A Tamilian meal(Saapadu) in a restaurant would consist of rice with other typical tamilian dishes in Banana leaf. A typical tamilian would eat in banana leaf as it gives different flavour and taste to the food. But it also served on a stainless steel tray with a selection of different dishes in small bowls. 

Rice, even if in a modest quantity, seems to be essential to the popular definition of meals. While North Indian thali(meals) consists mainly Indian breads like Chapati, Roti, Paratha, Phulka or Naan along with rice, Tamil meals(Saapadu) comes mostly with rice. In North Indian cuisine Pooris, Chappattis are offered first and the waiter serves the rice later, often in a separate bowl. 

Paayasam is usually served at the end as a sweet/dessert to finish the meal.

Finally a banana, beeda, and a glass of juice or lassi will be offered. One can eat the authentic Tamilian sambar and other tamilian dishes in a restaurant from TamilNadu. Rest all of the retaurants in other south indian states like Andhra, केरळ and karnataka and north india have their own variations which are not authentic.

Tamil culinary terminology absorbed in English
खाणावळ-उपहारगृह
जगातील इतर देशांचा खाद्यपदार्थांवर पडणारा प्रभाव
परदेशात प्रभाव