BEYOND TASTEFUL: BEYOND INDIA
High quality, delicious, sustainable Indian food is hard to find in the City of Churches. Indian people first arrived in Adelaide during the second half of the 20th century and the first Indian restaurants opened in the late 1970s. They range across the seashores of North Haven to the cool air of Stirling; but the very best restaurants are reserved for the bustling streets of Adelaide’s CBD. Of these, one eatery rises above all: Beyond India. This hidden gem combines the comforts of Indian take-away with the grand buffets served at weddings.
Located on O’Connell Street, in the heart of North Adelaide, Beyond India draws attention on a street full of restaurants: a tribute to its success. Inside the grand façade lies a fusion of Indian delicacies and Australian flavour bombs, designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience. In addition to their food providing an exciting array of flavours and textures, they source their ingredients in an ethical and sustainable manner, supporting our beloved South Australian producers.
When Raj Singh purchased this location in the 1980s, he came with the confidence from having been the head of the royal kitchen in Brunei, hand-picked by Hassanal Bolikiah (The Sultan) from a pool of over 20,000 chefs.
As you know, India is a vast country with hundreds of different regions, each with its own cuisine. To ensure customers get the full Indian experience, Raj has “selected three chefs from each sub-region. This means our menu can include dishes like Dosa, from the southern shores of India, and Haryali tikka, from the Himalayas, bordering Nepal. Every chef we employ at Beyond India has at least 6 years’ experience and I personally run an annual three-month course to prepare them for the world class kitchen we use to prepare a range of authentic dishes, to give our customers a uniquely Indian experience,” says Raj.
For the almost half a century, Raj himself has cooked in the kitchen every day. He still selects the menu and coaches his chefs. “Five out of our seven original chefs still prepare the food with passion every day, out on O’Connell Street,” says Raj. The history and experience in the kitchen are evident when you try the food.
On entering the venue, customers are surrounded by Indian statues and music, which, in conjunction with the aroma of the food, create an experience which, for me, was comparable to enjoying a banquet at the Red Fort, overlooking the Taj Mahal. “The statues were bought from Indian custom stone workers. It took over five years to furnish the interior,” Raj explains. Those five years were worth the trouble. From the moment of arrival, I truly felt like I was back in my home country of India: not in the heart of Adelaide.
The restaurant may seem dauntingly large on first inspection, but all 150 seats are regularly booked out months in advance. A word of warning when booking; stay away from the sliding doors that open incessantly, as the constant uber eats orders fly out of the restaurant.
On being asked about his vision for the future, Raj explains, “we will soon introduce another suburban venue and more food trucks”. So, stay tuned: a Beyond India food truck could soon be just around the corner from you. Raj is also currently working to develop a single app where you can book a table, order takeaway and organise catering. Obviously, the website will have a gallery to flaunt their extensive menu. Currently, most of their customers come from word of mouth. “Advertising is something we’ve never really focused on; people knew where we were, and they came,” comments Raj.
Beyond India has nailed the diverse, exquisite flavours of Indian food, whilst applying their own modern twist. Raj explains his initial difficulty with adapting his recipes to satisfy the Adelaide market, “Initially, people kept saying my food was too spicy. I told them the Sultan of Brunei liked it spicy!”. Thus, in the early years of his restaurant, he would give feedback slips to each table to ensure he pleased his customers.
Fifteen minutes after ordering, three waitresses present an unforgettable feast. The chicken tikka is wrapped in lettuce leaf and dipped into coriander chutney to bring out the immense flavours. Steam rises from the warm curry: heat which contrasts with the cool winter breeze outside. Tradition dictates to ditch the knife and fork and dip the fluffy garlic naan reverently into the chicken korma by hand, immediately blessing one's mouth with a thousand flavours. For the perfect ending to an amazing meal, ask the chefs to present you with their choice of dessert. The warmth of a Gulab jamun at the end of a meal soothes the very soul. However, if you're feeling lazy, why not let Beyond India deliver food to your doorstep? Choose from a selection of takeaway packs like the naan and curry combo for comfort or one of their party platters for guests. Beyond India is truly leading the Adelaide Indian restaurant market with their exquisite food.
When asked about where he sources his ingredients, Raj said, “we source our spices every month directly from a supplier in India. This ensures the spices are fresh and the flavours are true. All the meats, poultry and vegetables are sourced from local South Australian businesses. Not only is Raj an excellent restaurateur, he is an environmentally considerate man.
Beyond India on O’Connell Street, in the heart of Adelaide, is an exceptional restaurant that provides quality food and service, in an environmentally friendly way. The superb food was matched by the authentic ambience of the restaurant, which resembles the aching, ancient beauty of an Indian palace. This restaurant is also one of the only restaurants in Adelaide with nearly a positive carbon footprint. Trust me, you will not regret eating a meal with your friends or loved ones at Beyond India. In fact, I wholeheartedly encourage all of Adelaide's citizens to try out this gem of a restaurant.
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Beyond India
170 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
Phone number: 8267 3820
Mon-Thu 12-3pm, Thu-Sun 5:30-late
