Bengaluru Eatery's Puzzling Idli Pricing: 4 for ₹50, 1 for ₹100!

A Bengaluru restaurant's pricing for idlis has confused the internet. Learn why buying one idli costs more than two plates of four, and the funny reasons people think this is happening.

The Idli Enigma

A peculiar pricing structure at a well-known Bengaluru eatery has captured the internet's attention, leading to widespread amusement and speculation. Naveen

Butter Dosa Camp, a restaurant with a long-standing reputation, has inadvertently become the subject of viral discussion due to its unusual menu. Specifically, the pricing of idlis has left many scratching their heads. While a plate of four idlis is offered at an accessible ₹50, a single idli is inexplicably priced at ₹100. This means purchasing one idli is equivalent in cost to buying two full plates, which would contain a total of eight idlis. This stark contrast in pricing has prompted many to ponder the logic behind such a decision, sparking a wave of humorous and thoughtful comments on social media platforms, particularly Reddit.

Decoding the Pricing

The perplexing pricing at Naveen Butter Dosa Camp has generated numerous theories among diners and online observers. Many users on Reddit have attempted to rationalize the cost, offering humorous and practical explanations. One popular sarcastic take suggests a profit-making scheme: "Buy four idlis at 50 INR. Sell a single idli at 25 INR. Get a profit of 50 INR." Others humorously question the quantity versus price, with one comment stating, "Four idlis - 100 gm at 50; Single idli - 200 gm at 100. He is making us look like fools." A more practical, albeit still speculative, reason offered is that idlis are prepared in batches of four. If a customer orders just one, the remaining three might go to waste or get cold, thus making the single sale less profitable. Another perspective is that the overhead and effort involved in preparing and serving a single idli at a low price are not economically viable, leading to a higher individual cost to ensure a reasonable return on investment. The possibility that the ₹100 idli might be a larger "Thatte idli" was also floated as a potential explanation for the price disparity.

Menu's Subtle Warning

Adding to the intrigue, the restaurant's menu itself seems to acknowledge and perhaps even preemptively address the unusual pricing. A shared image of the menu highlighted a specific instruction: "please no single idly." This explicit request underscores the establishment's clear preference for customers to order idlis in multiples, ideally in batches of four. This isn't the first instance of a restaurant gaining attention for peculiar rules or pricing; similar viral incidents involving unique restaurant policies have occurred previously, highlighting how establishments sometimes try to guide customer behavior through quirky signage or menu notes. The Naveen Butter Dosa Camp's idli pricing strategy, while unconventional, has certainly succeeded in making its menu memorable and sparking engaging conversations among patrons.