Thali Time

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.

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.

Grabbed some takeaway while on the run. I tried ringing in advance but the phone rang out so dropped in. Order taken quickly by staff and meal was prepared in under 10 minutes. Although the cafe is average looking on the outside it’s clean inside. Delicious meal, chicken very tender and sauce fabulous. Curry was very good and was extra happy with the portion size. Thank you.

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.

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.