Shihara's Indian Restaurant

Ordered from here on menu log the other night and was pleasantly surprised. Got the Chicken Jafrezi and the Lamb Korma. Both were delicious and combined with the rice and some naan bread served as a very heart meal on a cold Thursday night.
Delivery was in time and the driver courteous. A solid recommendation.

We ordered takeaway from here last Saturday night we have the family pack defiantly great value for money! I had the butter chicken it was good was a bit sweet for my liking next time I might ask for it a bit spicer, but for someone who doesn't like spicy butter chicken this would defiantly be the winner in the area. It also came with the rogan josh which was really good too! But their naan bread BEST naan bread I've ever had it was so fresh and soft I honestly can't wait to to order from there again. There service was good food was ready really quickly. Considering how many indian places are around this area we have tried them all and this place defiantly wins was very impressed will defiantly be back!

Everything about this restaurant in perfect! The food is freshly cooked and the Naan bread is very large - Favorite dish is Eggplant or Pumpkin Masala. The staff are friendly and speedy service. The manager and his staff joked with us and treated us like their extended family. I would recommend this restaurant for dine-in, take away and delivery. This is our 4th yine returning. Needs to be included in Eatnow app please

Given the choice for Indian cuisine close by and the amount of them that have not lasted and are a distant memory - the benchmark for local Indian has been set very high. Now I would like to preface this by mentioning that we dined here on opening night. I was very excited to see when they were setting up the tables In the days prior - that the linen packaging had the name Shavan's which made me less apprehensive of what to expect. So in reviewing Shiharas, I will base my score only on the food and not the on the service. We understood that being the very first night - teething issues were to be expected. As they were inundated with a lot of takeaway orders - including listening to a bogan female customer whinge about why it was taking so long after placing her order 5 mins earlier - oversights such as forgetting water for the table and the air conditioning at gale force before asking them to turn it down. The staff seem to be all family and eager to please but just not prepared for the influx. Whilst the main staple of Indian butter chicken is there - the rest of the menu contains some unusual dishes that force you to look outside the box of the norm. The butter chicken was as good as any and enjoyed by my dinner partner I enjoyed a beef dish with spinach and plan rice with some nann. Whilst I hoped it was a close facsimile to saag it came out completely different. I suddenly have a new fav dish - tasty tender with a bit of kick. The rice was perfect and the nann didn't disappoint. The future looks positive for this little local and I hope they are here for the long haul but maybe give them a little time to get their service mojo going. I intend to revisit this review once they have had time to settle in.
---Update---
We went back a few days later and amazing what a few days under the belt will do. The service was quick, attentive and without fault (apart from the whinging pom woman behind us who whined that they ordered before us and there meal came out 30 seconds later - 3rd world problems lady). The butter chicken even better than the last time and this time we fell in love with the Lamb Haryali. Found out more about the links with my other fav Pakenham Indian and am quite happy that while this place is undiscovered now - it won't be for long. What was an abandoned charcoal chicken shop 6 months ago has become a family affair where what comes out on the plate is cooked with skill, passion and a love that has impressed me no end. Currently only BYO - I imagine this place will only get busier once the word gets out and you have to make reservations.
--Update--
This place has very quickly endeared itself to me and has become my "go-to" for Indian in Pakenham. Every time I walk in the door - it's like walking into Cheers - everybody knows your name. The food is consistently good - the service impeccable. The thing that surprises me is that this place is not packed out more often with diners. Heaps of take away but there is something to be said about the quality of the food as it comes fresh out of the kitchen. If the minister for finance and ethnic affairs allowed me - I would be here every week. Discover this little gem if you want a "walk up without a reservation for 4" as its too good not to share.