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Canberra Today 14°/17° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Dining / By the lake and on a roll

INDIAN has to be one of the most exotic foods in the world, so it’s no surprise that more and more restaurants specialising in this intriguing cuisine are popping up around Canberra.

Wendy Johnson
Wendy Johnson.

That includes 7 by the Lake at Kingston Foreshore.

The restaurant has settled in now, after a few months of trading and, if my first visit was anything to go by, it’s on a roll.

The dining room is spacious, with a massive gold and ochre motif on one wall, meant to represent “the waves” of Lake Burley Griffin. It’s a formal decor with warm colours that glow at night. Intricate silver inlay features on dark-brown chairs and the ornate stone water fountain is a special touch.

The “7” in the restaurant’s name represents the seven regions represented in the dishes served – from Goa to Maharashtra. This involves different ingredients as well as food preparation styles, cooking techniques and presentation, all spearheaded in the kitchen by chef Ramesh Gould.

The Chicken Chettinad, from the region of the same name, was wonderful, featuring roasted dry coconut and a secret combination of spices such as star anise and fennel seeds ($23.90).

We worshipped the vindaloo, a specialty of Goa, which you can order with chicken, lamb or beef. Each dish involves cooking the meat in vinegar, garlic, red chilli and an onion-based gravy that has incredible depth of flavour. You’ve gotta luv a bit of heat to luv these vindaloos ($23.90 to $25.90).

The meats the restaurant uses are premium cuts, including the three mains featuring goat ($25.90), marinated cutlets slow cooked and tossed in special spices; a spicy goat curry and a more aromatic and mild curry.

If you’re a fan of daal, which we all are, you can opt for the dish combining black daal and red kidney beans or the yellow lentil variety. This was our choice and it was stunning. The lentils are pressure cooked and tempered with garlic, mustard, cumin seeds, curry leaves and whole red chilli ($18.90). The chopped coriander added colour and freshness to the dish. It’s a super option for vegetarians who are well looked after with 10 dishes on the menu ($18.90 to $23.90).

Other intriguing dishes include the Chicken Lollypop, a marinated chicken winglet, deep fried and served with Szechuan sauce that makes your lips tingle. Fish lovers can order the spiced lemony snapper or crunchy, crispy prawns (a popular Mumbai dish) or a fish fry (chef’s special). Breads include Puran Poli, a Maharashtrian delicacy of sweet bread stuffed with gram daal and cane sugar and infused with cardamom and nutmeg.

7 by the Lake. 143/41 Eastlake Parade, Kingston Foreshore. Call 6140 7040. BYO. Open lunch and dinner (days vary), but closed Tuesdays. Takeaway available.

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Wendy Johnson

Wendy Johnson

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