidizing, Moringa Protein Almond Shake and Chilled Vegan Turmeric Coco Latte. 

4. Does Santé Spa Cuisine, Chennai have take out and delivery options? 

Yes, Santé Spa Cuisine, Chennai does offer take out. You can also order their delicious cuisine through delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato. 

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