We entered the restaurant at Rasoi Master Southport and were immediately greeted by the ever-smiling, warm, and friendly front-of-house manager, Harshita. Her welcoming demeanor set the tone for what would be an exceptional dining experience. The décor of the restaurant is authentically rustic and charmingly worn, with an ambiance that immediately transports you to a bustling Indian street food dhaba. The furnishings and fixtures may show signs of age, but this only adds to the genuine experience, evoking the vibrant, lived-in atmosphere of a true roadside eatery in India. Despite the dated look, the restaurant is impeccably clean, reflecting the care and pride taken in maintaining the space. The sight of Indian clientele enjoying their meals further heightens the senses, signaling that you’re in for a humble yet amazing experience, reminiscent of the best street food India has to offer. It’s a place where you can feel completely at ease in your casual Gold Coast attire, adding to the relaxed and welcoming vibe of the restaurant. The chef and her staff are nothing short of extraordinary, consistently producing the best food that perfectly captures the essence of authentic Indian street cuisine.
I started with Bhalla Papdi Chaat, a true Indian comfort food. It is a lentil “dumpling” with crispy puri, potato, chickpeas, curd (yogurt), sweet tamarind chutney, and mint sauce. The crunch of the puri was incredibly satisfying, providing the perfect contrast to the soft and flavorful lentil dumpling. The masala on the potato added a delightful, subtle note, perfectly complementing the sweetness of the tamarind chutney, while the mint sauce tied everything together, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. The Bhalla Papdi Chaat was a perfect introduction to the meal, bringing back memories of the vibrant street food culture in India. Having traveled to India many times, I always look forward to indulging in dishes like this that many Westerners are unfamiliar with. Each bite was a delightful blend of textures and flavors, evoking the essence of authentic Indian street cuisine.
Next, we had my personal favorite Indian street food, Pani Puri. This delightful dish features a crunchy puri filled with chana potato filling, zesty Indian masala, sweet tamarind chutney, and mint sauce. Every Aussie needs to try this vegetarian dish at least once in their life. The explosion of flavor in your mouth can only be compared to the excitement of Sachin Tendulkar facing off against Shane Warne—it’s like watching cricket during a monsoon in India, with fireworks both in your mouth and on the field, and in the streets as the Little Master belts a six for his country. The combination of zesty masala, sweet tamarind chutney, and mint sauce in the crunchy puri creates an experience that’s as thrilling as a legendary cricket match, leaving you craving more with every bite.
For the final dish, I had to get take away. Plated by me at home and certainly not to the chef’s standards, my go-to comfort food is Pav Bhaji. This dish features a spicy potato and vegetable subzi (curry) served with toasted buns, raw onion, and lemon. The real magic happens when you pickle the onion in lemon and add it to the subzi, allowing you to get the right amount of onion and zing to taste as per your palate. This is a must-try dish for anyone who might not be as adventurous with their food choices. Packed with flavor, it’s delicious and has a Western fusion feel with the toasted buns and rich subzi. It’s on the mild side of spice but still bursting with flavor.
The food is divine, the atmosphere is eclectic and quirky, but to me, it’s the warm staff that truly make the business. They genuinely care and take pride in sharing their beautiful culture, creating an experience that goes far beyond...
Read moreI went with my family for some nice lunch not long ago. As we entered there was another indian family entering into the restaurant at the same time. They were 7 altogether. We ordered our food. Food was nice but customer service was very poor. Few minutes later manager walked in and asked the "BIG" family how was the food? If they needed anything else ? And went to the counter. Never bothered to come and ask us about any feedback. And there were only two families in the restaurant at that time. Very disappointed with managers behaviour for reacting so rude and mean. Atleast be good and fair to your customers and respect them as they are spending money. No smile on any staff member's face . Someone should ask the NEW manager how would you feel if someone makes you feel left out ... Anyhow few days later I went to buy some sweets from this shop . Purchased "kaju barfi" and went home. Friends arrived for the party at my house. Opened up the "Kaju Barfi" box and wowww ... Its all mouldy inside. So embarassed in front of them. Turned the box around and great it was already expired and was put on shelf for sale. (Thats where is bought it from 😡). Went back. There is a lady on the counter. Showed her the box and asked do you guys sell this kind of outdated stuff ? Lady ... Instead of apologising ... Said to me .. You can pick another box from the shelf if you want else i can reimburse you the money. Like seriously ?? Playing with someones life by selling this outdated food is a joke for you.... Anyone can go sick ... Can have food poisoning ... Who is responsible ? That silly woman was reacting like nothing has happened. Have not gone back since. And will never go back. Doing a business to keep themselves happy ... Customer satisfaction is nothing to them ... Will recommend people to stop going to such a place and if you do please check the expiry date before you buy...
Read moreAs a very fussy Indian cuisine critic from Victoria I was searching for a authentic Indian meal in the Gold Coast area while on holiday with my family the first night we ordered two take away Tahli’s which came with rice, naan, Rogan Josh, butter chicken, raita and a cheeky gulab jamun as dessert. Most places make there butter chicken to suit a western taste and it’s ruins the experience and I usually give a 1 star review instantly, however this was not the case everything in that tahli had heaps of authentic flavour, tasted fresh and was served nice and hot my only complaint was the Rogan Josh was a tad watery.
We enjoyed our takeaway that much that we decided to go for dinner the next day and dine in, I have to say that it was probably one of the best If not the best Indian cuisine experiences I have had. The chole bhature was unreal as was the rest of the food we ordered I couldn’t fault anything, very fresh naan, soft fluffy rice, awesome gravy with tender meat and bucket loads of flavour.
The staff there are also great the lady at the front counter was very knowledgeable about all the allergens in the food we ordered as my partner is severely allergic to all tree nuts it was comforting to know everything she ate was completely nut free. I Couldn’t help but notice her running the front of house, taking phone calls and taking food to the tables all the while bringing our 3 year old a mango lassi free of charge. The chefs are indeed Indians (not Asian or Australian) looked very professional and the kitchen was probably one of the cleanest kitchens I’ve seen in a Indian restaurant I couldn’t recommend this place enough if you are coming through the area or you are...
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