The price is always right at Annalakshmi

There's no such thing as a free lunch. That is one of my mother's favorite sayings. But at Annalakshmi, maybe there is. Annalakshmi has been serving delectable vegetarian dishes since 1986 - for no price at all. I first read about Annalakshmi a few years back in an in-flight magazine. I promised myself that if I ever found myself in Singapore, I would go there. However, a crazy schedule and meat-loving friends prevented me from finding Annalakshmi on my first trip to Singapore, so this time around, I made sure Annalakshmi was a priority on my list of things to do. Armed with an address, a map, and empty stomachs, my roommate and I set out to find the mysterious restaurant. According to its website, Annalakshmi has no prices on their menu, and guests are encouraged to pay whatever they wish. We found the place pretty easily, although it was tucked away in the basement of a mall, which was right by the train station. Something about the steps leading to the large wooden doors wasn't very welcoming, and when we entered, the place was disturbingly quiet. There was also more incense than air, and it made me feel like I had stumbled upon a temple instead of a restaurant.

Perhaps it had to do with the fact that Annalakshmi is the culinary arts section of Temple of Fine Arts, an artistic and cultural organization dedicated to serving the society through arts, music and dance. The philosophy that drives them is based on the ancient adage "athithi dhevo bhava," which translates to "the guest is God." Annalakshmi isn't out to make a profit - the voluntary staff are there to serve, love and give. We arrived just in time for lunch, and the offering for the day was a buffet spread of basmati, dhal, fried okra, spinach, assorted vegetable curries, papadam, yogurt salad and sweet custard for dessert. It was exactly the food I really enjoy, so I was very happy with my meal. I couldn't be sure about my non-vegetarian roommate, but he looked pleased with his rice, which had too many spices to count. I'm not a big rice eater, and I was shy to admit that I really liked the rice. Instead of saying anything, I got a second serving, as well as some more bread to eat with the rest of my roommate's spinach. We worried about how to pay for our meal as we ate. Do we ask for the bill and feign surprise when they tell us there's no set price? Do we ask for a menu so we can check, then ask why there aren't any prices? These were the sort of silly yet pertinent questions we bothered ourselves with over our food. We ended up just asking where to pay, and we were directed to the reception area. "This isn't a very good business model," my roommate observed, as we considered the meal and thought about how much we should pay. The instructions were to "eat as you wish, pay as you feel," followed with "We believe in you. We trust you." So how did we feel? I couldn't quite decide, because apart from struggling with the peso-dollar conversion, I wasn't sure if I should compare the food to what I was used to. I mean, for the amount I had I would probably spend around two hundred pesos, but in Singapore most of our meals cost an average of ten dollars. We figured that would be about right, so we placed twenty dollars in the empty tray. They gave us a receipt, and that was that. Outside the restaurant, I felt strangely relieved. For some reason, the atmosphere inside was a bit uncomfortable. Maybe it was just the uncertainty of dining without knowing how much the meal would cost. Or it could be the dim interiors. It certainly wasn't the food, which was delicious if you don't mind eating unfamiliar, unlabeled dishes. In Annalakshmi, eating is a sacred ritual. Anna means "food" and Lakshmi is the presiding deity - so the food they serve is "Prasad," a sanctified offering. On their website, they say it is not their intention to embarrass their guests by making them decide the price for the meal. "Have your meal first, pay whatever comes to your mind; that is perfect and appropriate for the meal you had in Annalakshmi. There is no right or wrong amount for the meal you had. We gratefully accept whatever it is." There is, however one way to help them. They ask their guests to perceive Annalakshmi as their dining home and bring in their family, friends and guests. They want their guests to provide them more and more opportunities to serve. That, according to them is their very purpose. - GMANews.TV Annalakshmi is at 133, New Bridge Road #B1-02, Chinatown Point, Podium A Singapore 059413, right by Exit E of the Chinatown MRT station.