When an Indian restaurant gets the nod of approval from a local Indian resident, it's a must try. Today, Betty excitedly lets me know that Vasandha Bhavan is a restaurant her Indian friend would highly recommend. So we gave the restaurant a quick call to confirm they were open for lunch and off we went.
Vasandha Bhavan is opposite Homebush station. We arrived nice and early and were probably the first customers for the day, which turned out to be a wise decision as soon after our food was served, a few families were seated at the same time and we couldn't help but compare their extensive waiting time.
The decor was minimalistic and can be best compared to an extended old fashioned family dining room. I hoped it was a sign for good homestyle food.
We started with a mango lassi ($3.00) each which was double the serving size of most Indian joints. It's sweet, creamy and fruity nature was deliciously paired with our spicy curries.
Mango lassi
The samosas ($4.90 each) were served piping hot. The crispy buttery pastry was scrumptious and wrapped together, a potato and vegetable mixture which was fragrant with garam masala (a combination of spices including peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves, long pepper, black cumin, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise and coriander seeds).
Samosa
My vegetarian thali ($11.90) included a chef's selection of three vegetable curries, naan, rice and a papadum. My favourite of the three was the eggplant curry which was fried with spices, resulting in a rich but sweet flavour.
Vegetarian thali; chef's selection of three vegetable curries, naan bread and rice
Betty's kashmiri naan ($3.90) was a delightful discovery for me. I loved its savoury and sweet mix of nuts, raisins and coconut. On the other hand, her malai kofta ($9.90) was a vegetarian's blissful alternative to meatballs. The balls of cottage cheese and potato were served in a thick hot curry which went hand in hand with the naan bread.
Kashmiri naan (naan bread stuffed with coconut and dried nuts) and malai kofta -cottage cheese and potato dumplings in creamy sauce
My vegetarian thali also included dessert -a serving of the popular gulab jamun. It is essentially a fried ball of dough, coated in a caramelised sugar syrup.
Gulab jamun
Amongst my favourite Indian restaurants in Homebush, namely Janani and Thousand Spices, I can now add Vasandha Bhavan.
Where do you go for a taste of India?
Vasandha Bhavan
Shop 19, The Crescent, Homebush NSW
Phone: (02) 9746 5530
mmm.. is it time to go billu's yet ? let me know! hehe :)
oooo ... I misses this food :D
I might be checking on "My Restauran" in Melbourne soon, if possible this week :D
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I've been to Janani and Thousand Spices but never tried this one....it always looked so empty compared to the other 2. Might just go try it out now : ) Thank you!
I love the Vasandha! It used to be a regular when I lived in Strathfield. My favourite is the masala dosais.
is it time to go billu's yet ?
Hi Jen - A tip for your for an indian/Pakistani restaurant - there is this small restaurant in Enmore Road, Enmore called Faheem Fast food - they have Fish Tandori which they call Fish Tikka which is very delicious. The Fish is marinated with Spices and cook in Tandoor. It leaves the charcoal aroma lingering in your mouth when you eat it. And their Lamb Kebab is to die for - by far the best lamb kebab in Sydney that I have ever taste. And if you are adventurous - my personal favourite is brain massalla - which is lamb brain cook in curry sauce which is "finger linking" delicious. Try it - you will feel that you are in one of that food street in Pakistan. (PS: Pakistan is famours with its street food culture" - watch the vidoe in you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZnrUalunXQ")