From South Indian Dosa to Punjabi Night: A Flavorful Tour of Peppino's Menu
A one-menu tour across India — crisp South Indian dosas, hearty North Indian curries, a weekday lunch buffet, and dedicated vegan, Jain, and gluten-free options in the heart of Waltham.
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Most Indian restaurants pick a side. You're either a South Indian dosa spot or a North Indian curry house — rarely both, and almost never both done well. Peppino's Dosa on Moody Street is the exception. Here's a flavorful tour across the whole menu, from the crisp edge of a paper dosa to the slow-simmered depth of a Punjabi kadhi.
South Indian: the dosa, the sambar, the soul
The dosa is our namesake and our craft. Fermented for the traditional 12+ hours, spread thin over a hot tawa, and served the moment it comes off — crisp, delicate, and unmistakably authentic. Order it plain with coconut chutney and sambar, or step up to a Mysore Masala, Paneer, or Gobi Manchurian dosa. Round it out with idli, medu vada, or a bowl of rasam. This is homemade South Indian cooking the way families in Chennai and Bangalore actually eat.
North Indian: butter, cream, and slow fire
On the other side of the menu, Chef Laddi's North Indian kitchen turns out the classics you know and a few you don't. Butter chicken and paneer tikka masala for the table, dal makhani that's been on the stove since morning, tandoor breads pulled fresh to order, and Hyderabadi Baingan that our regulars keep writing us love notes about. Flavorful, traditional, and cooked with the patience the dishes deserve.
The weekday lunch buffet
The Waltham lunch buffet is one of Greater Boston's best-kept secrets. Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 AM to 2:45 PM, fresh dosas are made to order at your table while you help yourself to rice, sambar, three or four curries (always with vegan and vegetarian choices), chutneys, and dessert. It's the fastest, most delicious way to try a wide slice of the menu.
Punjabi Night: a Wednesday tradition
Wednesdays belong to Punjab. Makki di Roti with Sarson da Saag, a warm bowl of Punjabi Kadhi, and a tall glass of chilled lassi — the kind of meal you'd get in a Ludhiana home in December. It's a traditional Punjabi spread you won't find on most Boston-area menus, and it's only served on Wednesday evenings.
Vegan, Jain, and gluten-free — done properly
Because we run two fully separate kitchens — one vegetarian, one non-vegetarian — dietary needs are easier here than most places in the Boston area. Most dosas are naturally vegan and gluten-free. Jain preparations (no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables) are made fresh on request. Dedicated guides for vegan Indian, Jain Indian, and gluten-free Indian food in Waltham live on our site.
Plan your tour
Come hungry. Order across regions — a dosa, a curry, a Punjabi bread, a dessert — and share the whole table. That's how the menu was built, and that's how Waltham eats here. Book a table or dive into the full menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both. We're the rare Waltham restaurant that runs a full South Indian dosa program and a serious North Indian / Punjabi curry kitchen under one roof — with fully separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian kitchens.
Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 AM to 2:45 PM. Fresh dosas made to order at your table, plus rice, sambar, curries, chutneys, and dessert at a fixed price.
Every Wednesday evening we run Punjabi Night — Makki di Roti with Sarson da Saag, Punjabi Kadhi, and chilled lassi. Traditional dishes you rarely see on Boston-area menus.
Yes. Most of our dosas, sambars, chutneys, and vegetable curries are naturally vegan and gluten-free. We also prepare Jain versions (no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables) on request.
Come Taste It for Yourself
434 Moody Street, Waltham MA. Fresh dosas, thalis, and North Indian curries served every day.
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