At the location that was once Maya Masala, is the new SA Biryani House, that also offers the same Indian cuisine. The menu is made up of a decent selection of meat and vegetarian curries, as well as chats, dosas and biryanis.

The decor is fairly neat and well presented. The brown tiles and timber furnishings set the tone for an earthy colour scheme. There is plenty of seating inside as well as a few seats out in the front porch.

For dinner, I ordered the Non-Vegetarian Thali which consists of Chicken Tikka, Goat Curry, Dhal, Butter Chicken, Naan, Pulao Rice, Papadam, Raita, Pickle and Besan Ladoo (dessert). The dish came out 15 minutes after ordering and was very nicely presented.

The Butter Chicken had an unusual red colour. The chicken was tender and succulent, but the taste was a little on the bland side.

The Goat Curry had a very mild flavour. The meat was simply falling apart with a touch of the utensils, although I did get one fatty morsel which was a bit disappointing.

The Dhal was tasty and full of flavour. The lentils were soft and delicate, and immersed in the curry sauce.

The Thali came with one piece of freshly baked Naan bread cut in half, a crunchy papadam, a decent serving of perfectly cooked Pulao Rice, a refreshing cucumber yoghurt raita and some pickles which packed a bit of heat.

Unlike other places, this dish came with a Besan Ladoo dessert. It’s almost like a thick floury dough with a subtly sweet nutty fragrance. It was nothing that I’ve ever had before but it was a perfect way to end the meal.

The staff were friendly and the service was good. Drinks arrived promptly and plates were cleared as I finished. They even asked several times through out the evening whether I was enjoying my meal. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was reasonable. My Thali set me back $19 which is cheaper than their competitors and the serving size was generous.

I thought the Butter Chicken was a bit of a let down, and the quality of the meat in the Goat Curry could have been better. Other than that, the experience as a whole wasn’t too bad.

WHERE: Shop 10, Market St, Adelaide