Atta Restaurant
Atta is a true highlight amongst the burgeoning Indian dining scene in Melbourne.
Overview
When head chef and co-owner Harry Dhanjal teamed up with business partner Brij Patel to create Atta in Albert Park in 2015, they set out to reframe Indian dining in Melbourne. Now, ten years later, Atta celebrates achieving their goal of being instrumental to redefining Indian cuisine and opening Melburnian's eyes to the complexities of Indian cuisine.
With an elegant and sophisticated interior, featuring polished cement floors and large arched windows, Atta is the kind of Indian restaurant to enjoy fine dining without the posturing of stuffy waiters and an intimidating menu. As they say themselves, they combine fun with fine, while not slacking off on either front. Combining centuries-old recipes from all corners of India, they add subtle yet modern twists that set the place apart from the more traditional Indian restaurants that are common around Australia.
There are the essentials, of course, such as tandoori chicken and pappadums, samosas and korma, but the menu is also dotted with less expected ingredients that elevate the experience. There's slow-cooked black lentils with cashew gravy and coriander butter, and a smoked tandoori cottage cheese with asparagus, daikon and wild Australian tomato gels.
To celebrate the 10-year milestone, the chefs have created a special à la carte menu that showcases signature dishes from the past decade, which will be availble until December. You'll get to taste Harry's take on butter chicken with a saffron-infused cashew gravy, samosas with sweet yoghurt and tamarind chutney, lamb sous vide for eight hours, and cottage cheese dumplings finished with carrot oil, cream and almonds. The menu will also feature new celebratory dishes, including a sous vide duck with smoked cauliflower puree and tempura zucchini flower, and chicken mince seekh kebabs.
With a creative wine list highlighting local Victorian drops and a fitting selection of beers, a stylish interior, and a classic yet modern menu, Atta is a true highlight among the burgeoning Indian dining scene in Melbourne. "We are all slaves to the clock," says Harry, "but at Atta, we want people to enjoy the moment — to remove the boundaries and forget about time."
Images: Supplied.
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