Haveli

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 60

This restaurant gets consistently recommended. Tucked away in Tunstall Square, it's a great asset for its locals. But on Sundays, it attracts Indians from all over Melbourne for its southern Indian vegetarian brunch. Very popular among families, for just $12.50 you get a substantial range of dishes. They are of very good quality and variety. There is a large display kitchen here and at the front is the griddle where the giant dhosas are cooked. These are like pancakes but made to an enormous size whilst remaining lacy fine. They are picked up and quickly shaped round a wooden tube and then served looking like a parchment manuscript. A message from the prophets? No, just delicious food - hot, crisp and a perfect accompaniment to the curries. There's only one way you can eat these, the Indian way - with your fingers. Trouble is, you can't stop.

An updated review of Haveli