The Indian Street Restaurant Ettalong Beach

In Ettalong on the Central Coast, The Indian Street Restaurant Ettalong Beach brings the warmth and bustle of India to the neighbourhood. Rooted in both North and South Indian traditions, it pairs time-honoured recipes with a typically Indian atmosphere and cosy surroundings, inviting guests to settle in and savour.

Midday sees the thali take centre stage, a generous procession of flavours in vegetarian and non-vegetarian form that tells a story in small, satisfying chapters. Crisp samosas set the tone, while the tandoor lends its smoky kiss to tandoori chicken and fish tikka.

Comforting favourites follow — butter chicken and chicken tikka masala — alongside seafood prepared either fragrant or fiery, from prawn stir fry to tandoori prawns.

Naan arrives warm for tearing and scooping, with plain and garlic options at the ready, and biryani brings its celebratory hum in chicken or lamb. To finish, there is the syrupy indulgence of gulab jamun or the cool sigh of mango kulfi, best accompanied by a mango or salty lassi. For those dining in, beer and wine round out the experience.

All told, it is a place for easy catch-ups and flavour-filled evenings. Book a table, follow your nose, and let the spices curry you away.