India @ Q by DDs Kitchen - Contemporary Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Melbourne

I felt the service was a little impersonal when I arrived, as a solo diner. The fixed smile and indifference when a plain serve of white rice, was noted to be $8.50! And no apology when food came out wrong, but at least they offered to replace - but given how long the food took to come out, I just went with the food they served. At no point was I ever asked how everything was. The meals were healthy, at least. I started with the fruit chaat. It was braised pieces of apple, pineapple and sweet potato, with a sprinkle of herbs and the ubiquitous mint and tamarind sauce, which clung to the pouring dish designed for runnier sauces such as vinaigrette. It was healthy and neither over nor under cooked - but bland. The textures of fruit and starch didn’t blend well and the spices or herbs didn’t really add much. Maybe a good chaat masala would have helped. Then I was served a roti which possibly was made in a tandoor, which was fine and baigan bharta, which was rosy in hue and cooked tenderly but under seasoned and overwhelmed with the tomato purée which drowned out the sweet, tender, meaty and smoky flavour of roasted eggplant, which should be the star flavours & need to be handled delicately. Raw onion and raw ginger were not favourable to the dish. Raita was ok, standard, nice and firm. A healthy and light meal which is a refreshing change for an Indian restaurant but underwhelming.

How funny is their response. I came, read my book, sat at the side of the restaurant & interacted with no other guests who could not have possibly made any comment about me, quietly ate my meal and left. The one comment I made to the waitress was that “really the rice is $8.50?!” She stood there and said “yes!!”, and grinned at me and I grinned back and said “no I’ll just order the roti”. Given there was absolutely no personal comments made about the waitress, how was it that she’s so insulted about feedback about rice prices? No other comment was made. The only other comment was when they went to exchange the dish from the baigan bharta to the one I actually ordered - aloo baigan. Given the meal had taken so long to come, I did not want them to return and remake the dish, so I called out and said “don’t worry about it, I don’t want to wait, I’ll just have the one you’ve brought out, that’s fine”. How could that make anyone uncomfortable? Sounds like a whole bunch of bullying and judgement from this restaurant LOL. No other customer had anything to do with me, no one was even looking my way. So I think they’re just extremely defensive because they know they stuffed up the whole meal. No staff once asked how the meal was. I’ve never had a restaurant throw a fit about a takeaway container before LOL like these guys have

I was gracious enough to not want them to have to suck up the cost of a replacement meal that they stuffed up - still, they get extremely angry. I’m not going to throw out the takeaway food, because it’s not perfect, I’m going to give constructive feedback - which I have. Throwing a tantrum and lying that guests were commented on me when no one even looked my way, I was at the side of the restaurant and tucked away from everyone else. Lied that I was inappropriate to the waitress or insulting to the waitress, when she took my order, glibly said “yes!!” & grinned when I questioned the price of the rice, now it seems she is extremely offended when I grinned back at her. Maybe some self reflection is in order…

Guys, if you want good Indian, go to Rogan Josh in Ferntree Gully. Best in Melbourne & humble, kind people.

I’ve changed to rate at one star, given this place is such a bullying place.

I noticed warm and animated to white guests. Shocking to read that they asked an Indian customer if they were a delivery driver, & not apologised. I’ve got a net worth of $3 million. That’s why I eat out most of the time. Insulting me because you think I’m poor - looks terrible for you.

My whole meal cost $46 and I paid for it. A cheap person does not order an entree, a main, a side, and a roti. How...

Our second dinner experience at India @ Q by DDs Kitchen was just as amazing as our first visit. We were eager to revisit the restaurant after our superb first experience, and once again, we were not disappointed. The restaurant maintains its high standards in terms of both food and service. As we arrived, we were greeted by the cozy outer seating area with heat lamps and turf, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. Inside, the modern and stylish setting with touches of Indian authenticity continued to impress us. The tables were beautifully laid with fancy napkin folds, and the staff, consisting of smart and well-dressed servers, made us feel welcomed and at ease. The combination of Indian cuisine and European sophistication truly sets this restaurant apart. The warmth and authenticity of Indian flavours and hospitality are perfectly complemented by the finesse and elegance of European dining. The fusion of these two worlds creates a unique dining experience that leaves a lasting impression. To start our second dinner, we opted for the Lazeez Paslian (lamb chops) and Prawns hariyali (marinated prawns). The lamb chops, marinated overnight in exotic spices and clay oven roasted, were succulent and full of flavour. They were served with a refreshing garden salad that complemented the richness of the lamb. The prawns, marinated with fragrant mint, coriander, yogurt, and spices, were perfectly roasted in the clay oven, resulting in juicy and flavourful prawns with a delightful hint of smokiness. For our mains, we chose the Nalli Nihari (Lamb shank) and Chicken Hyderabadi Biriyani. The Nalli Nihari, a heritage Mughlai delicacy, showcased the chef's expertise in slow cooking. The lamb shank had been braised for eight hours with select spices, resulting in tender meat that practically melted in our mouths. The flavours were rich and well-balanced, making it a truly satisfying dish. The Chicken Hyderabadi Biriyani, originating from the kitchens of the Nizam of Hyderabad, was a fragrant and aromatic delight. The spiced biriyani, prepared with mint, coriander, dry fruits, and a variety of spices, was a flavourful combination that pleased our palates. To end our meal on a sweet note, we indulged in the Smoked Gajar ka Halwa. This traditional carrot dessert served under a cloche with smoke, was a visual and culinary treat. The smoky aroma added an intriguing element to the already delicious dessert, making it a memorable ending to our meal. To accompany our dinner, we enjoyed the Rose Lassi and Mango Lassi, both refreshing and perfectly complementing the flavours of the dishes. Once again, we were thoroughly impressed with the food and service at India @ Q by DDs Kitchen. Chef Daman personally came to greet us and allowed us to take pictures with him and chef Diya, which added a personal touch to our dining experience. We highly recommend India @ Q by DDs Kitchen to all foodies looking for a unique and exceptional dining experience. The restaurant's commitment to delivering superb food with a modern twist, while still maintaining the authenticity of Indian cuisine, is truly...

There's a reason for the rave reviews - the food is wow and the service is faultless.

Every single staff member was warm and friendly and made us feel like we were the most special guests in the restaurant. And every single dish was full of flavour and beautifully cooked.

Whilst we've been regular (very satisfied) customers of India @Q's takeaway service for some time now, this was our first time dining in - and we were not disappointed.

After ordering a serve of butter chicken, rice and naan for our kids (they like what they know!) we asked the I@Q team to choose the rest of our meal for us - simply advising the proteins we wanted and that we would also like some veges. My MiL is also unable to eat dairy, so she requested that any dishes we had were dairy-free. Usually her request is met with a grimace by restaurateurs but not at India@Q - they were more than happy to accommodate.

First up, we were served a complimentary appetiser - a crispy poppadum cup with a fruity zingy chutney inside.

Next were onion bahjis which were served with a delicious dairy-free dipping sauce (which I only note because my impression was they had swapped it out from the usual sauce).

The curries were stunning. We had a Kerala fish curry, lamb rogan josh, yellow dhal and vegetable curry. Each one had a unique flavour and we found ourselves mopping up the sauces once we had finished everything else. The lamb in particular was melt-in-mouth and not a hint of gristle to be found. The kids loved their butter chicken as they always do and we all thought we couldn't fit another thing in - until we were brought three fabulous desserts that were as beautiful to look at as they were to eat!

Those of us who could eat dairy got stuck into the mango and pistachio kulfi while my MiL enjoy an impressive selection of beautifully-presented fruits (we may have helped her with those too).

I cannot recommend India @Q more highly - it's fine dining quality at local restaurant prices. How lucky are we to have this magnificent gem on our doorstep - Huge thank you to Daman and family for such a special night. ...