But Savan's Aahaar in Antwerp turns that idea around; the restaurant’s name is actually "food" (aahaar in Sanskrit), and that is really an understatement of the excellent offerings in this understated establishment.

It would be easy to walk past Aahaar's humble storefront on Lange Herentalsestraat, near Central Station, without a second glance. Peering through the front window, it looks like a take-away joint, with only three tables in view. But Aahaar extends back to a larger dining area, a second room housing the daily buffet and a garden out back if you’re lucky enough to visit on a sunny day.

The restaurant's decor is, shall we say, basic. There are a few slight attempts at decoration, but this is not a place to visit for atmosphere. It is a place to visit for food. The restaurant caters to the Jain population of Antwerp and is therefore vegetarian.

Honestly, the most I knew about Jainism before entering the restaurant was that they were a growing force in Antwerp's diamond industry. Since then, I have learned that Jainism is an orthodox Indian religion with a strict interpretation of living a non-violent life.

Out of respect for the souls of animals, they eat a vegetarian diet, and they do not even eat root vegetables, such as potatoes, onions or carrots, as even that is seen as a disruption to a living being (either because the vegetable itself is living and/ or because uprooting the vegetable would disturb insect life in the soil). You may have heard about the Jain monks in India who sweep the ground in front of them as they walk so as not to accidentally harm any insects.

In that respect, Savan’s Aahaar is a Jain-friendly restaurant. Potatoes and carrots can be found, and the dishes that subscribe to the Jain restrictions are labelled. Other than notes about a dish's Jain status, there is no explanation on the menu. Our server was very helpful in answering questions, and within minutes our pea-filled samosas had arrived, as well as khasta kachori, fried savoury pastry bites in a sweet, creamy spicy sauce.

We had thick, rich lassis (yogurt drinks) topped with cardamom. The lassi was delicious and not exceeding sweet; the mango one was sweeter – almost too sweet on its own but an excellent complement to the spicy dishes that were in store. We all opted for their all-you-can-eat buffet – a steal at only €9, and the popular option with the other diners as well. A note above the buffet explains that you can refill as many times as you like, with the simple request that you do not waste food.

Our plates were soon full, and we did not waste. A dal soup was prepared with cashew nuts and cloves, a nice alternative to the lemony varieties in many Indian restaurants. There was gobi aloo (cauliflower and potatoes), a potato curry dish, and two Jain options: ramja (red kidney beans) with herbs and spices and a scrumptious fried okra that wasn’t the least bit slimy.

On the side were white rice, chapati flatbread, pappadums and cubes of a rice-based preparation with the same texture as cornbread. The warm dishes were all respectably spicy (those lassis came in handy) and everything was respectably tasty. For quality Indian food at a good price, it would be hard to beat Savan’s Aahaar.

www.aahaar.com

Lange Herentalsestraat 23, Antwerp

Mon-Fri 12.00-21.30; Sat-Sun 13.00-21.30

One of Flanders’ best Indian food restaurants, hands down

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