There are a lot of Indian restaurants out there that serve dishes that we’re all familiar with, mainly because customers order what they like and are accustomed to. Dera are one of the few Indian restaurants to serve classical western favourites as well as a selection of not so familiar authentic curries. This place prides itself on using fresh quality ingredients and locally sourced produce. Everything on their menu is made from scratch, and all of the flavours within their curries are retained but presented with a modern twist.

The establishment takes up two stores, with a small take away area on one side and the main restaurant on the other. The decor is modern and well presented with prominent use of blacks and browns, and the odd splash of traditional colours. Set in a unique corner within the shopping complex, there is an abundance of natural light coming from three different directions. With dim lighting and tradition music playing in the background, the ambience is somewhat cosy and relaxed.

The first of the entrees were the Samosas. Coming in a serve of two, they’re quite a decent size and could be a meal in themselves. The pastry is consistently thin and fried to a nice golden brown. The filling consists of lightly spiced potato filled turnovers which are soft and delicate. Accompanying the samosas is a tamarind chutney which makes the dish well balanced.

The next entree is the Naan Dip which comes with the Dera special secret sauce. The naan bread is cut into eight individual slices and then grilled until crisp. The secret sauce is tomato based and is rich and creamy. The sauce is tasty and surprisingly addictive, and it was something I could snack on all night.

For mains, I ordered their specialty, the Chicken Chettinad with Steamed Rice and Spinach and Cheese Naan. There were also two accompaniments, the Cucumber Raita and Mango Chutney.

The Chicken Chettinad is a South Indian curry well known for it’s heat. A generous proportion of chicken thigh fillets have been slowly cooked until all the spices are heavily infused into the meat. The chicken is soft and delicate and simply falls apart. The onion based curry sauce is thick and creamy, and the shredded coconut is clearly visible. The flavours start off subtle and end with a spicy after burn. A curry that was unknown to me until tonight, it’s an experience not to be missed.

The Spinach and Cheese Naan bread is once again cut into eight individual slices. The bread is consistently thin, and there are generous amounts of cheese and spinach wedged between the dough. Cooked to a nice golden brown, it was a perfect accompaniment to the curry.

The Steamed Rice was also well cooked with nice individual grains. The bowl that it comes in is deceptively large and there’s certainly enough rice to feed two people. The Cucumber Raita was nice and refreshing, while the Mango Chutney was deliciously sweet and spicy.

For dessert, I had the Icy Jamun. The Jamun is notoriously sweet ball of sugary fried dough that has a soft spongey centre. The sweetness overpowers the natural sweetness of the house made mango ice cream and the crisp chocolate wafer. The Jamun is the traditional component that’s been given a modern twist.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service was excellent. The chef, who is also the owner, had such an intimate knowledge of his menu and he happily took the time to explain some of the non-familiar dishes. Drinks arrived promptly and were constantly refilled, meals arrived promptly and plates were cleared as each course was finished.

The atmosphere was relaxed, although Tuesday nights are not usually their busiest night. The pricing is very reasonable considering the quality of their ingredients, the execution and presentation of their dishes, and their serving sizes. There was nothing over $20 on their menu, and even the entrees could be considered a meal in themselves.

I had a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience at this restaurant and found very little to fault. This place is certainly a hidden gem in the western suburbs.

WHERE: 5-6/178 Frederick Rd, Grange