At the eastern end of Bourke St sit three Indian restaurants in a row: Red Pepper, Jaipur Curry Bar, and Green Pepper. Mellie recently recommended them to us, so Michael and I met up there for an early dinner in 36-degree weather before our second night at the theatre. Green Pepper was closed so we were faced with a choice between Jaipur and Red Pepper. We picked the latter because I knew it was one of the Peppers that offered Mellie's favourite naans. It was the wrong Pepper but never mind - the naans here were great!
Red Pepper is in fact a sister restaurant to Green Pepper, which might explain why we encountered excellent naans and rudimentary service eerily similar to what Mellie described. The atmosphere is no more sophisticated than a cafeteria - line up to order from the couple of menus or the chalkboard of specials, then take a number and a seat at a vacant table. If you're lucky the table will be wiped and there'll be a few napkins in a holder, but don't count on it!Red Pepper is clearly popular with the local Indian community. As we sat down at our own napkin-less and not-yet-wiped table, we noticed that we were the only white kids in the shop. I remembered, then, that the menu didn't offer entire descriptions of dishes in English. Although the meat type is identified, it will help to know your aloo from your vindaloo.
Neither of us could go past the curry-and-two-naans specials. As already mentioned, the naans are fantastic, arriving fresh and hot and crispy. I chose the malai kofta ($9, pictured above) and received two sizable koftas in a sauce the equal of any I've slurped in Melbourne. As I write this, Michael is drooling over the memory of his paneer tikka masala ($10, pictured below). Both plates came with a 'salad' of a few raw onion rings and a cup of I-don't-know-what: its consistency was that of watered-down milk and it was a bit tangy. An unfamiliar lassi? I dunno, but it wasn't quite to my taste.
I'm no expert on these things, but all signs point to Red Pepper offering authentic north Indian food. But I've seen and tasted all I need to proclaim the price is definitely right! You'll get and fast and tasty feed here.
I'm no expert on these things, but all signs point to Red Pepper offering authentic north Indian food. But I've seen and tasted all I need to proclaim the price is definitely right! You'll get and fast and tasty feed here.
Address: 14 Bourke St, Melbourne CBDPh: 9654 5714
Licensed & BYO wine
Price: veg mains $5-10
Website: www.redpepperindianrestaurant.com
Oooh thanks for this review guys -- I walk past these places almost every day and they are absolutely thronging with Indian students. However, a 'well bred' Indian guy I know is rather disparaging about their authenticity, yet can't really tell me why... I intend pushing this issue further with him cos I'm not sure if it's a class snobbery thing or if he's right! I'll report back if I learn more. In the meantime, those naans sound great:)
ReplyDeleteGreat post Cindy! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Its certainly no Taj Mahal, and the service leaves a little to be desired, but it is cheap, tasty, and their naan is great. Haha, I also don't like the lassi - a little too salty for my liking.
ReplyDeleteDuncan - it would be interesting to hear what your "well bred" mate says. I'm not sure of the authenticity of the place, but the stacks of young Indian males who regularly haunt the place can't be too wrong.
We're likewise interested to know more of what your friend thinks, Duncan! While there, I actually observed two groups of Indian "suits" take a look - the first took a table outside, the second decided to leave without ordering. The student types seemed to treat it like a second home. Perhaps it's not the kind of food made by Mummyji, yet they must be doing something right!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mellie! I might come round to the salty lassi one day, but it'll take a bit of getting used to. The raw onions on the other hand - no, no, no. :-P
I like your review because it fits well with my experiences of the restaurant. I go at least once a week for the cheap dahl, which is only $5 including 2 naan. The service is better over at Green Pepper, which is slightly more expensive (because of the service and better atmosphere, i think). But I think Red Pepper is great, and tastes like I imagine real Indian in India would. It's nice to see Indian people in an Indian restaurant.
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