Ok, I admit I was a bit of a skeptic before coming here as I didn't think Narre was 'known' for…read moregood Indian cuisine. But amazing food can be found everywhere, and in the most unlikely places sometimes. Arya is definitely one of those diamonds in the rough. My nephew suggested we celebrate his birthday dinner here, as he is in love with their butter chicken! I could totally see why - it was brilliantly rich and creamy, and the chicken pieces just melt in your mouth (good for the seniors on our table!). We also ordered samosas, fish curry, lamb roganjosh and lentil dahl which were all spot on. The beef vindaloo was probably the only dish not on par with the rest, as the meat was fairly tough. But what stole the show for me was the chicken tikka! It was served on a sizzling plate which really gave the chicken that wonderful crisp taste, and kept it hot but not dry - in fact it was incredibly juicy, and came with a lemon wedge for that extra citrus kick. As we were one of the first groups to arrive, service was attentive and the dishes came out quickly. Later on as they got busier, it became more challenging to get a waiter's attention to order again, but they were always smiling and did their best, given it was a Saturday night. Told them it was my nephew's birthday, to which they played a super tacky rendition of Happy Birthday in surround sound (much to his utter embarrassment) and the entire restaurant sang along! Great to see other diners get into the spirit of things. Seems they are well prepared for special occasions and after such a lovely dining experience I wouldn't hesitate to come back!

Spectacular Indian restaurant with a myriad of food options. Although the restaurant had a vegan…read moremenu, the chef was kind and willing to make additional vegan dishes upon request. I enjoyed eating the pappadum, basmati rice, yellow tadka dal and saag. All of the food was healthy, delicious and flavorful.

Delicious food at this lovely restaurant. Soft relaxing…read moredecor quiet easy to talk. And all courses were fantastic

Located in a beautiful old building in the tiny little town of Tecoma, Saffron Cottage moved up the…read morehill after many years under the name 'Mirage' in Boronia. A family run business, the food has always been of fantastic quality. These curries are always mouth watering, and the exceptional service from the staff only adds to a great night out. With the restaurant occupying what was a small house, the feel inside is quite romantic, and perfect for a dinner for 2. With fewer options that normal in terms of vegetarian dishes, it's quality and not quantity at Saffron Cottage. The meat selection is also a touch smaller than usual, however this only shows that the dishes served are tried and tested favourites.

Mid range Indian. Nice space although cramped in a couple of spots which makes it interesting…read morenavigating around other tables. Liked the onion bhaji but could pass on the calamari. The former was light and crispy, the latter eccentrically and unpleasantly spiced. The prawn salad was oddly seasoned too - an overdose of pepper was the issue. Service was pleasant and efficient. Enjoyed the night very much chatting with old friends. I did like the chairs here. I wouldn't return for the food though.

This is the greatest Indian food I have ever eaten. I have searched all around Melbourne and Sydney…read morefor somewhere that comes close to the amazing food that is served here and haven't found anywhere. When they're busy the service can be a bit slow but you are always made to feel welcome and well looked after. I go here every time I return to south gippsland and every time the food is so great I'll get shivers after the first bite.

Easy to miss if you're walking down the main street of Belgrave, India Gate opened after the…read moreprevious Indian restaurant, Rajdoot moved down the hill to Boronia. Although not as good as Rajdoot, the food is tasty Indian Fare, and as always when it comes to Indian, has plenty for the vegetarians. The décor was a bit basic when we ate here, however the service was fantastic, with the new owners really making us welcome. Situated right next door to the music venue Rubys Lounge, India Gate is a great place to stop by if you're waiting for the band to start. The service was swift, and a good curry from the guys at India Gate will surely have your belly ready for a night of music and beers.

India Gate is a quiet little restaurant, somewhat lacking in ambience as it is rarely a buzz with…read morepeople dining in. BUT don't let that put you off! The curries are really good, full of flavour and well priced. I wouldn't bother with the onion bhaji - tend to be on the soggy chewy side, but everything else I've tried has been very enjoyable.

I only wish they delivered - everything else is superb…read more Whenever we to into Shiraaz, the waiter there always knows what we want to eat and drink even months between visits. It's fun to mess with his head and order something different, then laugh and say we'll have our normal orders. The food here is some of the best. We've always been extremely satisfied with our experience, can't fault it. Except of course that they don't deliver. It's better to eat at the restaurant anyway, it's got a lovely atmosphere. Lighting is just about right, the table setting are nice too. It's got just enough Indian artefacts. Some of the Indian restaurants in the area are very average. We love it here and always look forward to returning.

My husband and I have been coming to Shaaraz since it opened many years ago. The food, service and…read moreambience is very hard to beat. It is a great complement when the staff remember your birthday and your favourite menus. Unfortunately, we have moved to Gippsland and having tried other Indian restaurants we were left disappointed as we kept comparing them to Shiraaz. Instead of being disappointed, we recently ordered 12 different meals and samosas to freeze so we can have our Shiraaz fix. Will definitely be back to replenish our freezer.

I've never been a huge fan of Indian food and have been put off from some horror stories of having…read morea funny belly for days. I've had to change my attitude, as now I can't say that due to Bala Da Dhaba being an exceptionally good restaurant. The food is truly amazing and I was surprised at how much I could eat. I don't know a lot about Indian cuisine but I was very impressed with the vegetarian dishes such as the Muttar Paneer and the Malai Kofta. The waiters are very friendly there where it is a great place to go with a few people to share some of the delectable dishes with a BYO beer or wine. My only criticism is that the setting is very formal and when I'm not in that mood I now get the food to go and head next door to the Lyrebird Lounge, where I can sit in the courtyard on a balmy night and listen to some live music. Either way, the food is where Bala is a winner and will most definitely satisfy the curry lovers but may turn a few, just like it did with me.

I'm a little sad that the old Bala Da Dhaba burned down. I had some good memories of that joint;…read moregood curry, good friends, awful Indian covers of old Eagles songs. But it's the same management and the same menu, so it's not like it's a total loss. And it's a good menu. Actually, it's a pretty average menu - standard Indian food, more or less. But it's done really well. Seriously, it's the best Indian I've had in Melbourne. Only complaint I can raise about them is that the in-house portions tend to be a bit smaller than the takeaway.

3.4 This is a well…read morerun local Indian restaurant. Hard to fault this as a local Indian restaurant except perhaps on price. They were doing good business here on a Saturday night, both inside and takeaway. I was given a a nice greeting and seated quickly and efficiently. Lovely papadam to start with really good sauces that had plenty of punch. Started with an onion bhaji which is a favourite. There's no such thing as the perfect onion bhaji and there's lots of variation in my experience. The one here is a bit bit dry but still has pretty good flavours. Lovely warmth on the lips and they're a good size too. Excellent length on the flavour. I liked them with the sauce. I had lamb rogan josh for main. It's a good sized serve and clearly competently made. A good dish. The Kashmiri naan I chose was soft, delicate and lightly perfumed. The raita was a nice large serve and very good. The mixed chutney was flavoursome and quite beautiful. Rich, deeply flavoured and substantive. Service was friendly and quick throughout. This is a a good well run business. The food isn't cheap but the quality is good. I would happily return.

I've been heading down to the peninsula for years and whilst the area is known for its food and…read morewine international cuisine has been slower to take off. This is the second time I've visited this venue and it was just as good today as the first time. We discovered it on out last trip down, being hungry and not being sure where to eat we decided to go for a curry. Now that may not seem like a big deal but when your dining companion is Indian and a massive foodie who only prefer eating curry cooked by family you know you've stumbled onto something good! Tonight's special of tandoori mushrooms served on a hot plate was definitely noteworthy. We've tried spinach curry with both chicken and paneer (cottage cheese) peneer masala and a goat curry. All were super tasty and portions very generous. The freshly cooked Carlos naan is an excellent accompaniment. Looking forward to going back next time I'm down this way and trying a few more things.

This place was pretty nice actually. It was one of those random places that I wandered into, namely…read morebecause I was looking for a place to grab something to eat, and well, this place happened to be quite convenient. First of all, I should point out that the service was amazing, but not only that, the vindaloo was absolutely amazing. Honestly, it was one of the best that I have had. This is definitely a place to check out for a feed.

Take two well travelled best friends, add an ingenious idea, mix well, and you get Overdosa - a pop…read moreup dosa store that aims to take you on a trip to India via your tastebuds. Located on 50 Rose Street in Fitzroy, the store's close proximity to the Rose Street Artist Market is a boon to it's existence. Sharing a space with Mottanai Vintage Cycle keeps things interesting. Perusing vintage bikes while waiting for your meal puts an ironic spin on things, given that many people in India ride old and rusty bikes too. The furniture is albeit low, but well put together. Old milk crates double up as tables while short stools dot the space in abundance. My friend and I shared 2 Dosas, one filled with masala potatoes and the other filled with smokey eggplant. The crisp dough made of fermented rice and lentil batter had a hint of acidity to it. Also, there are lentil poppers which make for a good snack. That being said, the star of the show is the wide range of chutneys. I would recommend getting the hot chili one if you are not afraid of pain. At this price point ($9), these guys are over-providing. The treats are both vegan and gluten-free too. What are you waiting for?

Take 2 guys that love to travel, have passion for food and want to create an authentic Indian…read morestreet food experience in Melbourne. The result is Overdosa. For those not in the know dosas are very thin crepes traditionally filled with spiced potato. Overdosa's menu is simple offering potato masala, spiced pumpkin or eggplant filling. Your dosa also comes with either a coconut or hot chilli chutney. You can also order poppers which are delicious fried lentil balls. We had the potato masala and the poppers with coconut chutney. I'm no expert but my companion who is Indian rated them very highly. They are hot fast and delicious. He devoured the poppers so quickly I only managed a couple. All the options here are vegan and although I am a sworn carnivore I can say that it was so tasty it didn't matter. The guys are super friendly and really keen to hear what you think of their food and have a chat. They will be at the Evelyn on Brunswick st over Anzac weekend and then they fly to India to spend a few months collecting recipes to expand their offerings and possibly open a restaurant. If you are in the mood for Indian I highly recommend checking them out.