Dosa Hut (CBD)
209 King Street, Melbourne
03 8658 3129
Indian
$$
Food
- Hyderabadi Goat Dum Biryani
- Paneer Dosa
- Vada
- Chicken 65
- Butter Chicken
- Palak Paneer
- Samosa Chat
- Lindt Chocolate And Cashew Dosa
- Gulab Jamun
- Mango Lassi
The Good
We started off with the Hyderabadi Goat Dum Biryani, which is a goat stew topped with rice. The goat within was cooked to a perfect tenderness and a strong ginger flavour permeated throughout. Despite being served with a variety of sauces, the gingery aroma of the goat, coupled with the basmati rice was perfectly flavourful and allowed us to enjoy this dish unaccompanied.
The Paneer Dosa is a large crepe-like dish, and contains a crumbly paneer filling, which is an Indian cheese reminiscent of cottage cheese. Being one of the signature dishes of the restaurant, we found the dosa's fluffy interior rather palatable, and was well accompanied by the three sauces on offer. Our favourite combination being the sambhar, a lentil-based sauce which provided a nice diversity in flavour.
Contrary to Western donuts, which are normally sweet and airy, Dosa Hut's Indian rendition is a savoury baked donut that is to be dipped into the same three sauces as the Dosa. The dough of the Vada is very dense, which is described by the restaurant owner as the perfect quick breakfast for a busy office worker.
Being an Indian staple, the Butter Chicken needs no further explanation. Dosa Hut serves the traditional dish unlike many Westernised versions seen around Melbourne. It has a distinct flavour that is bolder and more forward than most variants which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Finishing off the evening, we were offered the Gulab Jamun, which is a donut drenched in honey and topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was simply divine, biting into its soft texture after being soaked in honey. The ice cream nicely balances the hot fried donuts with the cold temperature. All downed with a rich and creamy Mango Lassi, it was a perfect conclusion to our feast.
The Mediocre
The Chicken 65 is a dish of fried chicken with spices and a hint of mint. This dish is a speciality of the chef at the restaurant. Despite being fried to perfection, the dish could e benefited with more generous use of spices to create additional flavours.
The Bad
Unfortunately, the Samosa Chat was overwhelmingly salty. While the texture of the chickpeas composing the dish was apparent, the extreme saltiness distracted away from the rest of the dish.
The Verdict
We were served an abundance of quality and authentic Indian cuisine at Dosa Hut, who have four branches in Melbourne. The CBD branch is only opened for just under a month, and it is no surprise that it is already bustling with diners.
Overall, we are impressed with the array of Indian cuisine on offer, which far exceed our expectations; the flavours are rich and authentic and we are served very generous portions. This restaurant will be sure to be a serious competitor amongst other Indian restaurants in the area.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
For sure! Dosa Hut is now high on our list of go-to places for some flavoursome Indian food.
We would like to thank Dosa Hut for inviting us to sample a wide range of their menu at the newly opened Melbourne CBD location.