ISH — Restaurant in Melbourne

A Flavourful Indian Fusion. Blending old traditions with new ideas to make gorgeous food in the present. We had the whole place to ourselves as we went in at 2.30 and they shut at 3pm. Most places wouldn’t take you but they were so accommodating. We got a few dishes and let me tell you they were delectable.

What we ate:

Dahi Puri: A delightful beginning, these yogurt poppers were a burst of flavor and texture. The combination of spiced potato, tamarind, and mint chutney with crispy fried chickpea noodles created a harmonious blend of tangy, sweet, and spicy notes.

Roti Duck Taco: This dish was an impressive fusion of South Indian and Mexican flavors. The pulled confit duck was rich and succulent, perfectly complemented by the Malabari paratha and crispy chicken skin. The caramelized onion added a sweet, savory touch.

Kingfish Ceviche: The kingfish was exceptionally fresh, and the lime marinade provided a refreshing acidity. The burnt eggplant and rendered chicken fat added depth and richness, making this dish both light and flavourful.

Chicken Tikka: Cooked in a clay pot oven, the chicken tikka was tender and juicy. The mint yogurt marinade and pomegranate garnish provided a refreshing balance to the spices, making each bite enjoyable.

Cauliflower Curried Hummus: This dish was a creative twist on traditional hummus. The seared cauliflower, curried butter, and spiced hummus combined to create a complex and satisfying flavor profile.

Ish Butter Chicken: This butter chicken was a standout. The tandoori chicken was perfectly cooked, and the Punjabi spiced butter and Roma tomato cashew gravy were rich and creamy. The fenugreek dust added a unique aromatic note, making it a delightful dish.

Lamb Shank Rogan Josh:The lamb shank was slow-braised to perfection, falling off the bone and infused with house-made Kashmiri spices. The dish was hearty and flavorful, with a pleasant heat from the chili oil.

Papadums & Chutney: A classic accompaniment, the papadums were crispy and light, served with a variety of chutneys that ranged from sweet to spicy, providing a nice contrast to the main dishes.

Black Garlic Naan: The naan was soft and fluffy, with the black garlic adding a subtle, earthy sweetness that paired well with the rich curries

Masala Margarita. This cocktail was a refreshing take on the classic margarita, infused with Indian spices. The balance of the tequila, lime, and masala spices created a unique and enjoyable drink that complemented the meal perfectly.

The restaurant offers a distinctive culinary journey that combines traditional Indian flavors with modern twists and global influences. The attention to detail in each dish, from the starters to the main courses, was evident. The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it an excellent choice for both casual dining and...

A modern Indian restaurant with a relatively small menu designed for sharing; ranging from snacks, entrees, and sides to accompany the curries. Asked if there were any dishes they could serve half portions and they kindly offered to do the set menu which is usually for two or more people. Decided to have the 'celebration menu' which consist of multiple dishes served over three courses plus desserts and also ordered two starters from the ala carte menu:

Dahi puri; a thin shell filled with creamy spiced potato; sweet and tangy from the tamarind, herb chutney and yoghurt. The bed of fried bits added a pleasant crunchiness Curried egg bonda; Indian scotch egg with curried onions, very flavourful and aromatic spice First course: vada pav; soft bun with a slightly crisp spicy potato fritter and some herby chutney, very tasty. Chicken tikka was tender and delicious with some tangy and garlicky yoghurt Second course: spiced lamb mince kebab with roti; suggested to be eaten as a wrap, a bit messy but very tasty with some fresh citrus salad and the creamy yoghurt and herb sauce. Roti duck taco; flaky wrap base with a very tender pulled confit duck topped with some Indian spices Third course: palak paneer; a smooth spinach curry which was savory and a little herby, with some deep fried cottage like cheese. Butter chicken; rich creamy butter curry with a bit of spice, tomatoey and slightly sweet. Chicken pieces were tender and full of flavour. Aged basmati tumeric rice; fragrant and fluffy long grain rice. Black garlic naan; crispy, savory and very garlicky Dessert: pistachio kulfi; chilled and dense ice cream with a sweet milk flavour and some pistachio and crumbed biscuit. Delightful and not too sweet. Yoghurt panna cotta; very soft and creamy with some sweet pineapple, however yoghurt flavour was too sour and overpowering

Overall a very good meal; all the dishes were tasty with a lot of flavours and spices. Staffs were friendly and very accommodating...

ORDERED: 🧆  Dahi Puri: Famous street food, spiced potato, tamarind, herb chutney, yoghurt ($4.50 per piece) 🌮  Roti Duck Taco: pulled confit duck, south indian spices, malabari paratha ($16.00 for 2 pieces)

🌯  Lamb Seekh Kebab: North Indian Street food, spiced lamb mince kebabs & roti ($27.00 for 3 pieces) 🌮 Smashed samosa chaat: Crispy, tangy and sweet North Indian Street food served with chickpea curry, yoghurt, tamarind and mint chutneys ($20.00)

🍲  Ish Butter Chicken: Punjabi style thick creamy butter chicken ($35.00) 🌱   Ish Palek Paneer: Spinach curry, St David's house made paneer ($35.00) 🍚  Aged basmati & tumeric rice ($8.00) 🍞  Black garlic naan ($8.00)

🥤  ISH Mango Lassi ($14.00)

There's 30% off with the Fork A la carte menu! I paid $51.94 for my portion as we split the food between 4.

REVIEW: 💖  ISH served me the best palek paneer I've ever had in my LIFE. The paneer (Indian cottage cheese) was incredible. Almost tofu like in consistency, with a very light creaminess that was addictive. It worked perfectly in the spinach puree which was so fragrant. 💖  ISH do great consistent breads (naan, malabari paratha (flatbread)) that has a crispy outside and a fluffy soft inside.  🍞  So dreamy. These were my favourite two things and would recommend!

➖  Not so great was the butter chicken. I've had the most memorable best butter chicken in Docklands, where the chicken was charcoaled which gave it much depth. 🔥  That is my new golden standard. It's not bad at ISH though.

Service was friendly, but the waitress wasn't too aware of our diminishing water levels. 💧 She was happy to top them up when we brought it to her attention, but it got harder to grab her attention when the restaurant got busier. ✔️  They were also kind at letting us add 1 more lamb seekh kebab to our portion to ensure each of us had an...