THE much loved Asian Noodle Cafe on Garema Place is now singing with the choir invisible. In its stripped out place is the “Sweet and Spicy Zone” promising “Indian Street Food”.

Entering just after noon it was almost entirely empty. After standing for a moment I approach the guy at the counter, who after some conference with another staff member asked me if I wanted the “thali”. In my glance at the menu it had stood out as an option so I said yes.

He then asked if I wanted a drink. Looking in the fridge over his soldier I ventured I wouldn’t mind a coke.

He suggested that their speciality was a “mango and yoghurt drink” which looked a lot like a lassi. Being open to trying things when in new places I agreed to give it ago.

I sat down and waited.

Waited and waited.

20 minutes passed in the mostly empty restaurant when a waitress in a headdress brought over my thali plate (pictured above).

She asked if I’d like a drink. I said I’d already paid for a mango drink. She asked if I’d like some water. I said I’d like to get the drink I’d paid for.

She scurried away, and returned a moment later with a bottle of water and a glass.

At long last I turned my attention to the food.

The three vegetable curries were all lovely, if not particularly hot. The bread was delicious with them. The raita was light and tasty, the lime pickle was near perfect.

The rice was a delightful meal in its own right. Full of seeds and nuts and sultanas.

For $13.95 it’s a very competitive effort in the Garema Place lunch market.

Hopefully they’ll iron out their kinks. I never did get my lassi.

[This article is the part of a series on cheap lunches to be found in and around the city. If you have any suggestions leave them in the comments or email them to john@citynews.com.au . The complete series can be found on our cheap lunches tag]