Dosa Cafe Hawthorn — Restaurant in Melbourne

What was good: The food here was really good and well worth revisiting. The Dosa was thin and crispy, just the way it should be. This masala filling was delicious but I'm not sure about the onions which were a little raw. The Sambhar had a nice tangy taste but lacked a bit of spice. The coconut chutney was good too. The Chilli Chicken was delicious and spicy: just the way it should be. The food is extremely cheap and very generous in portion size.

What wasn't: unfortunately I can't overlook the mediocre service. On a Sunday night, when we walked in, there were 3 tables occupied (maybe 10 people in all). The first thing we were told us that the kitchen is really busy and food will take at least 25 to 30 minutes. This seemed really surprising as the restaurant was maybe 30% full at best. Dosas take at best 5 minutes to make so this was a bit of a warning sign. There was only one waitress and to her credit, she was polite and lovely to interact with. We ordered drinks (tea and a bottle of sparkling water) and the tea arrived well after we finished our meal, and my sparkling water never arrived. The kitchen got my Dosa order wrong and I was forced to wait another 10 minutes bringing the total waiting time to 40 minutes. I was not impressed.

I'd definitely visit the restaurant again but maybe get a takeaway order and put it in well in advance. The kitchen seems very frazzled and...

My family and I decided to visit Dosa Cafe Hawthorn after reading mixed reviews, hoping for a positive experience. Craving dosa and idly for lunch, we were pleased to find the restaurant clean and ready for customers as we arrived.

The ambiance was casual and laid-back, though the room seemed to amplify sounds, which was especially noticeable with our two children. Some acoustic dampening could improve the dining experience.

The service was friendly and welcoming. However, our server needed to consult the chef for answers to our questions about certain dishes, indicating a need for more staff training and better menu knowledge.

The menu was extensive and diverse, with many varieties of dosa to choose from. The food presentation was visually appealing and well-plated. We found the dishes to be delicious, flavorful, and well-prepared, with fresh and high-quality ingredients.

We didn't try any drinks during our visit. The pricing was on the expensive side, but we felt it was worth it for the quality of the food. The restaurant was impeccably clean, but it's important to note that it had just opened for the day.

In conclusion, Dosa Cafe Hawthorn offers a flavorful dining experience with a wide variety of dosas. However, there is room for improvement in staff training and menu knowledge. Acoustic dampening in the dining area could also enhance the overall...

Total disappointment. I ordered naan, chicken lollipop, chicken biryani and plain rice for take-away. I start unpacking when I arrived at home, and could tell the naan was not fresh. It looked like it was shop bought and heated in the microwave. It was hard like a rock and quite small too. I tried calling the restaurant to let them know that I was not happy with my order but my call won’t go through. The quality of biryani has gone downhill from what it used to be. The chicken lollipop had a strange taste; it was disgusting and nauseating. I could see three guys in the kitchen while I was waiting for my order, and for them to produce this quality of food is beyond my understanding. The restaurant wasn’t busy at all and even if it was there’s no excuse for such bad quality food. Nothing tasted fresh except for the plain rice. I don’t understand how there are so many 5 star reviews; could be fake. I won’t recommend this place, spend your...