This place is really strange. Apparently it's been around forever (used to be on Chapel and then moved down here) yet it consistently receives some of the most mixed reviews I've ever come across on Zomato/Google/TA/Yelp. We live nearby, so wanted to get to the bottom of it. It's a small, BYOW, seemingly family run Indian restaurant in an accessible but unremarkable part of town, which is good because you can find parking outside easily. Right off the bat, I just want to say, that the curries here are really yummy. Not the best in the world, and it doesn't REALLY stand out above others like Indian on High or Yarra Indian, but the curries were definitely good and above average. We had pappadums, mint/yoghurt/chutney, samosas, lamb vindaloo, and paneek butter masala, which we ate half of and finished the rest at home. Loved it. So the two stars here are 100% SOLELY for food. Now, everything else. It is expensive. About $35+ per person for a very basic meal. The lamb vindaloo was an average to below average sized portion, and it's $23.50. That is pricey. Yarra Indian does the same one for about $13.50, arguably better and they have delivery, for example. Although a lot of people were getting take away, so there may be something special about their food. However the worst most unforgivable part, hands down, is the service/dine-in experience. It is completely non-existent. I cannot stress this enough. You literally are sitting alone with NOBODY in the room in dead silence the entire time. And the back doors are all open so the place is freeeeezing. We could've just walked out at any moment and nobody would've noticed. They should shut down the restaurant. And just make the food at home as a takeout/delivery service. However we would never come back here OR order because of the prices. Here's our experience (and I'm making it detailed due to the shortage of clear reviews for this place): We walked in, and an older guy/younger girl (who were sitting palm on face in the restaurant) came and gave us wine glasses and water and then headed out back, I suppose to fire up the pots and get started (we didn't see them again until the end). We drank wine. And talked. And talked. And talked. Thank god it's BYOW because there's nothing else to do. 30min later, this oafy guy comes barging in from the street all manically. We thought he was a take away customer or as he headed out back, robbing the place. Turns out he was our waiter! He went the counter then came to us with a pen + paper and lifted his head a bit to say "What you having?" .. straight from the street lol.. we were caught a bit off guard, but went with it. We have had Indian hundreds of times, so we asked if there was anything he could recommend. Anything. Something that perhaps they specialised at, or preferred making, or HAD already on the pot, or something. And this guy just had no opinions on anything. "Everything good. Anything. Whatever you want. Anything. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Anything." etc etc etc. These were his recommendations. Also, the menu only had like 12 curries. Beef vindaloo, for example (but not lamb/chicken/vegetarian). When we asked, he said he could make lamb vindaloo. We got excited and said "Oh great!" what else can you make that isn't on the menu. He was "everything" we said "like what? ANY examples of something?" .... nada.. so we said we needed a few minutes. Also, they have NO SALADS. No kachumber (seriously? you don't have tomatoes/onions/cucumbers?) Anyway, we eventually made our order. 30min later. Pappadums come out. On their own. And sit there for about 20min. We started to eat them on their own cuz we were so bored. Eventually I went out back to find the guy in the kitchen for condiments like chutney. And he brought those reluctantly. And everything afterwards was the same / just like pulling teeth. A tissue? 15min wait. Glass? 15min wait. We gave up eventually. Like... what is going on back there? We are slow eaters, but we were there for over 2 hours, and we probably saw the staff for about 5minutes in total. Curries took over an hour. Even paying the check I had to go out back to get the older guy and younger girl again. We wanted to just leave our phone numbers/walk out to make a point but felt bad. $70+. Seriously? After we paid the older guy and younger girl then came back into the restaurant and sat down, seemingly sweaty and stressed and tired from having had to make our food from scratch single handedly out back (I assumed!? Where else could they have been!?). We felt bad. But honestly they should just shut down the joint and work out of their houses. There's no point to have a venue really. I'd never return. There's just SO MANY better and cheaper and more fun options right down the road. But other people seemed to like their take out. So try it for yourself to see if their curry is worth twice the price as anywhere else. For us, it wasn't. read more

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Holy god and lakshmi! The food at this joint was absolutely delicious. The best Indian food I have had in ages. The food was beautifully presented in elegant little dishes. Super fresh, every bite better than the last, moist meats, moist rice, delicious sauces, the best samosa I have ever had. Really awesome food. A great discovery (yes, my partner told me about it and should take the credit!) It is BYO and there is a wine store right next door. A couple things might make it even better - the ambiance is nothing great. Bright lights and no music. Candles, less light, and some mood music would be awesome. Also, maybe the server could wear server clothes instead of street clothes - like all black or something. Just a few tips... But food was awesome. We were only one of two tables at peak hour on a Friday. I think they do more take away and delivery. But if the ambiance was improved that could change. We will found our new addiction read more

Two friends and I had dinner here after wandering in search of Indian and choose this restaurant based on their affordable prices and range of vegetarian options. We were served by the Chef and ordered the following: Samosas (2) $5.5 Aloo Gobi $12.9 Paneer Butter Masala $14.9 Garlic Naan $2.5 A pumpkin dish the name of which I forget (it is not on their website menu) We requested all dishes spicy, and everything was seasoned to the perfect amount for our tastes and in generous servings. Fresh, simple, delicious food, and great service. I highly recommend! read more

I'm surprised by the previous reviews on this restaurant. The gravy of the curries was watery and the amount of meat in the dish was sparse. Tried the Lamb Rogan josh which was tough and chewy and the naan which was too thin and more like roti. Beware! Everyone who ate here got upset stomachs after eating the food here. And I don't consider that to be an authentic experience! LOL I should also say that it was rather awkward having the whole staff sitting in the empty restaurant doing nothing. It was off putting. read more

This was always our "go to" for easily the best Vindaloo in town .Other dishes like samosas and chicken tikka were superb but a bit over a year avo things went weird.... .no yoghurt.......no tomatoes for cachumber.....but worst of all was the service with take aways having preference over sitting customers. We would sit for AGES waiting as the owner and delivery guys raced in and out.. We havent found food as good elsewhere but now will only use delivery read more

Fairly expensive, oily but must admit that the spice level was good and the rice great overall.