Darshana’s Curry and Tea House

When it comes to ethnic food, I’m a bit more for the «traditional» experience. I don’t care if I’m eating in a mud hut, if the food is awesome and the people are interested and engaged in serving me, I’m a happy camper.
Sadly, this is no longer Darshana’s. Several years ago, it was a much nicer restaurant, and we enjoyed going down there for some dining-​out Indian food as opposed to our usual take-​aways. Recently, we treated a friend of mine and his wife to dinner there to celebrate their engagement and from that experience I think we’ve all given up on the place.
If you’re looking for something with unassuming, and non-​threatening food, with Bollywood on TV everywhere you look that’s a bit overpriced then look no further. But if you expect a Vindaloo to actual have heat in it, and your Lassi to actually contain fruit and spices (as opposed to that awful milkshake pump syrup stuff) you might want to look some place else.
It’s disappointing, as we really used to enjoy having a meal there but it appears to have tanked. It’s a shame.

I have never been disappointed when walking out after a meal at this restaurant. Their Sri Lankan dishes are very very good. Very genuine dishes.

Average service. 25 mins wait for our food on a very quiet night is really not good enough. No communication. Food is over priced an lacks proper spice/​heat. Tasty food but nothing special. There are much better options, just not on a Monday night.

Here on holiday and it was the only Sri Lankan place we could find in all of Adelaide! We called at 30min to closing time on a public holiday, and they stayed open for us!
What appealed most to us were the Sunday options (it was New Years’ Day and would be closed), but there were buffets AND thalis! My foster dad’s fave masala thosay was available!
Overall, good food, excellent service. If I lived in Adelaide, I’d come back.

09/​01/​2012 Photos
I had no idea what to expect from this Indian restaurant when I walked in for the first time… and to fully disclose: I was delighted!
Upon walking in, I was instantly wrapped up by the warmth of being inside this place — My senses were on full overload as I tried to take everything in. I thought to myself, «This feels like a pretty decent restaurant!» Plenty of tables, spare seats, and walking space with a very convenient location right off the Mawson Lakes Boulevard and Car Park and ATMs.
It doesn’t matter if you are just ordering takeaway or having a sit-​down dinner with your best friend, the entire space felt comfortable and cozy… in the «hmm…I could totally take my time inside here» way. It would be a great date spot too, or just somewhere to catch up and spend some quality time with someone that’s close to you.
They provide ample seats if you are waiting for your takeaway, and the orange colours made the room feel very… let’s say, welcoming and calming.
And then there was the food. I will never forget how delicious their Butter Chicken tasted on my first visit and consequential visits. I’m going to risk it and say their butter chicken and waitress service is arguably the best I’ve experienced in all of Adelaide. I was loving how perfect they combined the chicken, sauce and spices. If anyone begs to differ, please send me the address of a place that can better these guys in terms of the food quality.
You will not leave this place hungry because your belly will be full. Their white rice is yummy too.
I’ve come back several times here. They’re that good, and they’re so close to my house (and heart, and stomach?).
To conclude — the food, the really cute waitresses (I couldn’t help myself but notice how pretty they were), smiley and friendly service, the warm atmosphere (perfect for a cold evening), and the owner were all top notch… the only thing missing was a bit of KS after dessert! ;)

From the outside you can see that this place has a real Indian feel about it. I’ve never been to India, but if I had this is how I would imagine it would feel. The colours and the décor are just right, and they create an atmosphere that would take you back to Mumbai… if you’d ever been there… which I haven’t…
The point I’m trying to make is that Darshanas goes out of its way to provide you with an Indian experience you’ll never forget. Even the dishes your food is served in are traditional Indian fare. I’m not sure an Indian experience could get any closer than this.
So that’s the atmosphere, what about the food?
The food itself is OK. I found my beef dish to be a little fatty. While the sauces were amazing, the fattiness of the beef really let the meal down. I always appreciate a good korma, and this was a damn good korma. The meals were served in a timely manner and I couldn’t fault their waiting staff who were always on hand to provide any assistance if needed.
As this restaurant is located in Mawson Lakes, as you would expect it is a bit pricey. Is the food worth the cost? It’s arguable, especially considering the variety of eateries along the lakeside. I suppose if you feel like Indian it might be worth a try. My feelings are a bit mixed. It’s on my «maybe I’ll give it another go one day» list, so maybe I’ll give it another go one day…
Maybe one day I’ll also go to India to see first hand just how atmospheric this restaurant really is.

I’ve had a couple of meals here before, and I don’t mind the place. I can see the attraction for the large number of uni-​student-​looking folk here, because the location is pretty handy for students, and although there are a few places to eat around here, not many of them are as tasty as this place.
I’ll be honest and say that I’m not very adventurous when it comes to restaurants that I’m not a regular at, so both the times I’ve eaten here, I’ve had the butter chicken. If it wasn’t any good, I wouldn’t have come back the second time. Honestly, it was a pretty decent experience.
I thought the service was alright. I wasn’t amazed with the attentiveness to detail, conversation and efficiency, but I’ve seen much, much worse. I’ll probably be going again soon.

One of the great things about working at the UniSA campus at Mawson Lakes is the variety of lunch options available in the main shopping area, just a few minutes walk from campus. There isn’t a food court, but a dozen or so cafes and restaurants and most of them do a quick lunch option.
Yesterday was cold and the thought of a warm curry and rice was too good to walk past.
The restaurant could seat 80-​odd people and had a few large work groups enjoying the buffet. What caught my eye was the quick lunch for $ 7.90 with your choice of curry. I chose ‘lamb’ but there was also chicken, beef and a few others. It was served in one of those cute white boxes with wooden fork and a pappadum in a bag. There was more rice than I could eat, but also a generous serving of meat. The title ‘lamb curry’ was fairly general, but I’d liken it most to a mild rogan josh.
The owner was one of those unique people who obviously enjoys his work with a key focus of offering a tasty meal served with a smile. It took about eight minutes to cook and I was offered a drink and seat while I waited.
Despite Mawson Lakes being open less than 10 years, the restaurant has a dated feel which actually adds to its appeal. Lots of kitsch Indian trinkets, (read jewelled elephants) and a miss-​mash of spirits scattered about the bar.
I’ll definitely be going back to try another dish the next time the temp. drops below 20.
I might even try the lunch buffet advertised in the window, «$ 12.50 for two courses includes a can of coke, dine-​in, takeaway or delivery.»
Delivery is $ 4, within 5kms of restaurant. Minimum spend, $ 40.