Curry Cafe Canteen

My experience with this restaurant was special. I have tried most of indian restaurants in west melbourne and in CBD But Curry Cafe Canteen stands on top for me. I always missed good quality home made food in melbourne until the day I was introduced to THALI (in 2019). Since then my dinner and lunch was fixed here. It has been 3 years but still I can not have enough of Thalis even though I was having it 5 to 6 times in a week. Sadly I can not have it anymore as I am moving out.
One time I ordered thali from uber eats one hour prior to closing but there was no uber eats driver to delivery my order and restaurant was about to close, rather than cancelling my uber eats order, Chef came to my apartment to deliver that order. I mean who does that.
Service 5/5, Food quality and quantity 5/5, Huygen wise 5/5 (kitchen looks cleaner than most of other Indian restaurants), Kitchen and front staff 5/5.

While I’ve ordered from them before via Uber Eats they got my order wrong, when I rang the owner was SO ABUSIVE and didn’t want to hear anything from a client at all. He was SO AGGRESSIVE that I’ve decided to never order from them again. I’m a local and a regular so it’s fair to expect some common mature conversation but this man was just ABUSIVE so I’d say don’t order or invest with this type of disturbing business owner.

Cash only really ruins this place. We live locally and would regularly visit as the food is truly delicious but who in this day and age carries cash?

While we were in here, multiple people who (like most people in the 2020s don’t carry cash) had to use bank transfer to pay for their meal. I couldn’t believe it!

Infrastructure is no excuse, you can pay by card at farmers markets in the middle of nowhere. This isn’t 1994.

Surely the customers you lose through this antiquated and stubborn insistence on cash is not worth it. It’s a good way to drive away local walk in business.

Theirs was the best saag paneer I have ever had in several decades of eating, loving, and sometimes cooking my own saag paneer. The other dishes were great too! I'll be back for sure.

Have been coming to this local for the past year or so, for their curries and samosa chaat. Curries are fresh and not at all oily (I'm surprised by other negative reviews), very spicy more than your average Indian joint.
Cash only unless you order online.

The curry here is incredible. Honestly the best curry I have had in Melbourne (I'm from the UK). Our go to is the paneer mahani, they ask you how spicy you want it and if you go for full spice they actually make it which a lot of places don't do and I love it. They can also adapt to those that like it a bit milder. The garlic naan is so butter and garlicy. Try it out and you won't regret it.

The butter chicken wasn't very tasty, the naan past being fresh and the dry Bhaji also made worse because the complimentary yoghurt was forgotten in our order. The “staff fav” eggplant curry was nice but was hard to enjoy since everything as a whole could not be enjoyed together. However, the guy on the phone was lovely. Maybe just a bad night.

When back after a few bad experiencess last year with undercooked food and over oily curries and things have defiantly improved the butter chicken I ordered was on point and they seem to realising that charging 7 dollars for a pretty basic naan is a bit excessive and changed the menu prices making visiting here more worthwhile and the food is a lot better. Now the only thing that needs improving is the fact they still only accept cash this is 2021 not 1981 That and the owners rude and condescending attitude when dealing with criticism online

Just finished reading the poor reviews for a laugh. Can't believe people still haven't worked out that uber prices are higher than restaurant prices.

I came here last night and had an awesome meal! In hindsight, the only thing I would suggest to the boys is to serve a couple of small complimentary dipping sauces with the Papadums (mango chutney/mint raita) as a lot of authentic Indian restaurants will do this - much nicer than chewing on a bland crisp. It's a small investment and adds to that "extra touch".
A little dodgey frontage but relaxed and clean inside. Good music, great drinks list (lick pier ginger beer is amazing) and very friendly staff!
I'm definitely coming back!

Cash only, we missed out on ordering due to they not accepting cards.the food looked awesome. And staff was friendly.

I got the Biryani which was on special and asked for it to be hot. Without a doubt the hottest dish I've ever eaten. I thought I was going to die Had many a vindaloo from there since and been quite mild. Love the pot luck with this place in terms of spice. Solid curry though, very flavorsome and enough garlic on the garlic naans to down a horse. Recommended

I just want to say, if you’re wanting Indian food, don’t forget Curry Cafe Canteen

We are a allergy family due to my son, and so have not had this cuisine in 2+ yrs.

Not only is their food delicious and such good value, the chefs patience and knowledge with all my allergen questions with helping me pick a dish that is also suitable for the fussiest toddler was very much appreciated.

If you’re looking for a dairy free, soy free, rice free alternative to butter chicken, their Pumpkin Masala and Roti is a great option?

Their butter chicken is so creamy and succulent t.

And their eggplant curry is soooo good. Full of flavour.

PS: they make their curry on the spicier side. So ask for mild, if you cannot take the heat.

A lovely nice place to go for dinner and have a casual drink with friends. The vegan vegetarian options are extensive and delicious and even inspired me to have a crack at my own Curry.cooking the recipes I tried couldn’t live up to the standards I tried in Flemington but thanks anyway curry canteen don’t know how you do it!

Food, service, atmosphere, all 10/10! Gorgeous

Very nice place, my new favourite Indian in Flemington. Food is fantastic and servings are generous. We had 1 entree, 2 mains, 1 nan and 1 rice, and we ended up bringing home some. Good selection of vegetarian dishes as well as chicken and lamb, but no beef, with craft beers in cans as a bonus amd very reasonably priced. The place is pretty small, worth calling ahead just to be sure. Staff is very friendly. Only mildly negative side, cash only payment.
Finally, a word of caution, careful with spicy food. I asked for a hot madras and almost melted off the chair, go for medium. Well worth trying.

Epic service to start, and the curries blew us away! Great price, awesome flavours and great customer service

Don’t know what time they running business? Change your hours I give them call 10 Time at 1: 00 lunch. Out of 10 time only 2 time reach to them you should change trading hours not 1: 30 should be 12: 30.
Very disappointed.

How this place has a high rating. I will never know. Ordered the chicken tikka, which was like chewing cardboard sprinkled with chat masala. So unbelievably dry and tasteless, it could only have been cooked a week in advance and reheated when ordered. Two thumbs down!

Some nice beer options, and the food menu is pretty straightforward (i.e. Not confusing) compared to most other curry houses. Papadams felt/tasted like they had been sitting around for a bit (not crispy), but the rest of our dishes were great. Please note that this business is CASH ONLY. My reason for only two stars is that there's no reason for businesses to be "cash only" in this day and age, and it only makes me suspicious when the waiter couldn't provide a receipt for our cash payment either.

Ordered Butter chicken and Naan via uber eats. The chicken was definitely not cooked in a tandoor as it lacked the smoky flavour. The Naan was horrible. It was too thick and again not made in a tandoor. I highly doubt this Indian restaurant has a tandoor. Please change the description of menu items as they are Cleary not “Tandoori” as described.

The food is insanely great! We have been a patron of the ‘older sister’ curry cafe in Northcote for close to 2 decades and this place really measures up to its sibling! Absolutely delicious food with a great community vibe, can’t wait to eat here again:)