Really good and authentic Malaysian style south India banana leaf curry rice. They provide a few rounds of refill on rice and the vege. Staffs are friendly attentive and great hospitality. Go along with a few delicious side dishes and make a heavenly meal. I drove the way from the east side of town and the trip is well worth it. Highly recommended.
Great staff. All you can eat banana leaf is a must try
food is always very tasty and not spicy at all [i don't like spicy food], customer service is great, very kind and caring people tho, restaurant is clean, buffet is always hot and ready to eat, and mainly its fells like 'home made' food
food is always very tasty and customer service is great, very kind and caring people too,
restaurant is clean, food is always hot and ready to eat,
and mainly its fells like 'home made' food.
I had banana leaf rice, which was tasty overall. However, some of the okra in the vegetable curry was very undercooked and it was very hard to chew.
The Chicken 65 was also somewhat tasty, although it could have been spicier. The bamboo egg biryani and squid sambal were both the highlights for me, as the biryani was nicely spiced/seasoned and the squid sambal was quite spicy and well cooked.
Unfortunately, the service was really bad, especially as it was getting busy, resulting in us not being able to order dessert. This probably happened because of understaffing, I saw only 3 restaurant people coming into the restaurant, so it makes sense that they would not be able to provide good service.
Shrikaavya Karthikeyan
+4
I loved their Ilai saapadu and bamboo veg biriyani we ordered last afternoon. It was nothing short of deliciousness with a homely touch. Bitter gourd, Brinjal and cabbage vegetables were absolutely tasty and hence, it is a must try on the ilai saapadu whenever you visit this restaurant. Thank you Shiv Prashad for taking us to this hidden gem in the city!
Lovely butter chicken curry on banana leaf with rice ,fried fish ,
yummy ššš¶ ā¤ļø
Spice Av @ Port Melbourne new website: https://spiceav.business.site/
Spice Av @ Port Melbourne.
Jeevan Jaisinha Elamaran
+5
A nice conducive environment with a perfect ambience. Kudos to the super friendly owner and staffs for their impeccable service. Truly enjoyed my dining experience at Spice Av.
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To this day I still canāt believe how oblivious Iāve been to its existence until coming across Hello. Imnikkiās review!
Feeling a little homesick, the mere mention of Banana Leaf Rice and Bamboo Briyani incited a great deal of excitement so it was no surprise that I agreed straight away when she suggested catching up over dinner here together with our partners.
At 6pm, it seemed like we were the first customers of the evening. Speaking to Joe as we placed our orders, we discovered that he hails from Malaysia and runs this place with his wife. He comes across as a very personable individual with a good sense of humour.
It was amusing how he cheekily ignored my request for a cold Teh Tarik, giving me a hot one instead. Well, it was a good call. God knows what I was thinking ordering a cold one in the middle of winter. Lol!
Too tempting to leave for another day, my partner and I went straight for the Banana Leaf Rice. With a couple of banana leaves first laid out in front of us, Joe then came around with some rice, followed by a trio of vegetables (this varies from time to time) and finally three different curry sauces ladled onto the rice topped with a pappadum.
We decided to further complete it by adding on some sides of Goat Varuval, Goat Pirattal and Squid Sambal. Distinctively different yet equally tender, both the goat dishes were enjoyable in its own form with the Goat Pirattal being my favourite out of the two. It is a shame that the same cannot be said for the squid as it was a little too sweet and lacking some form of punchiness.
Nikki got the Mutton Nasi Lemak this time and after having a taste of it, I hardly found anything about to fault about it. Her partnerās Beef Claypot Rice came
with a tinge of smokiness and that yummy bit of crusty rice at the bottom that all true claypot rice lovers would fight over.
While it was a sweet ending with some Kuih Dadar compliments of Joe, a special appreciation goes out to Nikki and her partner for buying us dinner that night. Sneaky as they were in paying the bill without our knowledge, itās definitely our turn to shout the next time we catch up!
My Family & Friends recently celebrated Motherās Day in Spice Avenue. The Management and Staff were very attentive, friendly and went out of their way to make it a great night for all of us. The food was absolutely delicious as most of us either had the banana leaf rice or the Bamboo Biryani and it was finger licking good. Keep up the Good Work Team Spice Avenue!!!
Always delicious and consistent on their banana leaf rice.
I had them with the fish head curry today.
BIG SHOUTOUT to the owner for such an exceptional food & fixed my Malaysian food craving.
I have been there twice and both times have had wonderful and tasty food. The owner is Lovely. They also have couple of amazing beers on tap.
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4.5
How did I not know this place existed? Serving up Malaysian mamak-style food, Spice Av brings back all the feels! Correct me if I'm wrong but Spice Av may just be the only place in Melbourne that serves banana leaf rice and bamboo biryani.
As soon as the bamboo chicken biryani came spilling out from the bamboo tube, I was salivating. The distinct grains of rice were deliciously spiced, with a touch of smokiness to it from being steamed in the bamboo tube. The chunks of chicken were succulent and moist, also having absorbed the piquant flavours of the spices.
One signature dish down, one more to go. When the banana leaf was laid in front of me, I knew this was going to be good, and authentic to boot. Fragrant rice drenched in dahl, and accompanied by pickled veg and cucumber raita. Almost, just almost, as impressive as the bamboo biryani. What did rival the biryani though was the goat varuval. Deep bold flavours, and a good majority of them were incredibly tender.
We were so full after the meal that I was unsure how I was going to finish the apam balik but I guess I need not worry. Soft and fluffy, with crisped edges and stuffed with sugary and buttery peanut and sweet corn filling - I had no problem scoffing this down.
The casual and unpretentious service and vibe adds to the experience. I'm a big supporter of family-run business, and Spice Av has found a fan in me.
Will come back for:
+ Teh Tarik
+ Potato Curry Puff
+ Bamboo Goat Biryani
This local gem serves affordable Malaysian street food that may be small in price but big in flavour. The teh tarik was frothy, nicely spiced and pretty satisfying. The potato puffs were fluffy inside, and super crunchy outside. And the bamboo goat briyani rice was the highlight of the night by far; smokey, the goat meat tender and the rice fragrant and moorish. We also had the banana leaf rice (and a serve of their sambal squid) which was good (but shaded by the biryani) and the appam which was a combination of tanginess and sweet and savoury. The place was full of Malaysians and Indonesians, so that speaks to the authenticity of the dishes here. Service was friendly and the atmosphere laid back. Will definitely be back to try out some of the other dishes.
A new Malaysia restaurant that provides a good option to the small number of Asian cuisines available in the area.
We had the curry beef puffs which were delicious, the Bambi chicken biriyani that was different from other biriyanis Iāve had however still decent. The Roti canai and dips were tasty however I wasnāt a fan of the chilli samba squid . Probably mostly due to the intense chilli and me not being a massive fan of sambal.
Thereās an extensive menu with other items I would definitely love to try!
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Never would I envision such an authentic Malaysian-Indian establishment in Port Melbourne of all places. With that curiosity, we drove close to about 45 minutes just to check it out. Unlike similar themed eateries out in the East, this place is resonates order and comfort.Ā
Getting down to business, we ordered the banana leaf rice + fried chicken and fried squid and the bamboo goat biryani. Both came with their fair share of theatrics. For those who are familiar with South Indian cuisine in Malaysia, when you order banana leaf rice, they bring out a large banana leaf as your plate. Then comes the rice followed by a mix of condiments, often veggies, lentils and sauce. The biryani arrived in a bamboo container and was carefully tapped out by the chef onto the plate. It was just amazing and mouth-watering seeing delicious morsel flowing out. With the show out of the way, it was time to eat and boy was it damn good! Authentic flavours, extremely moreish and amazingly satisfactory.Ā
As always only critique is the food service is not the fastest and given the location, you'll need to be mindful of the parking restrictions. You don't want to have a rushed experience when enjoying this.
Excellent banana leaf rice, have been back two days in a row and everything we ordered was yummy. A very friendly couple run the place, and it has a cosy atmosphere. Perfect for a simple night out. We will be back!!
Iāve heard about banana leaf (a rare find in Melbourne) at Spice Av for awhile now and am glad that we finally came to try it on Saturday lunch. My friend who has been here before highly recommended the bamboo briyani rice so we ordered one banana leaf and one bamboo goat briyani rice. We also ordered the Apam ( another rare find) which is like a sweet but light Indian crepe and hot Teh tarik for drinks. It was the first time we have bamboo briyani and there was a bit of theatre with the way the dish was served which was great! Both our mains are full of flavours and portion was generous too. Service was good and price is reasonable too. Spice Av is located at the top of Bay st which is the main shopping st of Port Melbourne and it has plenty of free off street parking.
This little restaurant is very busy so I recommend booking. We ordered the roti canai & banana leaf special. The banana leaf is fantastic for the price of $9.90 AND you can ask for free top ups which is amazing! The roti came out fresh & hot. I didnāt give it a full 5 star because the rice was cold. Service & food were great.
Holy moly bamboo Briyani, Batman! Yums! Loved the old school Malaysian Indian taste and service was pleasant too. The goat briyani and mutton varuval were delicious and spicy! Thank you for a great experience!
We were brought by our friend, Vincent,Ā and absolutely loved this place. Despite the thirty minute wait, the bamboo goat rice was succulent and full of flavour. To top it off, an ice tarik and a side of fried squid complements the dish.
Very delicious food- ordered the Tum Yum noodle noodle soup. Came out fast during work break. Would highly recommend. Was on main road and easy to find.
Best banana leaf rice in Melbourne! We'd been looking for some typical Malaysia-style curry and rice on banana leaves for a while and happened across this place while in the area. Awesome value and well-spice curries with the meats very juicy and evidently marinated overnight. The Teh Tarik is cheaper than other Malaysian places around Melbourne. Only downside is the very loud TV but will definitely be back!
What can I say..... wish I lived closer or you should open up another restaurant on the east side! šYummy yummy Indian food..love the rasam...banana leaf is a must have and Nescafe Tarik!
The food was excellent - spicy and authentic!! Highly recommend their banana leaf meals which are tasty and cheap!!!! Refreshing to see good food priced so well!!!!
Ordered the banana leaf rice, singapore fried mee hoon, fried squid and fried chicken. Completely blown away to the point where my family and I decided that Malaysia is found in Port Melbourne. The veggies that accompanied the banana leaf rice tasted just like the ones served at Devi's in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. The star of our meal was the fried squid as it tasted like the coating outside had salted egg yolk in it
Danny was the only staff when we went, and there were 5 tables occupied but nevertheless he gave all tables and ours equal impeccable service. Very friendly and attentive.
Very reasonably priced and generous portions.
Delicious authentic Malaysian Indian food! If you are a Malaysian you'll know what I am talking about. We will be returning very soon for sure!!
Being a local & bereft of decent Asian options in the area, Spice Av is a welcome addition to the Port Melbourne dining scene. The food is authentic, rustic Malaysian cooking & is as close as making a trip to KL! The menu is extensive and well priced as well
Great authentic food. Good service and really nice ambiance. Will definitely go again and highly recommend it, especially for those interested in Malaysian, Indian and fusion food. Absolutely worth it, great sizes and really good prices!
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Chance upon this little restaurant on Facebook and thought giving it a go on the same day. Stepped into the restaurant, and they had those disco looking lights playing in the shop. Not too sure about that. Then came the menu with words implying "pictures are for purpose of illustration".. i did started to get worried. Putting that aside.. ordered the curry rice served on a banana leaf with fried fish which was recommended on the menu and stir fried rice noodles (char kuay teow).
Nothing special on the curry rice, but the veggie sides, inked cabbage was probably my favourite. Fried fish was well seasoned and deep-fried to crispiness šš½.
Next the char kuay teow (ckt) dark, slightly charred like ones i had before. the first bite instead gave me a spicy punch, Indian style. And I literally felt in love with it. Each mouthful I had, I just wanted more š¤¤. For the taste, it was akin to the maggie goreng found at mamak shops in Malaysia. Surely a twist from the normal ckt which typically tasted savoury and slightly sweet. However, in my opinion it tasted even better than most Malaysian places and it wasn't overly oily. After tasting those two dishes, I started to imagine whether Spicy Av serves up one of the most authentic Malaysian Indian food in Melbourne. So...I will definitely be back for more at this unassuming restaurant.
Along the quieter side of Port Melbourne is this little Malaysian restaurant. Serving a wide range of Malaysian food and in particular the Banana leaf rice ! Which is hard to find in Melbourne it is serve with basmati rice, pickled vegetables and a selection of curry or Dhals you can even add on meats such as fried chicken or fish. We also had the handmade roti it was fresh and fluffy. Definitely good value for money.
Amazing ... First time ever having food on a fresh banana leaf in Melbourne. Reminded me of being back in Malaysia and enjoying my banana leaf lunch. The curry fish head was cooked fresh and had a good flavour to it. Vegetables were delicious. For a meal with three vegetables - it costs under 10 bucks. Under new management but with the same name. Definitely a go to for South Indian food
Really enjoyed all the food that I had tried at this restaurant. The banana leaf rice, fish head curry , roti canai and etc were spicy yet flavorsome. The claypot rice was good too. Great Teh Tarik at this place. Overall, pretty authentic Malaysian food serve here and definitely worth a visit .
This is Port Melbourne's best restaurant and we have eaten at many of them. The food is knock your socks off delicious, the Masala Dosa is the most amazing meal I have ever eaten. If you like fresh, wholesome and delicious Indian then check these guys out. They deliver super quickly too and the pakora's are hot and super crispy when the arrive. The people who work here are just lovely and we could recommend this restaurant more highly.
Keep up the good work guys.
Beautiful Indian Authentic and delicious .I finally got here . Can't wait to try more. Great staff great place great food . Clean welcome . Just what Port Melbourne needs .
Probably the best Indian in the area if not up there for one of the best in all of Melbourne. Food is never a let down and the service is always warm.
The way Masala Dosa in town by miles! Thanks Sarita. Do yourself a favour and drop by for the best Indian food in Melbourne and Great friendly service! A must try!
Booked a table of nine in the eleventh hour on a Sunday evening, a perfect way to wrap up the weekend with Indian that appeals to the crazy tastebuds of fussy Melburnians!! Love the cumin coated scallops and prawns, masala dosas, railway goat curry (was to die for), Kashmiri naan and the house blend masala tea! My son loves their signature butter chicken and mango lassi! A modern Indian joint like none other... Well priced, great yet quiet location, ample parking and fantastically polite and professional wait staff. Orgasmic food and casual but smart ambience, appealing and gratifying to the heart and soul. Highly recommended.
Seriously good Indian Cuisine. Been here twice and can't get enough. Highly recommended. Can't go anywhere else for Indian after eating here. You will not be disappointed!
Best Indian I've eaten!!! Prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. Has become a favorite for take away or quick mid week meal. Love the butter chicken and lamb cutlets. highly recommend
Love Love Love this place!!
Food & Service is always on point! Staff are very professional, awesome and friendly!
Highly recommend it! Best Butter Chicken EVER!!!
Have eaten here for lunch several times. The food and service is first rate. The restaurant is always clean and the staff are very attentive. Prices are very reasonable given the quality of the meals. Especially love the buttered naan bread!
The most authentic Indian I have tasted in melbourne without the expensive price tag!Ā Friendly staff who offer great service.Ā Cant wait to go back to try many other dishes on the menu!
Great family business! Service is brilliant with the lovely Sarita and the restaurant is clean and modern.
Tiffan lunch is a weekly staple with butter chicken and prawn molee and a side of rice and naan!
Perfect portions.
Definitely worth recommending šš»
Well worth the trip across town. Fabulous ambiance, great food and excellent service. I think it is the best Roti I have ever tasted. I was surprised parking wasn't an issue either. The kitchen is quite open and you can see how amazingly clean it is as well. Very professional all rounder! Can't wait to go back
What a gem of a restaurant!Ā Ā The food is delicious and the service is great. We have had lunch hereĀ quite a number of times and itĀ is alwaysĀ spot on.Ā The food portions are ample and there is something for everyone.Ā The dĆ©cor isĀ inviting andĀ weĀ love the jazz music!Ā IĀ thoroughly recommendĀ eating here!
I frequently come here for lunch and this is by far the best Indian restaurant in Port Melbourne, and in my opinion the best in the entire Melbourne region. Always fresh and delicious, with friendly and accommodating service. To top it off, they have great lunch specials at very affordable prices. I can't think of anything bad to say, really :)
Thanks Sarita for a fabulous meal, you never disappoint.
We miss you in Brighton but the short trip across town is totally worthwhile.
See you again soon, John :)
Great food, fantastic staff. I have dined in and had take away. Never a long wait for food. Quality is always consistent.
I love this place and the people ..awesome butter chicken and really great family service, thanks guys... Oh and BYO in Port Melbourne too, which is a big advantage
Ordered take away. Absolutely wonderful staff. So attentive and friendly. The food was fresh, well enjoyed. Highly recommend.
Amazing Food & Service. I have eaten at Spice Av. Several times
since they opened the food is full of flavour
and taste delicious and they have lot of
healthy options as well .
I even ate at their previous restaurant
In Brighton for many years and the quality
of food and service was really good too then
But They are very popular now
It's a must try guys
Best in Port Melbourne. I have eaten this place number of times now. The food is awesome and have great lunch options. They have done very good job balancing taste of Indian spice taste with mild Australian taste. The gravy are very rich and full of taste. My favourite is Butter Chicken.
It's great place for team lunch. In fact my whole work team went to have first lunch there and everybody loved the service and food.
As others have said... Excellent food, excellent service, very clean, and will definitely be back! Two thumbs up!
Spice Av.. Amazing food and amazing service, the butter chicken is to die for. Definitely recommend.
Spice amazing. Spice av is one of the best restruants in austraila I would defintly recommend that you give it a go. If you compare it to other spicy food its always the best. If you want a good night out go to spice av.
Excellent restaurant. My friend Barb took me to Spice Ave in January 2015. I have had dinner a few times at Spice Ave since then. I am very impressed by the outstanding service, the excellent wine list and the exquisite food. The food is actually the best in Melbourne! The restaurant atmosphere is modern and pleasant. I have also loved how clean the cutlery, plates, glasses and coffee cups have been every single time!
I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough!
Antigone
I went to Spice Av on Valentines Day for dinner with some friends. The staff were friendly & the service was spectacular. The naan bread is the best I've ever had, it's fresh, soft & fluffy. We ordered 3 main meals, lamb rogan josh, chicken tikka masala & a spinach dish, all were superb. At the end of the evening the owner introduced herself & checked we enjoyed our meal. To too off our night the staff sent us away with the valentines floral arrangements & Lindt chocolates. Ten out of ten experience
This is a top end Indian restaurant. Loved the light fluffy naan and the vegetable pakoras. Very clean. The dining room could have done with a bit more atmosphere, but overall very impressed.
La Ola Es Mia Cocina.
+4.5
Great experience.. I went here with my friend today and I must say the food was fantastic as well as the service by Sarita as she truly went above and beyond to make the whole experience even better so thank you.
The layout and design of Spice Av is very modern,stylish and welcoming environment.
Look forward to my visit back here soon.
Amazing Indian Food, Fantastic Service!. We just had dinner at Spice Av for the first time as a result of a recommendation. It totally exceeded our expectations. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. I'd have to say this is the best Indian food I've had in Melbourne (and I've been to many Indian restaurants around Melbourne). The food here is reminiscent of the fine Indian restaurants you would find in London, which until now, I hadn't experienced in Melbourne. The staff were so friendly and hospitable, especially, the owner, Sarita, who introduced herself to us. We will definitely be back.
So far I have dined at spice av thrice and have taken friends along each time we visited the experience was Awesome fantastic service excellent food thank you spice av
Don
Excellent excellent excellent !!. Cant say any more.. absolutely loved the Indian fusion food.. will be going back for sure!!
Reply to Cudo voucher comment. I am writing on behalf of Client Services at Cudo and would sincerely like to express apology to rdu_ws in this urbanspoon forum for the confusion with our feature on Spice Av.
We take particular care to feature our restaurants accurately and present their associated offers clearly. Unfortunately, on this occasion there was seeming ambiguity within the text which lead to confusion with Spice Av. staff and our valued Cudo customers.
Two of our staff at Cudo have had the personal pleasure to eat at Spice Av. and their recommendation comes without reservation with reference to Spice Av.'s, "Exceptional food, clean and light tastes and very kind service."
It is extremely important to us to support great local restaurants and to make sure our Cudo members are very well looked after.
We look forward to seeing you on our site soon !
Client Services
Cudo
A friend of mine recommended Spice Av a few weeks ago. I've either eaten in or picked up 5 times since. The food is amazing and the people are absolutely lovely. I have recommended Spice Av to many people since and everyone that has eaten food from there feels the same. Indian food is my favourite cuisine but it's so hard to find good Indian. Spice Av takes Indian food to another level. Considering the quality the food is well priced. The Prawn Molee is to die for. Thanks for a great experience every time. I'll be back!!
Tried this place after hearing many good reviews. The banana leaf rice is very good and authentic. I feel this is one of the best banana leaf rice in Melbourne. The curry is thick and flavourful.
This place is now revamped and is now under new management. We've been looking for a place for Banana Leaf rice (only thing we crave for from Malaysia!) in Melbourne for years and finally we have found this gem! Friendly staff and great food, and banana leaf from 9.90 AUD is a steal with generous portions! We will definitely be back for more and will come highly recommended among our friends. I
Had an amazing time here. The Malaysian-Indian cuisine was pretty authentic and I have to recommend the Banana Leaf Rice.
The curries were on-point with just the right level of spiciness, and the Lamb Pirattal was also very satisfying.
Price was also reasonable and we'll definitely visit again.
Food is amazing. The banana leaf and briyani rice the highlight for me. Ordered the fish curry and that was tasty too. The only thing is the long wait for food, had to wait an hour for our food to arrive. This is the third time weāve been there and every time we were there the food service is always a little slow. Luckily the food is worth the wait. Will be back
This place now serves Malaysian style food. Spacious and good ambience. Food is delicious. Try the Banana Leaf Rice which is served on a banana leaf replacing the dish. You can have it on its own (3 vegetarian sides) or add on additional meat dishes. Best eaten with your hands, itself an experience to savour.
Loved the food and their service. Food was fresh and tasty. Service was prompt and staffs were friendly. One of the best Malaysian-Indian food.
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