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As an Indian born and raised, there’s one thing I simply can’t go without for too long: the beloved food from my country that I grew up eating. So, whenever I travel, I make it a point to seek out and add at least one Indian restaurant to my itinerary. It’s not just about the food, but also about the connection it provides to my roots, as well as the opportunity to experience the cuisine in its local environment away from home. On my recent vacation, I was excited to try innovative Indian food & drinks in Sydney, Australia, at the Foreign Return Restaurant!
It’s always exciting for me when I discover a restaurant that offers a unique and creative take on Indian cuisine. Experiencing innovative dishes and drinks can truly elevate the dining experience and provide a fresh perspective on familiar flavors and Foreign Return did not disappoint! We received a warm greeting upon arrival and were seated at a table in one of the coziest corner by the front glass wall.
As I was glancing over the menu, I remembered how I had found the restaurant via Google Maps while planning my itinerary and quickly made the reservations after reading rave reviews on it. While we were supposed to be staying in the Millers Point area that’s closer to the Harbor Bridge and about 6 kms away from Surry Hill, where the restaurant is located, it was an easy, 30 minute- walk + tram ride to get to the restaurant and a 15 minute Uber ride back.
The cocktails were super creative, so unique and and refreshingly delicious! I ordered the cocktail named “Pune“. The bartender described the process for how she makes the goat cheese infused syrup, an integral part of the cocktail. I was certainly intrigued by her description and ordered it, not just for the flavors but also since its named after my howetown, Pune!
I stirred it as directed by the bartender and took a sip that absolutely blew me away. It was hands down one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. I admired the bartender’s creativity and gave her big kudos. Of course, I went for a second one, after finishing my first glass.
Following the cocktails, we ordered a couple of appetizers to share. The Raj Kachori looked stunning and offered a lovely combination of flavors and textures with the crisp shell outside doused in a sweet and sour mint and yogurt sauce and a hearty chickpeas and lentil filling inside.
We’re huge fans of Australian lamb chops and couldn’t resist trying the Chirriburri Chops from the Tandoor section of the menu. They were perfectly cooked—soft, succulent, and absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious, with their spicy and smoky flavor.
For our main course, we decided to stick to the classics like the Dilli Butter Chicken and the Mappas Kari with Fish paired with some tandoori roti, naan and basmati rice.
Finally even when we were extremely full from the appetizer and the main courses, we decided to order the most popular and highly recommended dessert by our server, the Ghewar. It was a light, crisp, porous, golden cake, soaked in a not overly sweet sugar syrup and topped with saffron infused whipped cream, edible silver leaf and rose petals. It was out of this world and we were so happy that we went for it!
I’m so glad I had included dining at this restaurant on our Sydney vacation itinerary! We had a fantastic experience at Foreign Return on our vacation to Sydney. Loved the cozy space, the service and the absolutely creative drinks and food. I wish I lived close to Sydney, I would have been a frequent diner! Can’t wait to go back soon!!
Must Try: cocktail – Pune, appetizer – Raj Kachori, tandoor – Chirriburri Lamb Chops and dessert – Ghewar
