SERIES
23
From left: Jyothi, Ramesh and Akash Lulla
“We like that our clients shop with us for the very best instead of traveling to India,” added Akash. Sari Sapne carries saris of all varieties and prices while Sapna Boutique caters to high-end tastes. “We spend hours studying Eastern and Western trends in vogue and work with designers to mix and match the best of both worlds. Fashion trends are primarily inspired by the movie industry in India, which is in turn inspired by fashion designers. We have been great followers of Sabyasachi, Ritu Kumar, and Manish Malhotra for our designs” said Ramesh. While they do carry designer labels, they also bring saris and outfits inspired by the designers at affordable prices. Sari Sapne has locations in Dallas and Atlanta. How did Balaji Bhavan fit into the grand scheme of things?
Once Sari Sapne opened on Hillcroft, the Lullas filled a void for South Indian food through Balaji Bhavan. The recipes are Jyothi’s and the couple hired a manager from the Balaji temple in the Dallas area and Balaji Bhavan opened to much acclaim. Indeed it is one of the few places that my own family can unanimously agree on for any given meal. “Consistency, quality, freshness are key ingredients for our success at the restaurant,” said Akash. The coconut chutney is made seven times a day as it has a short shelf life. Sambar, another popular side dish with the dosas, is made four times a day at Balaji Bhavan. I was surprised to hear that there aren’t any walk-in coolers that enable large quantity food storage at this restaurant, which means all food items are turned over frequently in