PARATHAAS — Restaurant in Melbourne

Beautiful food and Bollywood backdrop. I’d been wanting to try out Bridge Road’s brightly festooned ‘Pride of Bharat’ ever since seeing the Australia-India Boxing Day test crowds flock there. An unexpectedly free Thursday night with no dinner plans provided the best opportunity. At 7pm there’s a table of two and a couple of takeaway orders only, so we take the plunge into the red couches and cuisine.

First up - samosas, which are a great start. The large triangular prisms arrive adorned with chopped coriander and offer a well spiced filling served with a tangy green dipping sauce . They are crisp, crunchy and generously portioned. We have to try the eponymous parathaa, a flaky vehicle to scoop up our mains. Mine was a silky Shahi Chicken Korma, its velvety texture contrasting well with the plain parathaa. The delicious Lamb Keema Mutter awakens any dull tastebuds, with the spices building as you take each bite.

Handy then to have one or two of the classic mango lassi on hand. Or a glass of red wine - at an unbelievably low $8 each. There’s a whole menu page dedicated to breads, so l just had to try the cheese chilli garlic naan although l knew we’d over-ordered. It’s fantastic, worth feeling very full for, even the next day when l hoover up it and the night’s leftover curries, which also stand up well. But then l couldn’t watch all the Bollywood dancers as l ate like l had at dinner.

Just as striking is the care and commitment of the owner and the pride taken in food and thoughtful service. Very reasonably priced especially for this quality and quantity, inexplicably under appreciated most weeknights although...

So I’m thoroughly in two minds about this place, on one hand the food is phenomenally good, both times we’ve ordered it been delicious.

However my big problem with Parathaas is the absolute lack of care or consistency they have for providing food or service in a timely manner. The first time we ordered by calling over the phone, was told it’d take around 25 minutes, we arrived 20 minutes later, expecting to wait around 5 minutes, another 25 minutes later we’re still waiting for our food to come out.

The second time we order through an app, hoping to get a more accurate pickup time, again, we arrived when the app says it’d be ready (after the time was pushed back on the app) however once again we’re sitting in the restaurant for another 20 minutes, despite the app saying it’s ready to pick up.

We’ve given this place two chances now, despite the quality of the food I don’t think we’ll be giving...

My recent visit to Parathaas was an unforgettable culinary experience! From the moment I stepped in, I knew I was in for a treat. The creative cocktails were a perfect blend of flavors, setting the tone for an amazing meal.

The chaat items were a highlight – crispy golgappe, flavorful sev puri, and other delicious options that had me craving more!

The parathaas were flaky, buttery, and served with a variety of fillings. A true delight!

The tandoori dishes were smoky, aromatic, and packed with flavor. A testament to the chef's skill!

The famous butter chicken was rich, creamy, and utterly divine. A must-try! Overall Experience: Parathaas exceeded my expectations in every way. The service was warm and attentive, the ambiance was cozy, and the food was simply incredible.

If you're a fan of Indian cuisine or just looking to try something new, Parathaas in Richmond is a must-visit...