Red Pepper

This smart Punjabi restaurant at the top end of town was once a well-kept secret among Melbourne’s more discerning Indian clientele, but as word of its greatness spread, so, too, has the place itself. It’s doubled in size, with constant upgrades and renovations matching the ever-shifting menu. Standards are worth the trip – a belt-loosening butter chicken, or palak paneer with a faint aniseed edge – and thali sets (meat or veg) are a safe way of avoiding decision fatigue. But it’s the daily specials that keep the fans returning, so discuss them with your server before they’re scrubbed from the blackboard.