OK, I reckon there is a pressing need for this post! If there is a downside to the great variety of restaurants Melbourne offers, it is finding the great ones among the rest. This, is an attempt at making this a tad bit easier. Being a major foodie, I know I have wanted a list like this many a times !

My observation with Indian restaurants in Melbourne generally is that, there are very few who have got the whole package right. Many very well-located restaurants with great service does not seem to focus enough on the quality of the food itself, others that have a great menu often have mediocre service and so on.

1. Madras Banyan Tree

– Hampton East
This one is my personal favorite and probably the only south Indian restaurant I can think of that makes this list. Indian food is so much more than just curries and naan breads and this restaurant is a great place to start if you have never tried south Indian. Nice ambience and good service. Highly recommended.
www.madrasbanyantree.com (03) 9555 7170

2. Bala Da Dhaba

- Glen Iris, Elsternwick

Extremely professional, helpful staff and great food. They have 2 restaurants and the good thing is the quality of the food and service remains the same in both the places.
(03) 9822 5069

3. Gujju’s Cafe and Chaat House - Malvern East

This is another sub-niche of Indian restaurants from the state of Gujarat. For first-timers I would recommend the all you can eat banquet meal, so you get to try a variety of dishes. The staff are some of the most helpful, which makes the who dining experience very pleasant. Vegetarian.
Address and business hours (03) 9571 1188


4. Cinnamon Club

- Cheltenham
Cinnamon Club is all ambience. With live music and dancing over the weekend, the atmosphere is unlike any Indian restaurant. The buffet on fridays and saturdays is highly recommended.
(03) 9584 4774

5. Nirankar - Melbourne

One of the classier of the Indian restaurants. Great city location, excellent ambience and all round great food, makes it one of my favorites.
www.nirankar.com.au (03) 9642 1995
6. Red Pepper - Melbourne
The only reason this restaurant is here is because, it has one of the best Indian food in Melbourne. The service on the other hand is below par, and even though the location is great, the small space leaves a lot to be desired. Good value for money.
www.redpepperindianrestaurant.com (03) 9654 5714

7. Namaskar India – Malvern, Melbourne (Lygon St)

Another restaurant which is great value for money. The food is pretty good, has a lot of variety, and the staff helpful. Make your bookings early, because this restaurant is virtually always full! In my experience, I have noticed that the food at the Malvern restaurant is much better. This is from some time back, and stands to be verified.
www.namaskarindia.com.au (03) 9500 9558

There, thats my list. The number one reason any of these restaurants is in the list is because of the quality of its food, everything else takes second place. The list is by no means comprehensive, feel free to leave a note if you have tried one of the restaurants.
What are your favorite Indian restaurants ?

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