Review Ish Restaurant - Fitzroy

ISH is one of feathers on the hat of Fitzroy. Loved their modern Indian fusion, a perfect balance with the spices.They do have limited menu, however every item in the menu comes out perfectly. A big shout out to their house-made cottage cheese just melts in the mouth. A must visit place for dinner when you are around Fitzroy.

One of the best modern Indian restaurants I’ve been to in a long time. Great venue, delicious food and fantastic service. Cocktail menu was good too! Will be back 👍🏼

ISH was just amazing no words to describe how soft and yummy their breads were it’s not Indian level spicy which I think would have been a overkill the level of spice they had was spot on the menu I felt was limited but whatever was there was soooooo good the staff were super friendly too 4.5/5

Loved every dish on the menu!! One of the best fusion Indian places I have been.

This keema pav will remind you of mumbai… chicken tikka was delicious.. the word is “crazy”.. and beef patties was unbelievable.. the best combo was butter chicken with garlic naan. This just reminds Me of India… best customer service

Possibly The best Indian restaurant we’ve been to. Modern vibe, great service, spectacular food. Loved the set menu! We are definitely coming back and bringing friends and family with us!

A modern fusion of Indian flavours presented in a neat and relaxed environment.

Went to this restaurant as we had heard a lot of positive feedback. Here's my experience with them: Good - Staff is excellent. From the time we entered the restaurant till we left, we were attended appropriately. None of them had Indian background but they knew about the food and what to recommend and they were very humble and friendly. - Ambience is great. - Entree are good, specifically mini Vada Pav and Peking Duck Taco (which not Indian at all) Not so good - Everything else. The mains were average. We had ordered ISH butter chicken and one Paneer based curry. Surprisingly both had exactly same gravy. Summary Staff is amazing. Great ambience. Food is ok, overpriced. Will we go again? No

Had Family Pack take-away last night.<br/><br/>Food arrived on time. Plenty for four adults.<br/><br/>Curries rich and creamy. Kerala beef and vas was a point of difference by featuring coconut and southern Indian flavours.<br/><br/>Well done to Ish team.

Insta: melbfoodie_mark<br/>YT: MelbFoodieMark<br/>** Check them out for more food reviews in Melbourne!<br/>-<br/>Just WOW! It's been a while since I've been this blown away after trying a new restaurant! (Currently doing 50% off through theFork! Don't miss out!!). I've never tried Indian Fusion cuisine before but I just don't think it can get any better from both service and taste POV :) It was classy and stylish inside and I liked how the staff were very knowledgeable about the menu, knowing all the ingredients in every dish.<br/>We tried Sambar Arancini ($16), South Indian Spiced Duck Pâté ($15), Tandoori Lamb Cutlets ($25), and Crusted Spanish Mackerel Ghassi Curry ($28). I have nothing but great things to say about these dishes! Sambar Arancini had these interesting flavour profiles from tomato chutney, tempered coconut, and pearl cous cous - complex but absolutely delicious! The Tandoori Lamb Cutlets were cooked to perfection with nice char and were tender and flavoursome :) The Crusted Spanish Mackeral Ghassi Curry was creamy but retained the thick consistency which went wonderfully with naans. The mackeral was huge and cooked to perfection - crispy outside, juicy inside. Overall, it was savoury with a light spicy kick.<br/>But, my absolute favourite was South Indian Spiced Duck Pâté - which came with brussel sprouts and naans (best nans ever - fluffy and chewy w/ garlicy aroma). The Duck Pâté had this rich dense flavour which went extremely well with the naans. You could taste the Indian spices but they were not overwhelming enough to ruin the balance of the dish. It was truly one of the most unique dishes I've tried in my life - truly exquisite! I will probably visit again just to try it again. Overall, such a pleasant dining experience! I can't wait to visit this place again in the near future :)

About to post a copy of Dishoom cook book to ISH as clearly the chef needs to do some more research. If you cant get rice right then you need a make over<br/>Duck tacos = 5 stars, bursting taste<br/>Butter chicken = tolerable<br/>Pate = can buy in woolies<br/>Civiche = Bland

Was told it was Indian food. Each dish had a touch of India to it but nowhere near the hot and curry items<br/>I am used to when it is called Indian. It is quite pricey and the dishes are small. If you want to share you might have to order 2 of each for a table of 4. Wine list not great. Service very courteous and prompt. The venue small cafe style.

The restaurant is very nice , staff extremely professional however lacked attention to detail. Food was nice not great . I always ask myself when rating a restaurant would I return soon for another experience and the answer was yes but not very soon . The prawns were tasteless and I left them however staff did not even enquire why they were barely touched . Ceviche was really nice as was the tilkka and duck . It definitively worth a visit .

Food is original, presented beautifully and truely delicious - a rare trio in most restaurants these days. We will be back and will pass our enjoyable experience experience onto others for them to enjoy for themselves.

Recommend to us. Lovely ambience. Wait stuff attentive but front of house a little to ‘present’. Duck liver pate with ghee naan is well done, rich enough to share, the tandoor lamb cutlet with turnip purée was very disappointing, fatty, flavourless and the purée not the best match for lamb, the swordfish sent back as undercooked and cold in middle. They offered free desserts which made up for some service points...promising but not quite there tonight. Great wine and cocktails range.....perhaps just a bad night??

ISH (short for modern-ish) takes traditional Indian flavours and modern techniques to create beautifully unique dishes that feel vaguely familiar but new and exciting at the same time. We had a wonderful dining experience here and would definitely return!<br/><br/>The space itself is really cute and cozy, the raw brick walls decked out in gold accents and modern black and white artwork. There is also a dining area upstairs for bigger groups. <br/><br/>We started with the South Indian spiced duck pate ($17) with pickled cabbage achaar and black cardamom ghee naan. I was immediately obsessed with the achaar but initially thought the pate was too heavily spiced, however after a few bites my palate adjusted and I came to love the smoky offal flavour. Btw their naan is fantastic too and they even do a gluten free version!<br/><br/>Next we had the Hiramasa cured kingfish ceviche ($20) with lemon achar, pomelo, betel leaf and buttermilk. Now I’ve never had a ceviche with indian flavours before and although I liked the fresh pomelo something about the other flavours didn’t hit the spot for me and this ended up being my least favourite dish. <br/><br/>For mains we had the Kashmiri ‘Dum Aloo’ pan fried potato dumplings ($25) with saag purée, popped lentils and dried cherry tomatoes. This looks and feels similar to gnocchi but with an indian twist and I absolutely loved it! The texture of the dumplings was crunchy and fluffy and the sauce was addictively good. We also shared the swordfish patrani macchi ($34) which was cooked in a banana leaf and topped with tomato masala. The swordfish was perfectly cooked and the tomato masala was delicious - another dish I’d happy have again! Our mains also came with a side of asparagus which was so so good.<br/><br/>Dessert was a massive highlight and a perfect end to the meal as I loveeee chai tea and their chai icecream with syrup and nuts (sorry I didn’t get the details!) was so creamy and just the best chai flavoured dessert I’ve ever had! If I could buy a carton of this for home I definitely would!<br/><br/>Overall I definitely recommend ISH if you’re a fan of indian flavours, modern fusion or just want to try something a bit different. They also do delicious cocktails with lots of interesting flavours and spices which are worth trying out as well!

Loved everything about Ish - food, service, ambience. They have raised a bar with a innovative menu and refined execution whilst staying true to the core essence of the Indian food

One of the best dining experiences we've had in ages. The service was exemplary, even though we dined outside they were super attentive. The food was also amazing, with the chicken tikka and duck roti being the highlights. I would highly recommend.

With all the amazing reviews couldn't wait to try ISH. Reserving a table was easy online, after we tried to call several time with no response, although it seems that you can't make a reservation between 6:30 and 8:30pm. That suited us fine though. <br/>Services was top notch. The wait staff was very attentive and really made us feel like they cared. You'd think that's normal, but they really went above and beyond.<br/>They recommended us to share one dish of each section (small, middle and large) between the two of us, which we did and that was definitely enough. <br/>We started with the duck pate, which was lovely. I personally wasn't a fan of the brussels sprout mustard achar, but my boyfriend loved that. Then we had the tempura eggplant, which was nice, but couldn't convince me, especially not for $20 (3 pieces of eggplant). Then we had the butter chicken, with rice, garlic naan and again the brussels sprouts. We had taken the brussels sprouts as a side dish as they recommended it, but we didn't realise it we would get it with the pate also (and I didn't like it that much). <br/>After these three dishes we were pretty full, but the desserts sounded amazing so we wanted to try. We had the Indian filter coffee panna cotta. The flavour was nice, but it was very dry, so maybe it would've been nice with some kind of sauce or something through it.<br/><br/>We had two signature cocktails, both were brilliant - the kambipura sour and the Indian elixir. Really, really good.<br/><br/>All and all we had a lovely dinner for $130, which I think is very good value for money.

Over the last couple of years, there has been a wave of change across the pan Asian food scene of Melbourne. Indian cuisine is one of the last to catch up but finally there is an exciting revolution with focus on tradition, quality and a showcase of regional delicacies in harmony with Australian produce and sensibilities.

I come from an Indian background and have been trying to find a great indian restaurant in Melbourne, and feel like I've finally found the place!<br/><br/>I went to Ish for dinner over the weekend to celebrate my partners birthday and we were so well accommodated. They made sure to reserve us a great seat, the waitress was extremely attentive and friendly, and the food was delicious! You must try a dish from every section and their cocktails are also a must have! The atmosphere is very modern and has a very relaxing feel to it. I highly recommend this place for any special occasion or for a great date night!

ISH brings a contemporary take on Indian cuisine to Fitzroy's Gertrude street. The restaurant occupies two floors and is edgy and oh so cool. The interior is slick and modern with exposed brick and an eye catching bar which dominates the ground floor dining area.

UPDATED 07/09<br/>Came here for the truffle menu! Enjoyed the dishes, but took way too long. Coming back to try their normal menu tomorrow and hopefully it’ll be as tasty as it was!<br/><br/>Second time I tried their usual menu (lunch with no tandoori) and loved the entree choices. The mains which were the mackerel and potato dumpling were ok. The mackerel itself was nice but felt like the curry could’ve been stronger in flavour. The gnocchi was amazing in texture, but the sauce didn’t agree with my palette. <br/><br/>Overall would come back again! Loved the duck tacos and the aranici balls! Didn’t get to try the masala chai dessert today but will be back. There are plenty of dishes we still want to try.

Ish has to be one of my new favourite restaurants, they've really done modern Indian cuisine so well. The food is not only stunning but absolutely delicious - my favourites have to be spiced duck pate, sambar arancini, kerala beef curry, seared king mushroom moilee curry and of course with garlic naan plus coffee pannacotta for dessert. The Elixir is my favourite cocktail - so cute and easy to drink. Great and attentive service - thank you for having us in!

Wow! What can I say but if you’re looking for an amazing dining experience then I would highly recommend this Indian inspired fine dining experience that also keeps respect to its tradition. We enjoyed some of their cocktails, highly recommend the Indian Elixir!!! <br/><br/>We enjoyed Sambar Arancini, the duck pate, and Tandoori cutlets! The pan fried potato dumplings were my favourite! The food was sooo delicious, really full of traditional Indian flavours incorporate with modern food. <br/><br/>Treat yourself to a really amazing evening!

We were there for the Melbourne Truffle Festival, after trying the European restaurants in the Festival we are very excited for an Asian restaurant. The food is good, I like how they experimented Indian food with Truffle as it's not a traditional ingredient.<br/>However I think the restaurant over booked their kitchen capacity, the dinner almost took 5 hours and I can see people yawing at the end, the waygu steak also came out cold.

Came here a few weeks ago I have to say, I was really impressed with the food. It was well presented and delicious! The only let down was the butter chicken. It was delicious, but for what we paid ($29), the portion was very small. We had 4 small pieces of chicken, so 2 small pieces each. However, overall the food was great!

Fabulously creative Indian inspired cuisine, the king mushroom and dulse coconut curry is a slyly brilliant take on a classic goan prawn curry.

<br/>I was invited to a food bloggers night at ISH restaurant and it was a very modern looking restaurant with brick walls and nice interior decor. We were presented with the ISHChef's menu with 9 courses and it wasn't your ordinary butter chicken and naan. <br/><br/>The menu items were so interesting and innovative. The owner has put their own creation and twist to their indian dishes. We were presented with some indian wine and it tasted so good and matched perfectly with the dishes.<br/><br/>These were the dishes we tried:<br/><br/>1. Sambar arancini, pearl cous cous, sambar dahl, tempered coconut and tomato chutney - crunchy round balls of goodness inside.<br/>2. South Indian Spiced Duck pate, brussels sprout mustard achar, black cardamom ghee naan - I never knew indian cuisine consists of duck pate which is done so well! smooth and not as strong as normal pate tastes<br/>3. Victorian tandoori lamb cutlets, turnip and dill mash - that tandoori smell was so inviting, tender lamb pieces which matched well with the mash<br/>4. Tempura eggplant, capsicum 'chhonka', tamarind peanut salan - really crunchy and flavoursome<br/>5. Kashmiri dum aloo, pan fried potato dumplings, saag puree, popped lentils, dried cherry tomatoes - this was like potato gnocchi but more creamy and softer, the popped lentils really provided a crunchy texture to it<br/>6. Kera Crusted Spanish Mackerel, Ghassi curry, young coconut, samphire - my favourite dish! omg the mackerel was cooked perfectly! sweet juicy pieces, dipped in the curry and wrapped in naan OMG!<br/>7. Seared King Mushroom, Moilee curry, heirloom cherry tomatoes, dulse seaweed, snow peas - This was my least favourite as it was a bit on the sweet side, but the pouring of the colourful sauce on top was amazing!<br/>8. Chai gelato, masala puffs, ginger cookie and honey raisin compote - first time i've had chai gelato. It had a rich chai flavour and was great with the masala puffs which was crunchy and hard.<br/>9. Purple carrot halwa, milk sheet, condensed milk crumb, pistachio dust - wow this just melted in my mouth and was so good! The flavours just combine together in your mouth and it was like a condensed milk oats cookie dessert thing lol.<br/><br/>Their dishes were of generous portions and we were left filing super happy and full afterwards. This place has seriously raised the bar for Indian food and has taken it to the next level. Thank you ISH for a great dinner night.  

ISH opened on Gertrude street late last year, offering a unique take on Indian cuisine. We were invited in by owner Ganeev Bains, who has made it his mission to challenge Australian preconceptions about what Indian food can be.

As far as Indian food goes, I'd be lying if I said I was an expert, or even one who frequently eats Indian food (it's not that I have anything against Indian food - I love a good butter chicken, it's just not easy to find Indian food in my local area). A friend suggested we dine here, and I was looking forward to something more substantial than my usual Indian experiences, much of which consists of food court outlets.<br/><br/>ISH is located in the gentrifying streets of Fitzroy / Collingwood, where you never know what you'll find inside the dated building facades of an earlier, simpler era. Inside, there was a nice cosy ambiance, with warm, simple decor. Staff were quite attentive, going as far as to make suggestions and explanations of the menu items - so far, ticking all the boxes.<br/><br/>The menu appears deceitfully simple, being a single A4 page, as opposed to the drinks menu, which I mistook for the menu due to its relatively larger size (though the drinks selection appeared impressive, unfortunately, I was unable to experience the variety, as I was driving). Despite the simple appearance of the menu, all the dishes sounded interesting, and making choices was tough.<br/><br/>Although the menu does not explicitly suggest that there are "courses" involved, there was great attention and effort put into matching dishes and ordering your selections in a particular way. Unfortunately, the biggest let down was the wait between dishes - I'm not sure if there were issues in the kitchen, or it was the commitment to ordering dishes that led to the delays.<br/><br/>Moving on to the food, the evening began with the Tandoori pork belly. Although the pork belly was well cooked, the hints of spices were very subtle.<br/><br/>After a long wait, then came the Kashmiri dum aloo, and the ISH butter chicken. Both dishes were flavourful and much better than the pork belly. In particular, the butter chicken was perfect - a great combination of sauce and premium chicken. <br/><br/>However, was it worth the lengthy wait and the relatively high prices? I would conclude by saying ISH isn't somewhere I'd go if I was after a simple Indian style meal, but it's also not where I'd go for a top notch Indian style meal. Ultimately, given the combination of pricing, food, time and ambiance, it probably fits somewhere in the middle - if I had a significant other, and I was going on a date with them, ISH wouldn't be where I'd go for a casual date, nor a very special occasion, but probably a special occasion that doesn't quite call on going all out.

We came to Ish to try their Indian fusion tasting menu out and it was such a wonderful experience.<br/>We started the meal with pate , this was a surprise as I do not usually associate Indian food with pate, this paired with naan was probably my favourite course. We then moved on to arancini , this was made of sambar and had a really nice tomato sauce to pair with it. The texture of the arancini was quite enjoyable to me, not like your usual aborino rice but some grains were larger and had a bit of a bouncy consistency.<br/>Next we had the Lamb chops, these were tandoori styled and cooked to perfection. They chops were also huge, great for a meat lover ! My next favourite was the tempura eggplant, these were so light and crispy, the peanut and tamarind sauce paired with the eggplant complimented it so well! <br/>The crushed Spanish mackerel curry was so rich in flavour, the curry was creamy and had a perfect blend of spice , the fish itself was cooked to perfection- really enjoyed this one <br/>The seared mushrooms was also a unique dish, the moilee curry was poured on top of the mushrooms , this was a great combo <br/>Dessert consisted of Chai gelato and carrot halwa- both not too heavy and tasted great! My favourite was the chai gelato.<br/><br/>All in all Ish is a beautiful contemporary Indian restaurant that gives you fine dining feels yet does not break your bank. The atmosphere, food and service is top notch and I would highly recommend it . Thanks for having us!

A very tasty, satisfying trip around some familiar/not-so familiar flavours of modern Indian cuisine. We feasted on South Indian Spiced duck pate with brussel sprout mustard achar (pickle), corn and pumpkin pakora (small puffy deep fried dough), tandoori pork belly, butter chicken with black garlic naan, Kerala beef curry, Indian filter coffee pannacotta, and Chai gelato. A very solid menu, including their cocktail menu and selection of Indian single malt whiskies. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience with a difference!

😱Lizzies first impression: Ive not only found one of my favorite refined indian restaurant but two of my most favourite restaurants side by side; Ish and Anada. This restaurant only just opened up a few months ago, but don&amp;amp;amp;#039;t let the dark interior intimidate you. It was one of the best experiences Ive had and nothing can describe it - you just have to try it out for yourself.&<br/><br/>🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I tried the chefs menu and let me just tell you how exquisite it was<br/><br/>First up was the Sambar arancini, with pearl cous cous, dahl with tempered coconut and tomato chutney - those arancini balls were amazing and I almost wanted more than one! great flavours from the tomato chutney and the tempered coconuts.<br/><br/>We had the Spiced Duck Pate with Naan bread and boy was this good. I personally love Pate so to try an Indian inspired one was great. It tasted great with the garlic naan and left me hanging for me.<br/><br/>Next up were the tandoori lamb cutlets that were marinated overnight. It was soft, tender, flavoursome...everything I needed in a lamb cutlet.<br/><br/>Tempura eggplant with tamarind peanut salan - the best tempura Ive had in my life, it was so light and crunchy at the same time. I love eggplant so much so this was right up my alley.&amp;amp;aNow on to my mains ... and yes thats already 4 dishes Ive tried and 85% full..<br/><br/>We had the Crusted Spanish Mackeral, Ghassi Curry. This was the best thing Ive ever had in my life - the creaminess of the curry, the thick consistency and the seared fish really put indian food to a whole new level. It was simply amazing and done impeccably well.<br/><br/>Seared King mushroom in Moilee curry - this dish was another winner. Creamy, thick and flavourful. Mushrooms were cooked well and were so juicy. I loved it.<br/><br/>By the time I hit desserts, I was probably already 110% full, so I didnt try too much of it - It was a chai gelato with masala puffs and Purple carrot halwa. Both were tasty and luckily not too big in portions. The chai gelato went well with the crispiness of the puffs.<br/><br/>🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: N/A<br/><br/>🥇Lizzie rates overall: Great ambience, great food and great service - literally nothing more I can ask for!

Amazing modern indian restaurant. I came in and ordered the chefs menu to try a bunch of different things. Everything that i ordered was really good and its such an exciting way to experience indian food. The service was also really nice.<br/><br/>Heres some of my highlights; The south indian spiced duck pate was one of my favorite and it works perfectly with the naan bread. The king prawn was another winner, it was just so tasty and perfectly cooked. The tandoor brocolli i think was one of the best, the candied chilli was exciting. The tandoor lamb is also my personal fav.<br/><br/>Great experience. would definetely come back

Amazing contemporary Indian food at the heart of Gertrude St! Great variety of vegetarian and meat dishes that are just absolutely light, delicious and flavoursome. Great for a group for tasting different dishes! <br/><br/>Wirjo Rating: <br/>1. Eggplant <br/>2. Mushrooms <br/>3. Prawns

I was lucky enough to be invited to ISH to experience their contemporary and innovative Indian cuisine. <br/><br/>We started off with the South Indian Spiced Duck Pate, which was really delightful. I loved the crispy sweet crust on the top! It’s quite heavy so it goes really well with the naan. <br/><br/>The Sambar Arancini was really delicious. I loved the dahl and chutney too as it gave more moisture to the dish. The arancini was crispy and the pearl couscous was a unique touch.<br/><br/>For the second course, we had the Tandoori Lamb Cutlets which were so impressive! The lamb was cooked very well with a nice char, and each cutlet was absolutely huge. Quite fatty and hearty but very delicious.<br/><br/>The Tempura Eggplant has to be one of my favourites. Eggplant is one of my favourite vegetables, and they nailed the crispy light tempura coating with the soft and juicy eggplant inside.<br/><br/>The Kashmiri Dum Aloo almost reminded me of an Indian-style gnocchi. The potato dumplings were delicious and I love how they were pan fried. The sauce was hearty and flavourful and had a little kick to it.<br/><br/>For the next course, we had the Akers Crusted Spanish Mackerel. A nice dish with a strong and spicy curry. The fish was cooked beautifully with a nice crispy skin.<br/><br/>However, I preferred Seared King Mushroom, which really blew me away. The Moilee curry was sweet and coconut-y, and the mushrooms were cooked so amazingly - I almost couldn’t tell they were mushrooms!<br/><br/>We also had the Tandoori Malai Broccoli which was a really delicious side. I loved the addition of candied cashews which added crunch and sweetness. The black garlic naan was also incredible - if I weren’t so full already, I would’ve eaten the whole basket!<br/><br/>Of course, we couldn’t finish without dessert. The Purple Carrot Halwa was a very unique dish that reminded me of rice pudding. It was served warm, and mildly sweet. I loved the airy and crispy milk sheet on the top!<br/><br/>But my favourite was the Chai Gelato! The chai flavour was prominent, and the gelato was very light and refreshing. It came with masala puffs which were incredibly addictive and combining the two together was a match made in heaven. <br/><br/>For drinks, we tried their Indian Elixir cocktail and it tasted as good as it looks. It’s slightly sweet and tart from the rhubarb, and has a spicy kick to it too. We also tried a number of wines, including from India, which were all divine. Definitely ask the staff for their recommendations when you’re there.<br/><br/>Overall, ISH surpassed all my expectations and it has definitely introduced a new style of Indian food to Melbourne. I would highly recommend checking it out to experience a new and innovative way of Indian cuisine.

I had the pleasure of being invited to a blogger table to try a variety of dishes at ISH ... a very modern contemporary take on Indian cuisine located not too far from the Smith Street end of Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. The decor was sleek and downstairs with soft lighting and with a well stocked bar and wine selections as you headed up to the quieter upstairs of this venue. <br/><br/>We started the evening off with a delightful cocktail with spherical ice and a spice kick on every sweet sip. Throughout the evening we were treated to wine that matched the 4 courses that made up the chef’s menu and I even got to try a unique but nicely crisp Verdelho from north of Calcutta. I never even imagined wine from this region but it certainly impressed.<br/><br/>Our first of four courses gave us a variety of tasters. I loved the South Indian spiced duck pate served with a cardomom ghee naan. The samba cous cous arancini worked a treat also and left us wanting more of these great tastes. <br/><br/>The next round had two standout favourites for me. The tandoori lamb cutlets were sizeable and spicy along with a good amount of char from the grill. I also loved the tempura eggplant which was a killer vegetarian dish. I love eggplant so much when it’s cooked well like this. <br/><br/>The next round of courses included the deeply spicy kera crusted spanish mackerel which was quite full flavoured and a lovely dense fish. The star of this round however, and perhaps the whole meal for me was the Moilee curry pour over that went with the seared king mushroom dish. Mushrooms I can generally give take but I was taking in this instance and that curry sauce was worth bottling. <br/><br/>Our sweet course showcased a fabulous chai ice cream with masala puffs and a honey sultana compote and additionally a purple carrot halwa dessert. Very sweet and a most divine way to end the night.<br/><br/>Definitely recommend a visit some time soon to try this exciting twist on Indian cuisine. Thanks so much for having us in.

Indian food with a twist is the vibe at Ish, a contemporary and moderately priced restaurant on Gertrude Street. The branding and design is clean, consistent and refined without being stark. It offers touches of playfulness and luxury without being over the top. The menu is the same.<br/><br/>It includes both local and Indian wines (trust me, try one) as well as cocktails such as a spiced vodka and rhubarb creation. The food options are about half vegetarian/vegan if not slightly more, although the menu isn't marked so you'll have to know or ask.<br/><br/>To start, I tried the cous cous arancini which were a welcome alternative to traditional ones as well as the delicious eggplant tempura topped with chonka. Next was broccoli with black rice and a creamy puree and sweet, roasted carrots. The dishes celebrated the produce rather than hiding it. I could've eaten either on their own as a meal. But there were too many other good things to try.<br/><br/>The seafood-inspired king Oster mushrooms and rich, yellow curry scooped up with black garlic naan and rice really stole the show. Flavour and presentation were spot on. I also managed to fit in a few bites of halwa (wholesome and not too sweet) and chai gelato (more decadent but also not too heavy after the meal). The ice cream cake with a bit of spice, providing a heavenly contrast and perhaps digestive aid.<br/><br/>For an untraditional taste of India in a sleek setting, I can't recommend Ish enough.

This place isn't what you expect 'ISH' its nothing to say its Indian. Its well styled and classy with a great bar and lighting. This is my kinda place. The staff here are so knowledgeable they know the menu and all the ingredients in every dish. The menu was very Contemporary Indian and the menu was unique. I applaud the owner for bringing something new to Melbourne. We needed a contemporary Indian place like 'ISH'. The menu read well and delivered even better. It's definelty fine dining with a good selection of matching wines. Overall great night with a great selection of dishes well prepared. We cannot wait to try other dishes on the menu. Keep it up ISH... **Disclaimer: although the restaurant has generously invited me to their restaurant this review is still based on my genuine opinion.

We went here for a birthday dinner and really enjoyed it. The staff were really attentive and friendly and provided me with a surprise birthday treat which was lovely. We also loved the ambience. Will definitely be back!

4.5/5 Contemporary Indian is hard to come by in Melbourne, but ISH hopes to fill that void with style. Opening late 2018, ISH boasts a sleek and dark interior and an enticing menu. You might begin with the almost bite-sized Sambar Arancini with tempered coconut and tomato relish, or the crunchy Amritsari tempura prawns with daikon salad, mint and yoghurt chutney.

We were invited to Ish last night a wildly impressive contemporary Indian-ish restaurant. I loved the modern and stylish interior and the warm ambiance and impeccable service. We began with cocktails the chai-ish fizz and the vespas kiss. I’d definitely recommend trying the signature cocktails as they are well considered and carefully constructed creations. <br/><br/>The menu is concise and cleverly ordered by size. We ordered two items from peckish and two from famished with the obligatory sides of rice and naan. Our peckish dishes were the free range chicken tikka and the Amritsari tempura prawns. The chicken was tender and well marinated, the prawns were flavourful encased in a perfectly delicate crispy batter. We were applauding ourselves on our ordering skills! <br/><br/>Mains we had the butter chicken which was the classic Indian dish with a thoroughly modern plating which took us on a real culinary journey. It was creamy it was sweet but it had a lingering kick and was really well balanced overall. The second dish for me was my favourite the slow cooked grass fed Victorian beef curry. It was a generous serve and topped with the most deliciously flaky malabari parantha. Absolutely exceptional! <br/><br/>Dessert wise we tried the chai gelato with masala puffs and honey raisin compote and the deconstructed chocolate mess. Both sweet dishes incorporating traditional Indian flavours. The chocolate dish came with a sauce to pour and had plenty of different textures throughout ensuring a different taste with every mouthful. A phenomenal evening indeed look out Tonka

We had a great experience at ISH. The decor is modern and cosy. We did the 4 course chef’s selection and enjoyed all of it. The lamb cutlet’s were particularly good. The service was amazing as was the wine! Will definitely be back.

Went here with a group of 10. Beautiful food, attentive service and great ambience. The beef dish was particularly amazing! Would definitely recommend it. Ensure you share dishes to get good variety.

An interesting take on modern Indian cuisine and the only place I’ve ever been to where the waiter tried to ensure I knew what I was ordering by suggesting the Carolina Reaper chilli was as hot on the way in as it was on the way out. Well, I gave it a go... he also suggested the raita though. Good move. <br/><br/>Ish sticks to the tried and true formula of small, medium and large dishes. However, the tacos was in the medium section but it was pretty damn small. Tasty yes... but $8 per bite... the pork dish being in the middle section was about the same size as the one we ordered from the big section.<br/><br/>The food was served in the order of increasing spiciness; very sensible. After the pork dish one couldn’t really taste much. My lasting memory of the evening was that Carolina Reaper was a taste I associated with American dishes. I couldn’t help but keep thinking that the pork was an Indian take on a super hot pulled pork dish I’d have from the good ol US of A.<br/><br/>The serving sizes of the sides were generous, for two, one rice or one naan is enough. Definitely not both. <br/><br/>Tbh, despite thinking it was a little on the expensive side (bill came to $135, only 30 on alcohol) I would probably give it another go; if only to be entertained by the waiters. I’d eat the Carolina reaper chilli pork again and leaving enough room to mop it up with the naan.

We came here for dinner for my husband’s birthday and the staff were unbelievablely friendly. The interior is warm and ambient and the vibe was really nice. More importantly the food was excellent with a unique and interesting take on traditional dishes without straying too far. Definitely one of the best Indian places I’ve been in Melbourne. Highly recommend coming here for dinner !

Refined Indian cuisine with modern and sleek decor and attentive service. Between two we shared the arrancini, the lamb cutlets, the butter chicken, the wilted kale and spinach, the turmeric cauliflower and the garlic naan. I enjoyed everything but the lamb cutlets and the butter chicken were major standouts.

Absolutely delightful restaurant. Food was just amazing. A really well curated menu of Indian fusion dishes and everything that we tried just kept getting better and better. Great service and a great collection of wines and spirits as well. <br/><br/>The only con for me if I had to pick one was that the seats are slightly cramped. <br/><br/>You must try the Chocolate mess! It was the highlight of our night and really rounded off the meal very nicely. <br/><br/>Will definitely be coming here again to try all the other items on the menu.

Despite the name of the venue, there is no beating around the bush when it comes to serving up modern(ish) Indian cuisine here. Owner-operator Ganeev Bains is brave, opening up his first venue in the foodie capital of Australia. But with his rich knowledge and network within the Melbourne food scene, along with his experience running venues in India, his success won’t be a roll of the dice.

An upmarket Indian and a very new and welcome addition in this space. Designed around share plates, the food generally is good. A limited menu. Some dishes super hot and others mild. It would be a good idea if they explained this and were able to let you choose the chilli level.