LOCATIONTake a stroll down Paddington’s dainty La Trobe Terrace to hunt down this popular Indian place.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAIt’s always handy to have a good, well-priced, Indian restaurant on hand for those “I can’t stand the sight of another frypan” nights. Covering all the standard Indian fare, plus a few global surprises, Indus is certainly up for the challenge. With a strong influence from the northern regions of India, and a couple of tasty numbers from the southern districts, the menu also offers heaps of flavour revelations such as a Japanese tempura number and a French-inspired cheese dish. Like all good Indian restaurants, vegans and vegetarians can eat without fear thanks to plenty of chickpea, vegetable and tofu alternatives.
Aromas and scents dance from the kitchen, where the busy Indian staff are madly mixing, mulling and stirring all those divine, fragrant Indian spices. Build the curry of your dreams with the ingenious “designer curry” creations. Select from such tasty humble beginnings as dhal, chicken, chickpea, beef or mixed vegetables and then agonisingly choose from one of the 14 sauces such as
achaar (spices, tomato, onions, chilies and yoghurt), the standout spicy coconut
goan or the tongue-tying
saagwalla (an infusion of spinach, tomato, onion, and fresh herbs). I know it’s often dangerous but, for those who just can’t say no, there’s a great cheap Indian buffet that feeds the masses on Sunday lunch. Desserts include sweet varieties of naan – try a
panir, fig and honey naan served with fresh whipped cream, or the more typical creamy mango kulfi (homemade mango ice-cream).
Katharine Chapman