It seems there are more Indian restaurants than corner stores these days. I'm certainly not complaining (although I do feel for the poor old corner stores!) as Indian cuisine is music to my tastebuds and ever vegetarian friendly.
Occasionally we dine in at Indian restaurants but Sunday night is takeout night in our house, and more often than not we eat Indian -so this review speaks not to the restaurants themselves, but rather to the spectacular food they produce, which is afterall, surely the most important element. After living in various areas and sampling a host of suburban Indian restaurants, the following have earnt a place in both my heart and my Top 3.
Southern Spice @ Upper Mt Gravatt
I've never dined in at this inconspicuous restaurant (the decor and ambience leave much to be desired) but whenever I go in to pick up our order I am struck by the fact that it is always frequented by Indians; an indication that speaks to me of quality and authenticity.
Southern Spice @ Upper Mt Gravatt
And the food mirrors that sentiment, never disappointing. This is quality Indian food with a richness and depth of flavour absent from many other restaurants. Thankfully for me, the menu is particularly vegetarian friendly, with a separate vegetarian entree and mains
menu (the Paneer Makhani is to die for), plus a selection of vegetarian dosais - those light, crispy and delicious pancakes indigenous to southern India. My carnivorous friends assure me the meat dishes are just as tasty, the meat tender and juicy, the dishes packed full of flavour.
Southern Spice also has hands down some of the tastiest entrees in town - the Onion Pakora and Medhu Vadai (deep fried lentil doughnut) are both heaven on a plate at $6.50 each - I did say tasty, not healthy! They do cheap lunch takeaway specials Wednesday - Friday, a Sunday Buffet and home deliver to the local area.
Where: 2000 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
When: Open 7 days for dinner from 5.30pm and lunch Wednesay - Sunday 12.00pm - 2.00pm
Contact: 3343 5435
Cost: mains average $15
Taj Bengal @ Ashgrove
Restaurants come and go but
Taj Bengal has stood the test of time and deservedly so. Opened in 1999, it has since garnered accolades and a steady, regular clientele - a testament to the outstanding nature of their food.
Taj Bengal was recommended to me by friends; friends who now live on the other side of town but regularly make the 45 minute round trip to experience the pleasures of Taj Bengal. I've only eaten here (takeaway) a few times but the memory has stuck with me.
The restaurant is very simply but authentically decorated and both the
dine in and
take away menus are extensive. Specialty of the house is Tandoori and they claim to be famous for their Butter Chicken and Lamb Khorma (my friend attests to the validity of this claim), both priced at $9.90 small or $15.20 large takeaway. Vegetarian wise it's hard to go past the Kashmiri Kofta Curry ($13.90 takeaway) which is spicy balls of potato and cottage cheese in a rich tomato, spice and ground almond gravy - yum!!
Where: 3/338 Waterworks Rd, Ashgrove
When: Open for dinner 7 days from 5.00pm and lunch 5 days (not Monday or Friday) 11.30am - 2.00pm
Contact: 3366 9044
Cost: mains average $13 (vegetarian) up to $17 (seafood)
Punjabi Palace @ West End
My inclusion of this iconic West End restaurant may be a cause of consternation for some, but
Punjabi Palace has long been a favourite of mine and to each their own I say.
I've dined in many a time (when busy it is very loud and the service can be a little thinly stretched) and taken away more times than I can count. The
menu is huge and I have sampled every vegetarian dish on it, but I always come back to the same two - the inimitable Palak Paneer (spinach gravy and homemade cubes of paneer cheese) and Butter Matar Paneer (paneer cheese and peas in a tomato, cashew and spice gravy), both $12.95 takeaway.
Palak Paneer and Punjabi Naan
Butter Matar Paneer and Punjabi Naan
Sadly, both dishes are short on actual vegetables but they lack for nothing when it comes to flavour. The rich and creamy Butter Matar Paneer in particular is dreamy, as is that first bite of a Punjabi Naan (bread stuffed with spinach and cheese, $4.20). Beware of the consequences of gorging - Punjabi dishes are quite rich and I've often done myself a mischief by over eating!
Punjabi Palace is BYO and fully licensed, features a private upstairs function room, has a catering service and home delivers.
Where: 135 Melbourne St, West End
When: Open for dinner 7 days from 5.00pm and Tues - Fri only for lunch 12.00pm-2.00pm
Contact: 3846 0219
Cost: average main $14 takeaway
And there ends
my Top 3 - naturally I haven't had the opportunity to sample every single Indian restaurant around, but am always keen to try something new so would love to hear suggestions and recommendations from our readers.
