Manjits Indian
360 Darling St
Balmain, Sydney
Situated on the trendy Darling St, Balmain is family owned small business turned culinary empire, Manjit’s Indian Restaurant. From humble beginnings in the 1980’s, Manjit’s is now 4 restaurants strong and also provides a bespoke catering service.
We arrived at Manjit’s very ready to eat but definitely unprepared for the feast that was about to be laid out for us. We were greeted by restaurant manager KK with a warm smile and a glass of sparkling - the perfect post-work treat! First to the table was the Wheel of Flavours - a platter of fresh dips, fiery pickles and a mix of sauces and salsas that were both delightful starters and perfect accompaniments for what was to come. The platter featured a Mango chutney, Tamarind sauce, Salsa, Yoghurt with cucumber and mint, and Mint dip.
The entree was a smorgasbord of options which featured exotic spices and really set the tone for Indian delights that were ahead. The first dish we tried as part of our entrée was the Bhara Kabab, which was the most melt-in-your-mouth rack of lamb cutlets marinated in yoghurt, garlic, ginger, lemon and mixed spices.
We also tried the Tilli prawns which were coated in a fragrant garlic and black pepper brandy sauce, and if that wasn’t enough, we also sampled the mixed entree platter which consisted of Chicken Tikka Malai, Lamb Seekh Kabab and vegetable samosas.
If we weren’t already spoiled for choice with the entree, the array of six dishes for the main course certainly delighted all of our senses!
We tried the Goat Rogan Josh which was a tender cut of goat in a rich gravy, and the Butter Chicken, which were both great options for meat eaters. The creamy tomato sauce on the chicken was infused with the most divine Indian spices and we just couldn’t get enough of it.
From the sea, we tried the Kerala Fish Curry and Jhinga Malabari which was a prawn dish. Both dishes featured delectable coconut flavours and mixed spices which created a perfect combination of sweetness, spice and heat.
Manjit’s also offers an amazing vegetarian menu, and we couldn’t go past the Baingan Bharta which was smoke roasted eggplant mashed with onion, tomato and chilli. And smoky it was! Presented under a glass dome, the dish was equally exciting to see as it was to taste. And if we hadn’t already ordered enough, KK suggested one last addition – the Nisku Ki Sabzi, another spicy dish of chat potatoes in a ginger, tomato and mustard seed sauce. The vegetarian menu was filling, fragrant and absolutely full of flavour!
We were also kindly served a side of basmati rice, and a mixed garlic, mince and plain naan bread selection. These light, pillowy options perfectly accompanied the meat and vegetable dishes.
During a much needed break from eating (because we needed to make room for dessert) we were greeted by Mrs Manjit, whose husband is the famous name and face behind the Manjit’s brand. She chatted with us about the restaurant’s history and what it means to her family. We felt as though we were sharing an evening with the Manjit family in their home and this was the only thing better than the amazing food we sampled!
Although we were absolutely ready to roll out of the restaurant, we could not pass on the Gulab Jamun and Mango Pistachio Kulfi for dessert. Gulab Jamun is a dish of light milk cake balls drowned in rose scented honey and sugar syrup. This one definitely goes down in the book of Best Desserts Ever! The cake was quite savoury in flavour and featured traditional Indian spices, while the sugar syrup coated them nicely, creating a heavenly balance.
The Mango Pistachio Kulfi was a refreshing, summery option of mango and pistachio ice cream with saffron and crushed nuts. It was light and fruity, and the perfect end to a perfect meal!
We were absolutely spoiled for choice at Manjit’s and cannot wait to visit again! A big thank you to Mrs Manjit, KK and the whole Manjit’s team for being dream hosts. The Two Contessa’s dined as guests of Manjits. Special thanks also to Spooning Australia (https://spooningaustralia.com/) and Food Shot (https://www.foodshot.com.au/) for arranging this visit.