Man-O-Salwa — Restaurant in Melbourne

Our friends recommended this place and specifically told us to try their Behari kebab. We were also told to order this particular dish as fast as possible as this dish tends to disappear pretty quick. So we went there and before we could decide anything else we ordered a serve of Chicken Behari boti kebab straight away. Then we started going through the menu and while ordering the rest added one more of the Chicken Behari Boti kebab. Well, I must say we were very disappointed with this dish as it was filled with unbalanced spice and we all literally struggled to eat it. We realised this when the first serve of the Chicken Behari Kebab was served so we quickly asked the waitress to cancel or change the second serve we have ordered. She advised once the order has been placed, there is no way it can be cancelled. We repeatedly told her that this is way too spicy for us and we don’t want this anymore however the arrogant, obnoxious waitress just ran to the kitchen and brought the second serve of the equally spicy dish, slammed on our table and without a word walked away. We called her again and asked for some wedges of lime and some soft drinks as by that time everyone in the table had started having a burning sensation due to this unbalanced spice. It took us at least 3 more reminders to get our soft drink and a thing single piece of a lime wedge (yes, it was just a single tiny piece of lime wedge) literally thrown at our table. By this time we had enough with this particular waitress and tried escalating this with a senior team member who was quite apologetic. Soon the waitress came back as if to apologise and started arguing with us saying we should have checked the spice level of the dish before ordering two serves and once ordered we cannot cancel the order. The mood of the entire table was spoiled and what was supposed to be a lovely evening took a turn to a horrible experience. Oh, did I mention we were made to accept the second serve of the horrible dish even though we repeatedly mentioned we just can’t take this dish as it was way roo spicy and was charged for both of them!!! Not to mention the terrible customer service rendered by a staff member who shouldn’t belong to hospitality or any customer facing role given her poor attitude and temper. Before we left a senior team member did apologise to us and told us “next time they will take good care of us” however I guess they have lost the chance. Would not go there or recommend anyone...

We visited Man-O-Salwa late afternoon when it wasn't too busy. It does get very busy closer to the dinner time and I must suggest getting a table reserved.

The restaurant serves Pakistani dishes. They are similar to Indian dishes, but there is a difference in how spices are used and in what quantity. You will find the Indian dishes in restaurants more spicy, somewhat more oily, more aromatic and flavours with colours.

The Food at Man-O-Salwa (I should have asked the owners about the name and what it meant) appeared simpler yet it had the aromas, flavour and spiciness a good dish should have.

We ordered chicken biryani, goat nihari, daal tadka, mix veg, goat haleem and tandoori roti. This was the first time I had something authentic Pakistani like haleem or nihari. An interesting fact is that haleem is a superfood. It tasted okay, but I didn't like the stickiness.

Goat nihari was good. The meat was so tender that it was melting in the mouth. Chicken biryani was delicious. Unlike Indian biryani, it did not contain spices like star anise, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom etc, yet the simple dish tasted amazing. Maybe sometimes simple is what you need.

I was astonished by the rate and size of the rotis. Nothing can beat fresh, warm roti. I saw naans served to other tables and had to ask what they were because they were huge. Should have ordered that too. :)

Tadka daal was delicious and I wish that it had a little less salt. The mix veg was tasty and you could taste the veggies with their individual sweetness. That was something surreal.

For parking, go inside the nearby street which has a parking place.

Overall, a good experience. Maybe next time I'll focus on the kebabs and the grilled stuff. I missed...

We decided to indulge in a delightful feast, selecting a trio of delectable dishes: Keema Naan, Lamb seek kabab, and Chicken korma.

Let me begin by emphasizing the sheer quantity of the Naan. One serving was more than sufficient for a hearty appetite, equivalent to consuming 6 to 7 chapatis. Its size was truly immense, leaving us in awe.

The Seekh kabab, on the other hand, surpassed all expectations. Its unparalleled quality was unlike anything we had ever encountered before. With each bite, it effortlessly melted in our mouths, leaving us craving for more.

While the Chicken korma was satisfactory, it did not quite reach the same level of excellence as the previous dishes. The gravy was decent, but lacked the wow factor we had hoped for.

Considering the overall experience, the prices were surprisingly reasonable. A single Naan was priced at a mere 5.50 AUD, a true bargain considering its substantial size.

Locating the restaurant was a breeze. Simply step outside Clayton station and head towards Clayton Community Centre. It is conveniently situated just opposite the station.

However, I must caution you to allocate ample time if you plan to visit on weekends. Despite the overwhelming demand, the establishment had limited staff, resulting in lengthy queues. We patiently waited for an hour before finally receiving our eagerly anticipated meal.

In conclusion, our culinary adventure was a mixed bag of delights. While the Naan and Seekh kabab were exceptional, the Chicken korma fell slightly short. Nevertheless, the reasonable prices and convenient location make this restaurant a worthwhile visit, as long as you are prepared for potential...