Previously a popular Indian restaurant located in Bruce, Ganjees has relocated to Braddon’s popular Lonsdale Street. We visited in December to taste the progressive and unique Indian dishes on offer at Ganjees.
We dined on a Monday night and opted for sitting indoors instead of outside. The outdoor dining space features colourful décor as well as a range of undercover tables and seating options. It looks comfortable and the space resembles cabanas you might find at restaurants by the beach. The tables were close together when we visited and I wanted some privacy. It was also a warm evening and we dined early so I didn’t want to sit in the sun at the time. But next time I visit I’ll definitely sit outside.
The indoor dining area is slightly more formal than the casual outside dining space with a range of standard tables and cushioned wall seating available. Large colourful murals have been painted on the wall, adding character to the space. They have also have a private dining area inside that’s available for bookings.
Their drinks menu is small but there’s something for everyone with a range of international and Australian beverages on offer as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Prices are reasonable and if you want a Canberra region wine, you’re limited to a bottle of Eden Road Pinot Noir. I start with a glass of Chandon Brut because I always like to start with a glass of bubbles.
The food menu features a large selection of appetisers, entrees, mains and curries, sides, rice and breads with the option of a 7-course ($79) or a 9-course ($99) Chef surprise menu. This is always a good option if you’re feeling indecisive. You can also add matching drinks for an additional $45 or $55, depending on how many courses you choose. You’ll find a few regular sounding Indian dishes on the menu but I can’t guarantee they will be served as you would expect them to be.
We select our own dishes, starting with the Lasooni Mussels (pan-fried and cooked in garlic and roasted cumin) and the Black Magic “Jaadd-o” (charcoal salmon pakora and ashes). The salmon is cooked perfectly and it’s anything but dry. It’s packed with flavour and the black coating adds a nice texture. I would happily eat this dish again. The mussels are simple but flavoursome. As you’ll notice, the presentation definitely pushes the boundaries and we haven’t had an Indian dining experience quite like the one we had at Ganjees.
There are many dishes on the menu that intrigued us but we couldn’t order everything this time, and it will give us an excuse to return. Next up was the rogan lamb croquettes (pulled lamb, pappadum, tamarind, aioli and coriander carrots), roti bruschetta (crispy ajwain roti, tomato paneer salsa and chilli balsamic glaze) and the Deli wali Tikki (crispy potato and lentil cakes combined with tangy sauces).
The croquettes were very different to what I expected and they were served in something that looked like a book at first glance. They were tasty and the presentation was very interesting.
The roti bruschetta topping was fresh and tasty and the roti were crispy and cold, I was expecting them to be soft and flaky like a roti but they would have been hard to eat if that was the case.
The Deli wali Tikka was recommended to us out of 3 dishes we were tossing up between. I’m glad we went with this one, it was another fresh and flavoursome dish. The potato and lentil cakes were covered in yoghurt, spices, a tamarind dressing and pomegranate seeds, giving it pops of sweet and sour flavours in each bite.
The Con(Fusion) Butter Chicken (tandoor cooked chicken, fragmented rice naan cob, almond fennel dust and butter gravy) and the Sikanderi Lamb Backstrap (slow-cooked lamb backstrap, roasted almond, rice cakes, pumpkin-chesew korma and sago pappadums) were our choices for mains.
There was no need for us to order a side of rice or naan bread as we usually would when we order Indian food. A naan bread filled with rice was served on the plate with the butter chicken and we were really full at this stage. We scooped the rice out of the naan and ate it with the dish.
Each dish was tasty, the meat was cooked well and again, presented in a unique way. The flavours were more subtle than I would have expected and I thought it was lacking a bit of spiciness. So if you want to turn up the heat, I suggest asking for it to be hotter than it’s usually served.
It was quiet when we dined, as you would expect on a Monday night with a few tables were occupied inside and outside. Service was slower than expected for the number of diners but like many hospitality businesses operating in the current circumstances, we think they may have been understaffed. Many restaurants are also juggling takeaway and delivery orders at the same time as serving customers who are dining in. We understand these challenges and we weren’t in a rush so it didn’t worry us.
This is definitely the most unique Indian dining experience we’ve had so far in terms of the menu and the presentation. I’m keen to go back and try more of their dishes and I think Ganjees has done a great job to put a modern, unique and funky twist on Indian cuisine.
DETAILS
Address: 3/5 Lonsdale St, Braddon
Website: https://www.ganjees.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ganjeescbr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ganjeescbr
Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.