Upscale Indian dining at an overpriced cost and questionable ingredient pairing. The best thing we ate was the basmati rice so it's saying a lot. We constantly were just trying to get through each dish ordered, hoping it'd improve but the taste, quality, and texture - something was always off. The meat also smelled funny. Besan Fritters were rubber in texture with balsamic type cream sauce. Pork Curry spice was extreme and the water could not come fast enough. This had dish the most weird meat smell. The Beef Dosa tasted more like a sunscreen quesadilla. Poorly described but that was the meal in a nutshell for us. Great aesthetic and staff was semi attentive - although a reservation, there was no one at the host stand for 5min+ nor no one seated in the front section of the restaurant so awkwardly stood until the bartender finally gave in to ask if we needed help. Overall, wouldn't recommend. Especially in group settings where food would be shared since the menu incorporates a lot of different flavors/textures into one dish - not all would be inclined. read more

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Stunning. What a great secret that's kept in the basement. If I had not walked down I'd never have known and missed out on an Actual experience. The dining room itself is so beautiful with the seating areas consisting of tables, booths and carved areas in the sandstone for larger groups. A great example of Sydney heritage. The table service was superb with out being pretentious. Very friendly and accommodating. I felt at home. The food... stunning!! Flavours, presentation and delivery 10/10. Can't say enough good things. And Can't wait to bring guests here. Their prices made a Fantastic night out very affordable. Thanks everyone here. You Rock!! read more

Awful experience 1) serving sizes are tiny 2) Puliyogare rice hardly had any tamarind - for any Indian who understands how puliyogare tastes this is an insul 3) some of hoppers were tasteless - not spicy enough 4) Service was good but they had this odd policy that a party of 8 had to order the set menu / so our party got split due to this arbitrary rule 5) ambience inside is nice but the entrance looks like you are entering a cave with a ghoulish entrance 6) paneer dosa tasted ok but relative to our expectations of going to a fancy "Sri Lankan" restaurant this was a complete let down After all this prices are crazy high - really disappointed read more

Best Indian food I have ever eaten . The flavors were recognizable but the manifestation of those flavors were remarkably designed and presented that it tricked your senses into thinking it would taste decided different. All I can say is well done chef well done read more

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In a nutshell, I found Indu to be underwhelming, not authentic, small portions, and incredibly pricey!!! Paid $90 for 2 people and that didn't include drinks! The staff recommended 3 starters, a main, and a side dish to share. And I'm not even full after this. I can imagine Indu being an overhyped place and it may have trouble staying afloat after some time. Beetroot croquettes - 3 small bite size pieces for around $16. Tasted average, nothing memorable. Over $5 per piece, that's highway robbery! Salmon and prawn served on a papdi base (size of a water cracker) - 4 pieces for $16. The vinegarette overpowered the taste of the mushed up seafood. Garam masala beetroot - best dish of the night. Unusual, flavoursome, but pricey. Mussel and clam coconut curry - the main had maybe 6 mussels and 6 clams, for $28. So 3 clams and 3 mussels per person is the serving size of a main.The curry tasted good, but very stingy on the amount of curry. Lemon rice - flavoured basmati rice with scarce bits of chickpea mixed through. This was nice, but shame about there being a scant amount of curry in our curry dish (the whole reason we ordered rice was to mop up the (non-existent) sauce). read more

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High expectations going in and definitely left feeling satisfied! My friend had been wanting to go to this restaurant for a long time as she saw it was always busy. We finally made it and were awed by the food! We got the feast at $65pp and wasn't sure if they could cater for us due to my friend being vegetarian and me not. They could which was great! We had a mix of bite sized entrees, eggplant dosa, egg hopper which was amazing, mains where i had the lamb curry and finishing with a delicious gin and tonic cheesecake bite sized delight! Restaurant was buzzing when we were there and atmosphere was nice. Service was incredible! Attentive and food came out quickly but at the right speed. The food is more fusion than authentic however even my Indian friend loved it! Definitely, a restaurant worth checking out! read more

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Outstanding evrrrythang. From the moment you enter (if you can find the restaurant) the smell of spices is overwhelming and you will become instantly hungry and excited. There is a beautiful open kitchen and the setting is dark and mysterious. Don't be fooled by the entrance, this restaurant is huge! Great place for a couple or for a group lunch/dinner. The service is outstanding, the furnishings are fun and modern, the music is loud and the food... well, it's a knock-out! Pan seared scallops with tempered curd and smoked coconut was beautiful, these flavours worked perfectly together and this was shared between my colleague and I. I opted for the 5-spice crusted barramundi and the dish was filling and delicious - the waitress poured the curry sauce over my dish as it was given to me which was a lovely little touch. My barramundi was full of flavour and a good sized piece for lunch. We couldn't go past the rice and a paratha each which was definitely up there with the best I've ever had (Pappa Rich's roti - never forget). Indu is a great restaurant that I highly recommend to anyone and everyone and am itching to get back there with my boyfriend so he can experience what I won't shut up about! read more

Indu - Barramundi, pork belly and paratha - Indian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

As someone who claims to dislike Indian food, I was a bit timid when I found out we were going. But I'm also one to try anything once, so away we went. Since I had no idea what most of the items were, I had my two friends order for us. They ordered perfectly! This was by far one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The spinner crab was unique. It was served on a leaf and you rolled it up and ate it that way. Different, but very good. The Goat Dosa was amazing. Since there were four of us we fold it over and cut it as if it were a quesadilla. The meat was very tender. The watermelon salad was light, refreshing, and very bright. Loved the beetroot curry. My favorite of the dishes. It's very beet forward, so if you love beets dive right in. We have two sides - lemon rice and brussel sprouts. Both good, think the sprouts could have been cut in half so they cooked a bit better and brought out a bit more sweetness. It was a delightful experience and wonderful surprise! read more

My first experience at Indu exceeded expectations. It's an India/Sri Lanka fusion place, and there were picky eaters in my party. I decided to roll the dice and made a reservation online. It's one of those basement places in the CBD with the swanky finishes that are popular right now. The table was ready when we got there. Everything here is different but familiar. The spinner crab was great and reminded me somewhat of a Maryland crab cake. The goat dosa was delicious. The watermelon salad was very refreshing, and the beetroot curry was great leaning more to beet flavor than curry. For me the brussel sprouts were a little too firm and the lemon rice not very lemon-y, but it was a great experience with good service and fair pricing. Would definitely come back. read more

Interesting (upmarket) Indian/Sri Lankan food. Priced quite highly for smallish portions, and what is generally considered to be cheap food. The dining area is actually very large, and there is an open/windowed kitchen which allows you to see the food preparation area. Very westernised in terms of the serving style, quite nice dark ambience. It is not a traditional Indian dining experience though read more

I've eaten at Indu several times in the past, and been very happy with the food. I heard from a friend that they just recently launched a new menu so I was eager to go back and try it. Long story short - the new dishes simply blew my friend and me away! Had it been my last meal on Earth, I could have died content after just a single plate of Indu's amazing lamb ribs! Delight upon delight was brought to our table. It was sublimeto experience the exciting and inventive possession of dishes, with their perfectly balanced yet complex tapestry of flavor, spice profile, and consistency. Many dishes were exotic and unexpected, like beetroot hopper and bite-sized, gin-and-tonic cheesecake. If the notion of drifting in a mystical place where happiness and nourishment flow in an exquisite and infinite loop, I strongly suggest that you come to Indu at your first opportunity! read more

Indu proudly welcomes us to "the village", but this place doesn't seem very rustic or traditional to me at all. The basement venue is fascinating -- I love the Sydney underground -- and the interior decorator has done a good job integrating an Eastern theme with the Western architecture. The ambient music jars with the concept. It's an odd mix of late '60s US rock (think: Bad Moon Rising) and UK pop (think: Sergeant Pepper) and it just doesn't gel. The food is decent, and there's plenty of it, but it's obviously modernised to match the hipster/yuppie palate. And that's totally fine... just say so. The service was friendly enough, although our waitress constantly tried to pour expensive drinks down our throats. At the end of the meal it took us over 20 minutes to pay our bill when we apparently became invisible. Eventually another waitress did the honours for us. Oh, and there was a mystery surcharge added to the price. Too bad it ended on such a sour note :( read more

Like one other reviewer said the food was underwhelming. and the price just too much. Don't call it Indian food if you are going to deconstruct and not construct with the essence of the food. Let's begin with the eggplant and bittermelon dosa. While I appreciate the creativity of using ingredients that is normally not used as dosa stuffing, there is a reason why dosa is served with coconut chutneys everywhere in south india. It's because the lentil and rice dosa makes your mouth dry. So it's usually accompanied with a sambhar or chutney. It was also extremely small portion. I get it - fancy restaurant focus on the experience but what you guys are missing is the essence of the dosa eating experience. Next lemon rice. It arrived in a small pot. And the waitress explained - 'It comes with peanuts, crispy lentils and coconut'. Okay, now my expectation is high. I took a spoonful and couldn't chew on the uncooked rice. There was no hint of lemon. No flavor of what is normally a great comfort food in every south indian household. When i told the waitress it was too dry for lemon rice - she insists it is a side dish eaten with another expensive item on their menu - amma's dal. Fine - i am willing to try it to give them the benefit of the doubt. I hope it's as good as my Amma's dal. Wasn't too bad. was very dry again. At this point i give up and chug down my $6 sparkling water. When i finally looked around i saw maybe four indians among 100 others. Should have seen this before I sat down. Did i mention I was born and grew up in south india? If you are looking for a South Indian experience pls go to Malabar or Saravanaa Bhavan which is out in the suburbs. This place attempts a modern twist on Indian food but fails at execution. Never coming back here. ouch $70 for two people and still hungry? My amma's dal wouldn't leave me unsatiated even the next day read more

Service was wonderful, food sublime. Decor is lovely, cocktails fabulous, and music smooth. What's not to like? Definitely recommend sharing as many dishes as you can - each mouthful is an adventure in South Indian cuisine. read more

This is what Sydney needs, a 5-star Indian dining experience. A bit hard to locate, but if you just follow the smell of spices and curry you'll find it. The restaurant has a really alluring ambience to it, the decor is super stylish and authentic. The service was also top-notch, the staff is very knowledgeable and each dish was explained to us in intense detail. The place is perfect for a group, as the dishes are "shared". For entree we had the cured salmon & prawns and the watermelon salad, fantastic balance between the two. For main we had the barramundi, pork belly curry and the star dish, the lamb raan. Amazing flavours and textures across all the mains, with the perfect amount of chili. Not too hot at all, but you can always balance everything out with the beetroot raita (which on it's own is a standout!) Just be prepared to leave the restaurant with your clothes smelling of spices.. But I guess that's a wonderful reminder of the beautiful flavours you'll experience here. read more

I had a lovely dinner with my cousin at this restaurant. I also love that the offered several gluten free and vegan options in their menu. Great food! love the flavors and textures! Thomas, our server, was friendly and very knowledgeable when we asked him about the dishes. He also gave his personal recommendations which we appreciated. I would dine here when I am in Sydney again. read more

Indu - Indian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

New favourite restaurant in Sydney CBD. I have been twice and loved it both times. You should definitely go for The Feast set menu and definitely pay a bit extra to also get it with the Lamb Raan. The lamb shoulder is cooked over 48 hours and just falls off the bone. It is amazing and just when you think you can't eat more having had the other dishes in The Feast, you muster up the last bit of stomach room for it. The Feast doesn't have set items so you can leave it to the chef to choose each time. It generally starts with a milk bun and a coconut sambal that is mixed at your table. It's a strange concept - coconut and spices but actually works! My favourite dish was the goat dosa - the goat's leg is so so soft and juicy and is so well accompanied by the chilli, pomegrenate and bacon jam. The other standout that I had the first time I was there was the pork belly curry. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the superb service there - the staff were more than happy to explain the dishes in detail and also helped to put a sparkler on the dessert for my partner's birthday. By the way, after a meal of spices, the watermelon and mint popsicle is definitely the way to go for dessert. read more

Ouh I really loved this one ! 1 dropped one star because Of the service... We waited 30min even though we had a booking and the service was overall quite slow and not always professional. The waiter did not take much time explaining the dish and the menu, and I could not sense she was neither knowledgeable or passionate about it. That being said, the venue is really nice with an interesting decor, it was quite vribrant and buoyant on a Thursday evening but not overwhelming. 2 kitchens are open it is really cool to see the cooks preparing the dosas and paratha We started off with cocktails - you have to give them a go ! They are quite original in terms of flavour and so perfectly bAlanced. The food is also very well done. Modern Indian fusion, light but rich in flavours, some interesting and bold ingredient associations... We only tried 5 or 6 but I will definitely go back to try the banquet menu. read more

Had lunch at Indu with a colleague. We were welcomed by staff and were taken to our table. The food was absolutely amazing. We throughly enjoyed every bit of it. We had the Garam masala eggplant,Cured salmon & prawns,Sesame crusted okra,coconut sambol and lastly the Gulab jamun. I can't wait to go back and try more food. The restaurant is really beautiful as well. read more

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For the record, I have zero experience eating Sri Lankan food, so this was a bit of an adventure. I had the eggplant dosa, which presented unique and new flavors and textures. At first glance, I thought "what have I gotten myself into", but it actually was quite flavorful. The wait staff was quite friendly and quite responsive. I highly recommend you try this place out. read more

Wow. Loved this place. It's a surprising large area when you go down the fire escape stairs to the dining area (not sure what would actually happen if there was an actual fire??) We had the $80pp banquet and were happy to be provided with a range of dishes from the ala carte menu. The staff were very professional and the service was great. Each of the dishes was explained to us upon their arrival. Highlights for me was the lamb, the watermelon salad, the gulab jamun and popsicle. The dosa were so so. I prefer the traditional dosas personally plus these were difficult to eat as a share plate. However overall, this is modern Indian at its best. read more

Indu is not authentic. Overpriced & nowhere near "amazing" as other reviewers say. If you like your south Indian food Australianized & sweet then you might like this but if your like me who likes their food authentic with no westernized influence, then don't go here. We had the $65 banquet, the entres were 'meh' nothing stood out apart from the salmon dosa which was ok, the mains were baramundi which came with a yellow sauce that had the same color of several yellow crayons blended together with no authentic flavour. The pork belly was good but it wasn't cooked in the spices of the curry because you don't get pork crackling when cooked in curry. None of these dishes are spicy or have a hint of chilli as ALL South Indian food have. The desert was cheesecake with dehydrated orange, again, nothing authentic about it as cheesecake is not a South Indian or "village" desert!! The 'parathas' were supposed to be endless but they weren't & definitely not not parathas, they were rotis but were hard & way too crispy by the time it came out. Lastly, the service was poor. Too many preppy travellers serving you overpriced fusion curry straight from a jar with no dedication to customer experience. Indu is not village food. read more

Interesting experience to say the least.... had heard great things about Indu and dined there a fortnight ago... we ordered the feast and it started off ok but when the tomatoe and cheese salad dish came out (2nd or 3rd dish) my girlfriend found a German cockroach in her meal.... literally on its back with its legs crawling.... the staff jumped when they realised what had happened and gave us a discount but I personally think it's disgusting and won't be back.... to be honest they should have comped our entire meal, we definitely won't be back read more

I had a good meal here with a large group. The lamb dishes were very good, as were several of the entrees. While the food was good, some Indian friends who dined with us said the dishes were not authentic Indian, they are more of a fusion. The servers were friendly, but the service was kind of disorganised at times. I'd consider going back here with a smaller group. read more

A great new twist on Indian cuisine. Super delicious Indian curries and some very interesting starters and accompaniments. A very appealing set of drinks with an Indian theme to them, and great decor. Fun times. read more

I am very happy about the food variety, taste and service.

I love a restaurant in Sydney which is clearly backing their well put together decor, their service and their food rather than partly relying on a view and Indu is just that. Set in the Basement, the restaurant is quite large but retains an intimate atmosphere, there are booths for larger groups and single tables for couples. We were served by two different waiters through the evening and both were very proficient without being stuffy. We had the $65 menu and they were well versed in the dishes and able to answer any questions that we had. The menu revolved around three different courses plus dessert. First course consisted of three canapés, the second two slightly larger salad style dishes, main was a pork curry and dessert canapé sized roti with gin (not quite enough gin for me!) cheesecake (more of a mouse but lovely regardless) - two "cheesecakes" for each diner. After the first curse and half I was a little concerned that I would be left a little hungry but I need not have worried. It was the proverbial death by a thousand paper cuts and half way through the very lovely curried pork main (I love a very spicy curry and although not ridiculously so it was hot enough to please me without offending my partner) we were all but beat. The deliciously crunchy pork crackling scattered over the top provided the sort of "modern" touch that provided a nice "surprise" that most of the dishes included. I've never been to Southern India so I cannot comment on the authenticity of the dishes but "authenticity", although it can be important, is not usually my primary reason for dining anywhere. I dine expecting to have lovely, imaginative food with service that enhances the experience and Indu provided just that. My mark of a good dish is one that successfully combines quality ingredients in ways that had not occurred to me and, again, Indu delivers on that. We will be back. read more

Interesting decor. A little confused. Partner is a vegi and they only had a few basic options. Food ok. Dosa tasty but the other dishes bland. Service very slow and overcharged on bill. Would definitely not go again. Traditional Indian so much better. read more

Food is very bland - lacking flavor. The only dish I liked was the veg dosa. The fish in banana leaf was dry..and bland. Lemon rice -- dry and oily. Paratha drenched in oil. Prices will blow your mind - especially given the small portions. read more

Delicious Indian food in the heart of Sydney. Well worth a visit if you like your curry in a nice classy place. We will definitely be back.

Some nice flavours, but grossly overpriced. I tried a pork belly curry (never had this combo before), and some of the cracklings were leathery and inedible. Again: overpriced ... better off trying a local family restaurant. read more