Cassia

Overview

After shutting earlier this year due to flooding, Sid Sahrawat's award-winning underground hidey-hole Cassia reopened with renewed energy and a revised menu for the colder months.

At Cassia, the fit-out is modern yet intimate (with private dining rooms available), and depending on your location in the long, low and warmly-lit interior, spots can be found in front of the open-plan kitchen, so you can watch the delicious dishes prepared right before you eyes.

Included in the new menu offering are some of the perennial Cassia favourites, including the roasted carrot with dry korma and cashew ($24) which one waiter told Concrete Playground would lead to "riots" if they were removed.

But it also includes tasty new morsels, like the dry chicken curry croquette ($8) and lamb kulcha with chilli and coconut ($16). Larger share plates include roasted cauliflower with almond korma and ginger ($35) and a beef short rib with mushroom and spinach ($43) — if you can only order one thing, make it the latter. Wait, make it the latter with a side of garlic naan to mop up the juices.

When dining at Cassia you have the option to order a la carte, or go ordering with the set Journey Menu priced at $95pp. We'd always recommend being taken on the "journey" by the excellent kitchen team — you'll be surprised with a mix of delicious snacks, curries and sides that will leave you so stuffed, you'll probably barely make it back up the stairs onto Forte Lane afterwards.

If you're looking for a little mid-day respite from this dark and gloomy winter weather, head in for the business lunch menu, priced at $48pp and in our opinion, one of the city's best-kept secrets. You'll score a starter, main, sides and dessert for under $50.

Images: Babiche Martens