The Ganesh temple in Flushing, Queens, is a place of religious ceremonies and social gatherings for Hindus living in the surrounding areas that stretch to Manhattan, Brooklyn and Connecticut. The mantra-chanting priests facilitating ritualistic worship of deities provide unfathomable solace to reverent Hindus living thousands of miles away from the hub of Hinduism.

Usually the sacred rituals precede food consumption by a Hindu especially on a day when puja (worship) is to be performed. After the solemn touch from a spiritual awakening, it is time to feast on an herbivorous meal.

The canteen, quietly tucked in the basement of the temple complex is well-stocked with South Indian vegetarian food on the weekends to cater to many visitors who either come for their weekly puja or simply for a rice-lentil based fragrant and spicy vegetarian meal. The menu abounds with South Indian favourites: multiple embodiments of dosa, soft spongy idlis, sparkling sambar, hot and sour coconut chutney, pancake-like uttapams, steaming semolina-veggie upma, sweet and buttery Mysore pak, and not-to-be-forgotten vadas.

The Saturday mini-tiffin provides a good sampling of food available here; it contains miniature offerings of most items on the menu. The Sunday lunch holds a special charm by including a regional cuisine from any one of the four Southern states in India. Mango lassi is part of the beverage list.

Volunteers serve at the food counter and any help at the table comes from self-service. Simple virtues of fresh food and low prices make the canteen popular and crowded during weekend lunch hours. The line at the counter grows long at times but food arrives relatively fast. Take-outs are permitted.

Open on all days between 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM the canteen is much quieter on weekdays when visitors are few.