Daughter In Law Melbourne CBD — Restaurant in Melbourne

The atmosphere was unique and the only thing that stood out in a good way. Service was decent too, it was my husband’s birthday and the staff was kind enough to bring in the cake to the table with a candle and the right music. They also gave him a pagadi (Indian head gear) to wear while cutting the cake. So lots of moments and pics. But that was it!!! The food menu refers to the food as “unauthentic Indian”, it truely was unauthentic but not in the way Atta or Tonka is. It had no flavour, no spices were used to make most of the stuff. Lacked balance of flavour when they did use spices for certain dishes. We ordered the supremely expensive gol gappe, which had just a very concentrated and thick mint concoction. The concoction was a bit like something that’s prepared and then diluted with water to fill the gol gappas with. The problem here was that they forgot to dilute it. It was terrible!! A total rip off!! Then came the alloo tikki with beetroot sauce, the alloo tikki was just boiled potatoes with a sprinkle of salt covered in panko crumbs and fried. The beetroot sauce was bland. I was really excited to taste this one as the sauce sounded different and yummy on the menu. We used the thick concentrate from the golagappas to flavour this dish. The lamb chops were the only saving grace! They were tender and flavourful. They had curry leaves for an odd reason. But at a restaurant of this level, I expected more. The butter chicken for main course was probably made with a coconut base. It was terribly sweet. So sweet that we never ordered dessert. We packed the butter chicken as we barely had a spoonful. I tried correcting it at home the next day with more tomatoes, garlic and a few whole spices. It was barely salvageable. Lastly for drinks we ordered a beer, two apple juices and salted lassi. The salted lassi was yogurt, beaten up and mixed with just salt! It was so thick that it was extremely difficult to sip it through the straw they provided. They bothered to add nothing else to the lassi, unlike many small roadside places in India or any other Indian restaurants in Melbourne. We found it bizarre that they served it that way. We in fact used the yogurt to fill the gol gappas with. Yes, we had to really get creative with fixing the food on the table!!!! 🤯🤯 It was a very expensive DIY!! A real BIG disappointment. People who’ve never had Indian food are the only ones who’ll like it, because they wouldn’t know what real Indian flavours are. Instagram and marketing has hyped this place for nothing but the decor. Give this one a ditch and go to Atta in Albert park or Tonka in the cbd. Pakistani restaurants like ziyka at Lygon might not match the vibe, but they have great food! Our bill for two kids and two adults was close to 300$. I missed on mentioning a dish here that we ordered for the kids, as I’ve forgotten what it was. We also had plain rice of some sort and the naan basket which came with different kinds of naans from memory. We visited at the end of...

I recently visited Daughter In Law with a group of colleagues for dinner and found the experience to be a mix of positives and a few areas where there’s room for improvement.

The interior decor is vibrant and colourful, drawing on classic Indian design elements. It creates a warm and immersive atmosphere that gives you the feeling of being in a traditional Indian setting. While the tables are a bit tightly spaced, it’s not unexpected for a busy restaurant, and it didn’t significantly impact our experience.

One unique feature is the self-service drink station for beer and other beverages. While some diners may prefer table service, others might enjoy the freedom to help themselves at their own pace. It’s certainly a different approach that sets the restaurant apart.

As for the food, the menu is presented with a modern, informal twist – rather than traditional sections like appetisers or mains, you’ll find categories like “From the Streets”. While it’s creative, I felt the menu could benefit from more clarity around ingredients and spice levels. Unlike many Indian restaurants, there were no regional distinctions or spice indicators, so we had to ask the staff to find out which dishes were spicy.

Unfortunately, even the items recommended as spicy were quite mild, which was disappointing given that bold flavours and heat are often part of the experience when dining at an Indian restaurant. That said, the overall quality of the food was good. The meat dishes were especially tender and well-prepared, and the flavours—while not spicy—were enjoyable. We also ordered a Pinot Noir from their wine list, which was a good match for the meal.

Service was another highlight. The staff were friendly, polite, and attentive throughout the night. However, one drawback was the time limit on our table. We were asked to leave after our allotted time because of another booking, which is understandable on a busy night but can be a bit limiting, especially when dining with colleagues and hoping to stay a little longer.

In terms of pricing, it’s in line with other Indian restaurants in Melbourne and feels reasonable for the quality offered.

Overall, I’d recommend Daughter In Law for its atmosphere, quality food, and good service—especially if you’re not necessarily chasing bold levels of spice. It’s a vibrant spot with a unique take on Indian dining, though perhaps not the best choice for those specifically seeking the heat that Indian cuisine...

Had an incredible experience at this new (to Melbourne) concept. The upscale Indian eatery offers contemporary dishes that don't stray too far from the familar but provide enough of an edge to satisfy those seeking something novel. One particularly cool dish was the balls of happiness, presented by the chef himself, who urged us to down the whole thing in one bite. It's advised to listen, as this is the best way to get the full experience of the crispy shell and it's sweet and sour inner filling of fruit and yoghurt.

Speaking of yoghurt, I can't recommend the hung yoghurt croquettes enough. Their tart and creamy with a crisp exterior, perfectly complemented by a bed of pureed beetroot. They offer a back of the throat spice that doesn't overwhelm the flavour of the dish.

I knew I had to get a curry but was stuck on what to order, opting for the veg in a turmeric coconut cream (as a less lactose-heavy alternative to the kale fritters in turmeric yoghurt). It was much more expensive than the other curries (for an unknown reason), but extremely satisfying, with a hint of mustard and a lot of veggies. I ordered rice to accompany, which turned out to be a heaping amount.

If you're up for a drink, the venue has a self service fridge of craft beers and an assortment of natural wines. Most are by the bottle and some are by the glass.

As for the space itself, it's fit out really nicely with a combo of modern and vintage influence, baby pink and emerald, projections of 70s Indian films, cocktail trolleys and art deco light fixtures. The staff are extremely attentive (if not overly so) although my main did take a while to come out. But I can excuse that because my dining experience was...