Mukka, Fitzroy

Overview

At Brunswick Street's Indian restaurant Mukka, Kabir Singh means to pack a punch — and put new life into Indian food in Australia while he's at it.

The passion and vitality is obvious from the moment you step through the door. The space features jaunty colours, greenery hanging from slatted frames on the ceiling and a specials board that revels in its chalky colourfully illustrated invitation: 'Hey, will you share a cocktail jug with me?'

How could you refuse an offer like that? Or the slow-cooked goat curry and homemade dosas for that matter? But if goat and cocktails don't rock your boat, there's plenty of other goodness to choose from across the menu.

A selection of street eats from Singh's home of New Delhi forms the basis for Mukka's starters. Either go for classic samosas and onion bhajis or change it up with some damn delicious fish pakoras and papdi chaat — think of it as an Indian nachos dish consisting of flour crackers topped with spiced potatoes, chickpeas, cold yoghurt and a few different homemade chutneys.

Amongst the curries from the tandoori grill is a chicken tikka marinated in spices and yoghurt overnight, then cooked in the tandoor oven — it's succulent and full of flavour. The saucier curries feature a modest selection of vegetarian, seafood and meat options. Our very favourite? The Bombay prawn masala. This thick curry isn't too spicy, but is full of garlic, ginger and desiccated coconut. It's a flavour bomb packed with prawns. And even though this Indian restaurant is all about serving up authentic curries, it also serves up one of the best butter chickens in Melbourne — not overly sweet or creamy like so many others out there.

If you're a lassi fan, Mukka has a smooth mango classic, the original spiced-up minty version or a rose and cinnamon creation. And depending on how the day is unfolding, you can make your lassi that little bit more edgy with a dash of vodka or coconut rum.

Cocktails have also been given plenty of love, with the bar team serving up classic tipples and Indian-inspired creations like the whisky sour spiced with cardamom, cloves and black pepper — vegans can even get a version made with aquafaba instead of egg whites.

Head here for inventive cocktails and authentic Indian eats from regions all over the subcontinent. And if you're down south, check out Mukka's much larger St Kilda location that's serving up all the same bites.

Images: Jo Rittey