Amaranta Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Hobart

We dined here over the Easter break and were initially pleased to have secured a booking easily. The venue looks small, modern and stylish, clearly aiming for a fine dining experience. Staff were polite and attentive at first, and the food presentation was quite lovely — so we started the evening with high hopes.

Sadly, the experience didn’t live up to the setting.

I could see what the restaurant is trying to do — elevate Indian cuisine with a refined twist — but the execution just wasn’t there. We were specifically asked about spice levels and requested “Indian medium,” only to receive food with less heat than a western mild. There was virtually no spice at all. More concerning, the dishes lacked the bold, layered flavours we expect from Indian food. Everything tasted quite bland, regardless of the heat. It’s a shame, because the ingredients seemed fresh and of good quality, but the end result fell flat.

Another detail that felt off: rice wasn’t included with mains, which at this price point and style of dining, really should be standard.

There were also some odd distractions during the meal — most notably, the lights in the dining area kept flickering, as if they were on the same circuit as an appliance in the kitchen. It was quite unsettling and took away from the atmosphere.

And finally, the male owner tending bar in shorty shorts felt out of step with the restaurant’s fine dining image. Casual can be fine, but this felt a bit too casual and unprofessional for the setting.

All in all, we left disappointed. It felt like a missed opportunity, and a bit of a letdown during our holiday. With some refinement and more attention to the core dining experience, this place could really shine — but for now, it’s not...

Unfortunately, we felt compelled to change our original three-star review to a one-star review. After posting honest feedback, the business owner Facebook-stalked us and began making up completely false claims that we had harassed and abused staff. He even stated that he had contacted the police—presumably to intimidate us into removing the review.

The following morning, he attempted to call us repeatedly and sent numerous messages, continuing the pressure. It’s worth noting that the owner was at the counter, just four feet away from us, facing us the entire evening. He knows full well that no abuse of any kind took place. The accusations are entirely fabricated and, frankly, quite disturbing.

We were polite and respectful throughout our visit, and this response from the business is deeply unprofessional.

Original Review....... The food was pretty good, but aside from Bombay on the Beach in Blackmans Bay—presumably owned by the same person—I’ve never paid so much for Indian food anywhere in the world, especially for papadams and rice. The goat curry at both locations is stingy on the meat, and the portion sizes across the board are small for the exorbitant cost.

I wouldn’t exactly call it fine dining, but when it’s $250 for three small plates, a little rice, some papadams, and two beers, the pricing is getting pretty crazy. To top it off, they charge like a wounded bull and won’t even container up the leftovers for you and in general were quite rude and unfriendly. It's a shame this could be a great resturant.

Thanks for the meal but for the huge bill and poor service we will most likely give this resturant a...

Amaranti Bar & Grill is one of those rare finds that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled onto something special before the rest of the city catches on. We dropped in for lunch and were pleasantly surprised to find it calm and unhurried—turns out they’re only a couple of months in, so it still feels like a best-kept secret.

Let’s talk food. We kicked off with the Dirty Samosa and Achari Olive Calamari, both of which were bold, creative, and packed with flavour. The samosa was pure comfort food with a cheeky twist, while the calamari had this tangy, pickled spice kick that was unexpectedly addictive.

For mains, the Nalli Nihari—a melt-in-your-mouth goat shoulder—was the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate what’s happening. Rich, slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone perfection. The Pistachio Lamb Cutlets were equally standout, beautifully crusted and tender, with a nutty depth that played well against the meat’s natural sweetness.

The space itself is warm luxe—modern without feeling sterile, stylish without trying too hard. Service was spot-on: friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the menu.

Highly recommend heading in for lunch before the word gets out and bookings become essential. Amaranti is already punching well above its weight—give it a few more months, and it’ll be packed...