Aki’s Indian Restaurant – Woolloomooloo

Indian food in Sydney is often associated with casual dining establishments, however Aki’s in Woolloomooloo, is on another level and represents the finer aspects of Indian cuisine. Chef Kumar Mahadevan, opened Aki’s as his second restaurant in 1994, and since then has utilised the freshest local produce to shape a menu that is both modern and stylish of Indian flavours.

Arriving at Aki’s, my partner and I were greeted with a warm, yet polished restaurant, with seating both inside, and outside, overlooking the water on the Woolloomooloo Wharf. I had been excited to try visit Aki’s and taste one of my favourite Indian dishes, which is a signature dish on the menu – Palak Patta Chaat. There were many mouth-watering dishes to choose from, and in the end we decided on Palak Patta Chaat and Lamb Cutlets Adreke to start, followed by the Vendakai Sundal, Chicken Makhini and Madras Prawn Vendakai.

Looking over Aki’s extensive wine menu, there were many options to choose from, but decided to sample of glass of India’s Kingfisher beer, while we snacked on an amuse bouche of chicken while we anticipated our feast to come.

The first dish to arrive was the much awaited Palak Patta Chaat, which are spinach leaves in a crispy lentil batter, on a bed of potatoes and chickpeas, topped with yoghurt, date and tamarind with chilli and mint sauces. This has been my favourite Indian dish for years, and this certainly did not disappoint. The batter was delicious and crispy and was paired with the wonderful flavours of tamarind. To be honest I could have eaten only this dish and left truely happy.

The Lamb Cutlets Adreke, which were cooked in the tandoor, were also delicious with the ginger and saffron marinade. The lamb was succulent and moist, that was accompanied by the taste of the charcoal that provided depth to the dish.

After a refresher of mint and cranberry juice, our mains arrived. Every dish looked so wonderful, I didn’t know where to start, finally deciding on the Vendakai Sundal, a South Indian dish of fried okra with chickpeas, garlic, onion, chilli and curry leaves. I chose this dish as I love okra and it is not often that I see it on a menu. It certainly did not disappoint. The variety of textures provided by the okra and the chickpeas, mixed with the enhanced flavour of the dried chilli and curry leaves made it a fantastic dish, and one which I will most certainly have in the future.

The Chicken Makhini, was next, and was Aki’s version of the “Butter Chicken”, which is made by roasting the chicken in the tandoor, and then pan finishing with a blend of tomatoes and cream with subtle spicing and fenugreek leaves. This dish was lovely and creamy, yet not spicy and perfect for those who love eating Indian without being too hot.

Our last main was the Madras Prawn Vendakai, the same dish Kumar showcased on Masterchef in 2010. This dish is a traditional South Indian dish of prawns and fresh okra with shallots, coconut,tamarind, mustard, fenugreek and cumin seeds. This dish was a definite highlight for me and once again, while the flavours were not hot, the balance of this dish made it very moreish and another new favourite that has been added to my list.

With all the mouth-watering options we tried, I couldn’t go home without trying one of the delicious desserts on the menu. I shared an Indian dessert, a Wattalappam, at the recommendation of the waiter, which is a spiced custard made with palm sugar, coconut, cashew, and cardamom served with ice-cream. A perfect end to the meal, and an ambrosial dish that made me wish that I hadn’t decided to share.

Aki’s is a wonderful restaurant, with a chic, vibrant atmosphere that is well worth the trip to the waterfront at Woolloomooloo. Kumar Mahadevan showcases a modern twist on classical Indian dishes, and is well worth a visit.

Aki’s Indian Restaurant
6 Cowper Wharf Rd
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011 Australia
+61 2 9332 4600