LOCATIONOn the corner of Glen Osmond Road and Bevington Street.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAWith a prime corner location on the restaurant and motel boulevard Glen Osmond Road, Laxmi’s celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Opened by Laxmi Devi in 1999, the reins were handed over to Som Nath Saini and Birendra Singh a few years back and loyal clientele have remained so. Not a large restaurant, it embodies a light, bright space, offering cultured weekday lunches to the corporate crowd along its arterial road position. Panoramic views from wide-screen windows welcome in the goings-on outside. Many return after business hours to join the locals from Adelaide’s stylish eastern suburbs – all in appreciation of Laxmi’s home-style ambience and personable service. At night, dimmed lights turn the dining room into a relaxed, intimate one. The tiled floor holds a small amount of well-spaced tables, dressed in double layers of linen. There are just enough gold-framed traditional prints and trinkets to stop the decor from being over-done. The ever-smiling Birendra will make your entrance a warm one, while husband Som heats up the kitchen.
Both make a meal to enjoy, their menu covering all the standards. Vindaloo, rogan josh and korma form the curry brigade, with the omnipresent butter chicken leading the pack. A predominantly Aussie clientele has made this the kitchen’s most popular dish. Bhatura stands out as a deep-fried, fluffy naan perfect for extra absorption of curry juices. Som muses, “If you don’t have a tandoori oven, you don’t have an Indian restaurant.” And so a limited, yet nonetheless appealing, range of dishes are offered here. Garlic prawns are a highlight, with chicken and fish tikka not far behind. Children’s meal deals are family friendly while the bar’s kaffir lime, vanilla bean or ginger root infused vodkas should please mum and dad no end.
Roz Taylor, May 2009