HOSPITALITY SPOTLIGHT
/SULA ON DAVIE
Award-Winning Indian Cuisine
by Jacqui Birchall
(click images to enlarge)
The first thing to strike you about Sula restaurant on Davie is how beautiful the interior is. The owner, Sharath Vittal, says an Indian garden inspires the interior. The colours are stunning, calming and beautiful.
While Vittal is not a chef, he brings extensive hospitality experience from both India and Canada.
Sula on Davie is the third Vancouver restaurant of the same name, all of which are owned by Vittal, who is from Mysore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The first Sula opened on Commercial Drive in 2010, the second on Main Street in 2020, and the third on Davie last year..
The interior of sula, inspired by an indian garden. (Jacqui Birchall Photo)
The restaurants have won numerous awards, including the Georgia Straight’s Golden Plates, 2025, Vancouver Magazine’s Best Indian Gold in 2025 and Best Chain Bronze, also in 2025. In 2024, Sula won the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award and the 2025 OpenTable Awards: Best Overall Indian Restaurant
As you can tell from the accolades, dinner reservations are strongly recommended.
Corporate Chef Kailash brings 30 years of experience in traditional Indian menus and a deep understanding of Indian cuisine from working in top restaurants, including as executive sous chef at the luxurious Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai.
The Sula menu focuses on southern Indian cuisine, including Mumbai street food, a culinary delight that I have experienced.
The story is that Kailash’s mother visited Vancouver in 2017 and enquired about the lack of South Indian cuisine and the lack of coconut in the dishes. Changes were promptly made. As a South Indian, Kailash was happy to bring local southern and family dishes to his restaurants.
(A menu replete with south indian cuisine and unique cocktails. (photo courtesy of Sulu)
I needed an education on South Indian Cuisine. There are six Southern Indian “mother” sauces: onion, tomato and butter, cashew, coconut and masala. There well may be a mixture in certain dishes,
I loved the chicken vindaloo. The coconut is so good. There are several vindaloos on offer, including lamb, prawn, chicken and vegetarian.
All chicken and lamb dishes are halal certified. There are dedicated vegan and vegetarian dishes and, great for a spice wimp like me, a customized spice level.
Clay-lined tandoors are used because they impart greater flavour than the concrete-lined tandoors. The flat bread produced in Sula’s tandoors is exquisite. Even the steamed basmati rice is special.
The tandoor menu is large, from succulent ocean-wise prawns, tender lamb chops, chicken, to salmon tikka. The curries are so varied, how can you choose? Broccoli and Asparagus Chettinad, Chana Masala, Kala Matar Mushroom, Ghati Paneer, Aloo Gobi and many more.
come with a crowd and enjoy a range of delicious choices. (Photo courtesy of sula)
The street food and share plates choices are mouth-watering and very original. Banana Blossom hearts, Samosa pinwheels, avocado papdi chat, masala tarts stuffed with chicken.
Bring a gang so you may order a wonderful selection.
Happy hour is from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Glorious cocktails are offered, with names such as Indian Summer, Western Ghats and Nagpur. $8.50 single or $10.50 double. Sangria at $8 a glass or $22 a pitcher. Beer, $5.50, house red and white wine, $7, and highballs at $6.50 singles or $8.50 doubles.
The food is equally exotic. Mumbai Vada, Vegetable Pakora, Dahl Puri, Railway Vada Pav, Sliders, etc.
Ordering takeout is very easy. You can choose your pick up time, the levels of heat for your curry, etc, etc. There is no minimum price for pick up, but a $35 minimum for delivery.
Brunch is also offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Main dishes range in price from $17 to $19. Brunch-style cocktails are also offered, grapefruit rosemary mimosas, Masala Caesar, Tamarind Whiskey sour, etc.
Sula is available to cater private events.
Sula
1708 Davie Street
604-330-1166
Website
Hours: Monday to Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday: 10.30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
