Indian Palace

The Hindu god Ganesh serenely watches over diners at this casual spot. And save for the parade of stencilled elephants across a wall, interrupted only by a large flat-screen television with the volume turned to low, the sparse contemporary room is testament to the Palace's no-frills approach. This ethos also emanates from the kitchen, where a bevy of chefs turns out family-friendly Indian food from across the subcontinent: biryani, jalfrezi, korma and vindaloo dishes abound. However, it pays to delve into the menu's numerous pages to discover entrees like moist-centred navratan vegie pakoras, and subtly spiced fillets of fish marinated with green chutney and cooked in the tandoor. A stew-like bhuna features fall-apart chunks of beef in a ginger-laced gravy that's perfect for mopping up with flaky paratha, while a prawn patia comes with plump king prawns cooked in vinegar, brown sugar and spices such as ginger and cumin seeds. On warm nights friendly staff throw open the giant glass doors overlooking bustling Church Street.