The Jewel of India in West Row Canberra City is my favourite Canberra restaurant for Indian food. In fact my friend who grew upon Hyderabad tells me this has the best Indian food he has had outside India.

I love the colourful decor, the tree lights on West Row and the soft carpet that absorbs sound, making conversation easy. Everything I’ve tried at Jewel of India has been excellent but I have especially enjoyed the Samosas, Raita, Fish Methi Masala (fish of the day cooked in a delicately spiced cashew and fenugreek sauce), Milani tarkaari (a mélange of vegetables cooked in onion tomato and cashew nut gravy topped with fresh spinach leaves) and Chicken Chettinad (pepper spiced curry from Tamil Nadu, South India).

While the banquets are a delicious and easy option that let groups of at least six, try a range of dishes, like all banquets (starting at $30 per person), you end up with way more food than you might otherwise order (making it hard not to overeat) and you may not try the most delicious options.

An alternative to a banquet, that still allows everyone to try a variety, but to also stay comfortable, is to order specific dishes and share.

Suggested sharing menu for six could include:

Entree:

Paapadams with assorted dips $8

6 x Vegetable samosa (savoury pastry triangles filled with spicy potatoes,green peas ) $10 per 2 ($5 each, $30 for six)

Main:
1x Fish Methi Masala $24

1x Chicken Chettinad $19

1x Milani Tarkaari $18

3x Naan $3 each
3 xRice $4 each
1x Raita $5

Total cost of food $125 ($21 per person)

Add dessert Gulab Jaman with ice-cream (Reduced milk dumplings soaked in cardamom flavoured sugar syrup) for an extra $4 per person ($8 for two dumplings)

Corkage $8 per bottle