Introduction
If you’re in or around St. Mark’s Road and craving a proper Andhra lunch, this page gives you the fastest route to a filling plate. Think rice on a banana leaf, a ladle of pappu, sambar, a bright charu, crunchy appadam, podi with ghee, curd, and a sweet finish. For most readers the default pick is Nandhini Deluxe on St. Mark’s Road, thanks to long hours, big seating, and a menu built for both quick office lunches and group meals. The outlet lists 11 am to 1 am as operating hours and sits at 18–22, Vasavi Complex, St. Mark’s Road. Zomato currently pegs the cost for two around ₹1,200, which matches brand communications on long opening hours.
Key Takeaways:
- Best first stop near St. Mark’s Road: Nandhini Deluxe, open 11 am to 1 am, cost for two ~₹1,200.
- Alternatives close by: Nagarjuna (Residency Road) lunch 12 noon to 3:45 pm, Bheema’s (Church Street) 11:30 am to 10:30 pm.
- Typical thali build: rice, pappu, sambar, charu, two veg sides, podi with ghee, pachadi, appadam, curd, payasam. Refills often apply to rice and gravies.
- Quick rate cues from partner menus: Veg Carrier Meals around ₹579, Non-veg thali around ₹459, Andhra Chicken Biryani around ₹339.
- Mixed group option nearby: 4/1 Kitchen at St. Mark’s Hotel for buffet or Indian plates.
Table of Contents
“Today’s Spread” – Lunch window, indicative rates, and refill notes
Here’s the current lunch landscape around St. Mark’s Road, built to answer “where, when, how much” in one scroll. Nandhini St. Mark’s opens its doors at 11 am and runs late, which makes it reliable for early birds and stragglers. For a more regimented lunch slot, Nagarjuna’s Residency Road outlet lists 12 noon to 3:45 pm, while Bheema’s runs through the afternoon with a posted 11:30 am opening.
Price bands to set expectations. Delivery and partner menus across Nandhini outlets show a clear ladder that mirrors dine-in choices. Expect Andhra Chicken Biryani around ₹339 for a single portion, the Non-veg Thali around ₹459 per person, and the Veg Carrier Meals around ₹579 for a family-style pack that serves three to four. While these examples are from active partner listings, on-premise pricing at St. Mark’s can differ because of service and taxes, so treat them as sensible markers, not promises.
What usually refills. Andhra “meals” culture leans generous. Across well-known spots, rice almost always gets a second helping, and gravies like sambar and rasam often do as well. Review roundups and brand education pieces consistently mention unlimited or refill-friendly staples. Proteins and special curries usually remain fixed serves. If you care about seconds on a particular item, ask your server before you start.
Crowd timing and table strategy. The belt between MG Road Metro and St. Mark’s sees office traffic, so you’re better off landing close to 12:10 if you need a fast 30-minute lunch. For larger groups, book ahead or consider a carrier-meals style order if you’re eating at a desk. If anyone in the team wants something milder than Andhra spice, point them to St. Mark’s Hotel’s 4/1 Kitchen, which operates as an all-day fallback.
Nandhini Deluxe – St. Mark’s Road
This outlet is built for lunchtime throughput with enough elbow room for teams. The brand’s St. Mark’s Road page calls out 11 am to 1 am daily, 6000 square feet, and seating for roughly 250 guests, while Zomato currently lists a cost for two of about ₹1,200. That combination explains why it’s the most convenient Andhra choice within a five-minute radius of UB City and MG Road.
What to order if you want a straight Andhra lunch. Start with the Veg Andhra Thali: steamed rice, pappu, sambar, charu, a seasonal poriyal or palya, podi with ghee, a couple of pachadis, crisp appadam, curd, and payasam. The Non-veg Thali uses that base and adds a chicken or mutton curry, sometimes paired with a dry fry. Those are the building blocks you’ll see echoed in partner menus and brand explainers.
Need portions for a group without fuss. The Veg Carrier Meals pack sits around ₹579 on live partner menus and feeds three to four. It’s a smart way to cover rice, gravies, sides, curd, and dessert in one order. If you’re a mixed group, keep a protein side on the table and let everyone use the staples for refills.
Popular picks from our menu that work at lunch:
- Andhra Chicken Biryani, single serve tagged around ₹339 in partner listings.
- Nandhini Andhra Non-veg Thali, single serve tagged around ₹459.
- Nandhini Andhra Veg Carrier Meals, family pack tagged around ₹579.
- Nandhini Chicken Roast, boneless house favorite that shows up across outlet menus.
These names and numbers appear consistently on current partner pages, which makes them reliable anchors for planning. Final dine-in pricing at St. Marks can vary.
Why Nandhini for teams. Long hours mean fewer scheduling headaches, and the menu runs deep enough to please different palates without derailing the Andhra brief. If someone prefers a non-Andhra plate, St. Mark’s Hotel’s 4/1 Kitchen is literally next-door territory and keeps buffet service running through the day, so nobody goes hungry. For full menus, booking, and brand updates, start at nandhini.com.
Classic neighbours for Andhra lunch near St. Mark’s Road
If Nandhini St. Mark’s is packed or your crew wants to sample the other legends in the belt, two names pop up instantly: Nagarjuna on Residency Road and Bheema’s on Church Street. Both sit within a quick hop of St. Mark’s Road, both lean hard into Andhra staples, and both move lunch lines with practiced speed.
Nagarjuna is the textbook choice when someone says “I want the classic.” Plates are tidy, the thali composition stays close to tradition, and the famous chicken fry tends to disappear first on a shared table. Expect a sharper heat profile in the gravies and a slightly leaner set of sides compared to a deluxe spread. If you are squeezing lunch between meetings, arrive early in the window and order thalis first, add sides only if you still have time.
Bheema’s is old-school in the best way. Service is brisk, rice refills appear without drama, and the rasam has that peppery brightness you remember long after the meal. It is a great pick for people who want a no-frills thali where the pappu and sambar do the heavy lifting. Ask for ghee if you plan to do the podi ritual, and keep a payasam finish on the table to tame the spice for first-timers.
Have a mixed group that is split on spice or cuisine? The dining at St. Mark’s Hotel, especially 4/1 Kitchen, works as a safety valve with buffet and Indian plates while you still sit together. It is not Andhra, but it keeps everyone fed without splintering the team across venues.
Quick chooser for busy weekdays:
- Want the canonical Andhra thali feel with a signature fry on the side: Nagarjuna.
- Want refills that keep pace and a comfy, familiar thali rhythm: Bheema’s.
- Want wide seating, deep Andhra menu, and late lunch flexibility: Nandhini St. Mark’s.
- Mixed palates or colleagues avoiding spice today: St. Mark’s Hotel dining.
If you end up back at Nandhini, keep the order short and sharp: Veg Andhra Thali, Non-veg Andhra Thali, Andhra Chicken Biryani, and Nandhini Chicken Roast as the shareable protein. For full menus and table enquiries, head to nandhini.com.
What sits inside an Andhra thali
Think of an Andhra thali as a flow more than a list. Rice anchors the plate, then you build balance with heat, tang, crunch, fat, and sweet.
Start with pappu, the comforting dal that sets the tone. Follow with sambar for body, then a ladle of charu for a brighter, peppery edge. Keep a spoonful of podi on the rim, waiting for a drizzle of ghee. That little move changes the day. Rotate a seasonal poriyal or palya for texture, add a pachadi for tang, and keep the appadam handy for crunch between bites. Curd cools the palate, and payasam is the soft landing at the end.
Non-veg thalis ride on the same base. A chicken curry or mutton curry joins the party, sometimes with a dry fry on the side. Proteins usually stay fixed in portion. Rice, sambar, and charu are the usual suspects for seconds, but policies differ by venue. If you care about refills on a specific item, ask right when the plate lands.
How to eat it without rushing. Many regulars start with podi plus ghee on hot rice for the first two bites, switch to pappu for warmth, then alternate sambar and charu through the middle of the meal. Poriyal keeps the rhythm from getting too heavy. Save curd for the final third and payasam for the curtain call. If you are spice-shy, keep buttermilk or extra curd on the table and take smaller pours of charu. For kids, lean on pappu and rice, then feed from the sides at your pace.
Banana leaf or plate depends on the outlet and service style. Either way, the sequence matters more than the vessel. Servers know the choreography, so let them lead and signal what you want seconds of. That is how you turn a standard thali into a personalized plate without slowing the table.
Menu names you will meet across Andhra rooms, including Nandhini St. Mark’s: Veg Andhra Thali, Non-veg Andhra Thali, Andhra Chicken Biryani, Veg Carrier Meals for groups, and Chicken Roast for a quick protein share.
Price ladder and portions, made simple
Lunch spend around St. Mark’s Road shifts with serve size, refills, and whether you sit down or order in. Use this ladder to decide fast.
Mini or box meals are the solo worker’s friend. You get the core thali grammar in a compact tray that eats clean at a desk. Portions aim for one hungry person, with rice, a dal or gravy, a small veg, pickle or pachadi, and a sweet in some builds. Refills do not apply, so think of it as a neat snapshot of a bigger thali.
Full thalis are for dine-in speed and satisfaction. One plate, multiple ladles, and the option of seconds on rice and gravies at many Andhra rooms. If you have 30 minutes, this is the highest signal to noise ratio. For two people, a smart order is one Veg Thali plus one Non-veg Thali, then share a fry if you still need protein.
Carrier or family meals stretch budget and time. These packs are built for three to four diners and cover rice, gravies, sides, curd, and dessert. They shine when a small team wants to eat together without navigating multiple à la carte calls. At Nandhini, Veg Carrier Meals map perfectly to office lunch tables and late meetings where plates keep changing hands.
Biryani portions sit in their own lane. A single serve of Andhra Chicken Biryani works as a quick lunch for one. Add a curd cup or raita to calm the spice. For groups, step up to a larger pot or pair a biryani with a Veg Thali so everyone still gets pappu, charu, and a sweet finish.
What changes between dine-in and delivery. Dine-in often brings refills and a warmer service cadence, which adds value beyond the list price. Delivery menus sometimes bundle fewer sides but make up for it with convenience. Expect packaging, taxes, and platform fees to shift the final bill. If your team is price sensitive, calculate per-head: a carrier meal plus one protein side often lands cheaper than three individual thalis.
Shortcut picks from our menu for quick decisions:
- Veg Andhra Thali when you want comfort and refills.
- Non-veg Andhra Thali when one person at the table needs a curry protein.
- Veg Carrier Meals when three to four people are eating together.
- Andhra Chicken Biryani for a single, Chicken Roast as the add-on that feeds everyone.
For reservations, groups, and menu details, start with nandhini.com.
FAQ for fast lunch decisions
What is the lunch window near St. Mark’s Road today?
Nandhini St. Mark’s operates through lunch and into late night, which makes it flexible for early starts and late finishes. Nagarjuna lists a fixed lunch window that begins at noon. Bheema’s starts before noon and runs straight through the evening.
Is the Andhra thali unlimited?
Refills usually apply to rice, sambar, and charu. Sides and proteins are typically single-serve. If you care about seconds on a specific item, confirm it with the server as the plate lands.
Meals vs thali vs mini, what is the practical difference?
Meals and thali are often used interchangeably in Andhra rooms. A full thali is the dine-in experience with multiple ladles and the possibility of refills. A mini or box meal compresses that experience into a tidy tray for one person and skips refills.
What should a first-timer order if they want non-veg?
Non-veg thali keeps the classic veg base and adds a chicken or mutton curry. If you want a cleaner protein hit, add Chicken Roast on the side and let the thali carry the gravies.
How spicy is “Andhra veg” and how do I tone it down?
Expect a comfortable medium heat. The table gives you control. Use podi and ghee when you want warmth, switch to curd or buttermilk to cool things down. Smaller pours of charu also help.
Banana leaf or plate, does it matter?
Both work. Leaf has ritual charm and a bit of aroma. Plate is simpler for fast service. The sequence of eating does more for flavor than the vessel.
Conclusion
If you want the most reliable Andhra lunch near St. Mark’s Road, start at Nandhini St. Mark’s. The room handles office-hour rush, the thali grammar is clear, and the little moves, like podi with ghee and quick rice refills, make a weekday meal feel unhurried. Keep the order simple when time is tight. One Veg Andhra Thali and one Non-veg Andhra Thali cover most tables. Add Chicken Roast only if the group truly wants extra protein. For desk lunches or small team huddles, the Veg Carrier Meals pack solves variety and portioning without overthinking the bill.
If Nandhini is full or you want the classic playbook, Nagarjuna on Residency Road delivers a tidy, tradition-first thali with a signature fry. When you are in the mood for an old-school rhythm and brisk service, Bheema’s on Church Street feels familiar in the best way. Mixed groups that want milder plates can still sit nearby at St. Mark’s Hotel’s 4/1 Kitchen.
Use the price ladder to match the situation. Mini or box for one, full thali for a fast but satisfying dine-in, carrier meals when three to four people need to eat together. Remember that dine-in value often comes from refills and cadence, not just the printed number. If refills on a specific item matter to you, say so when the first plate lands.
