Besides attending the launch party when Ganjees moved from Bruce to Braddon, I hadn’t had an opportunity to try out the restaurant. I finally make it there for lunch on my day off, and choose to sit outside as it is a sunny day.
There are mocktails, lassis and soft drinks listed under ‘Rickshaw Refreshers’. I choose the Minty Berrylito ($12) topped up with lemonade. It’s served in a big glass and really does have berry and mint flavours.
The pani puree ($11) are small semolina puffs filled with potato salsa. How beautiful is the presentation? It comes with a small glass of a green tamarind water and I’m told to pour it into each puff and pop the whole thing in my mouth. I’m a little too eager and fill the whole puff with the water, making this kind of eye-popping as it’s quite sour. I fill the next ones up to a bit more than a splash instead.
I want to try some fish and ask the waitress whether I should try the black magic (charcoal crusted which I had had once before) or if she can recommend anything else. She recommends the achari fish from the Tikka Skewers menu. The difference between the two are the black magic is deep fried, while the achari is cooked in a clay oven but is still very moist. I go with her recommendation of the Achari fish ($18). I am expecting skewers, but being fish it comes out on its own clay bowl as it would not have gripped well to a skewer. I’m so happy I went with her recommendation. The fish is amazing! Cooked to perfection, with each flake being juicy, soft and indulgent. It’s actually quite a big portion but I finish the entire thing by myself! It is too good to leave behind.
Ganjees’ Mumbai pav bhaji ($15) from the Street Food menu comes with a mixed vegetables stew served with masala buttered buns. This is a larger dish than expected so I’m glad I didn’t choose a main! The buttered buns are warm and slightly toasted but still soft. Delicious flavours and spice. The stew has a spicy kick towards the end of a bite so I break it up with the other dishes. This is street food but I can see it as a great meal on the couch at home.
I’d love to go back with a group of friends to sample more of the menu. For the sweet-tooth out there, the dessert menu lists a stuffed dark Valrhona chocolate in bread cooked at 270 degrees Celsius!
Advertised as progressive dining, Ganjees is a little more modern than your traditional Indian, but everything I ate was spot on with flavours, spices and presentation.
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