Nilgiri’s
81-83 Christie Street
St Leonards, NSW 2065
$$$–
Nilgiri’s is YUM YUM YUM! And I’m really lucky that it’s just downstairs from where I live. It’s won awards for “Best Indian” restaurant, and it’s not hard to see why. IT REALLY IS. The restaurant upstairs is posh and the prices are accordingly so, so I’ve only been there once. I personally prefer their downstairs cafe area, dubbed The Tiffin Room. It offers these Thalis, which are kind of like set-meals, with a selection of 3 different curries.. for only $12 a pop!
So we got a Meat Thali and a Veg Thali – each came with 3 different curries, 2 pieces of chapati, rice and pappadums. Whew! It all arrives on a metal platter and the curries in small metal bowls. The stuff is filling, definitely enough to fill anyone. The 3 curries are always a random selection that you don’t get to choose – this time we got a selection of a mushroom/spinach one, dahl, chicken curry, lamb curry, etc.. The curries are PERFECT. So authentic and Indian that it tastes completely different to what you’ll normally eat in an Australian food court. The herbs and spices fill your mouth with the most robust flavour and the curries are spicy but not overly so. The chapatis are warm, slightly chewy and moist. Mmmm.. And the pappadums are crisp and perfectly salted. Perfection.
Also had a Masala Dosai which is a favourite of mine. Mum found it “a bit sour” but that’s why I like it 😛 It comes huge and it’s fun cracking it up and smearing the potato over it then heaping on the curry and yoghurt. It’s totally divine. I haven’t seen many places that sell Dosai in Australia, and DEFINITELY nowhere near as good as this one, not even close.
Nilgiri’s also has spectacular service. Everyone there is really polite, friendly and attentive and just make you feel so comfortable and delighted to be there. Worth a mention is also their Nilgiris@Home – takeaway curries in a box. Chris and I used to have them all the time after work and they’re superb. Golly, I’m really going to miss all this good food when I move out of St Leonards!!
A selection of Indian cookbooks in their Tiffin Room
Meat Thali (AU$12)
Veg Thali (AU$12)
Masala Dosai (AU$10)
Peeking inside 😛
Gorgeous dining room
Takeaway curries
Indian food is *always* filling! And SO yummy. :P~
It’s cos of all the carbs, carbs, and more carbs, haha! But all so tasty :)~
Oh! I’ve actually had lunch at The Tiffin Room while I was living in Sydney and from what I recall, it was really really good.
Nice neighbourhood too!
I love how the Indian food there isn’t like the stuff you find in food courts, they’re so good IMHO!
omg the dining room is so gorgeous! do you eat sitting on the floor? how fun! and the food looks good! esp. the takeaway curry! omg im drooling at the selctions!
Nah that dining room is for functions when you’re there with 8-10 people, I plan to go back though for a function, it looks great!
Indian food is *always* filling! And SO yummy. :P~
It’s cos of all the carbs, carbs, and more carbs, haha! But all so tasty :)~
Oh! I’ve actually had lunch at The Tiffin Room while I was living in Sydney and from what I recall, it was really really good.
Nice neighbourhood too!
I love how the Indian food there isn’t like the stuff you find in food courts, they’re so good IMHO!
omg the dining room is so gorgeous! do you eat sitting on the floor? how fun! and the food looks good! esp. the takeaway curry! omg im drooling at the selctions!
Nah that dining room is for functions when you’re there with 8-10 people, I plan to go back though for a function, it looks great!