Haldi Carlton North - Melbourne

Haldi is a storefront Indian restaurant in Moonee Ponds with convenient parking available in front, which is unlimited after 6:00pm. The food is fresh and all hand-made. Our group of 14 enjoyed the buffet and some entrees. The Samosas were filled with a flavorful chickpea and potato curry mix, coated in a crispy pastry and served with yogurt and mint sauce. The onion fritters bhajia, topped with crispy kale, were also a hit. We tried an entree of salmon with cardamom sauce, served in a roasted onion. The cardamom flavor was subtle and the salmon was perfectly cooked with a flaky texture. We also enjoyed dishes like daal, pea and paneer curry, Rogan Josh, and butter chicken. Some found the butter chicken sauce a bit sweet, but it was still devoured by many. We recommend asking for chili if you prefer spicier dishes, as most are on the milder side to appeal to a larger audience. The biryanis (chicken and veggie) were typically served with a roti on top to keep everything hot. Even though we were full, we found them very flavorsome. The only downside to Haldi was the restrooms, which, while clean, were cramped and in need of maintenance with loose floor tiles and chipping paint. Overall, the delicious food made Haldi worth a visit for those seeking good Indian cuisine.

I discovered this Indian restaurant on Zomato Gold and I am glad I did because the food was delicious. The flavors were fantastic and the presentation was excellent. The customer service was also top-notch. I will definitely recommend this restaurant!

This charming restaurant in our neighborhood is a hidden gem. It stands out with its unique menu, which is executed brilliantly. Some of the dishes even brought back memories of home in India. Definitely worth a try!

My wife and I had a wonderful dining experience. Excellent taste and ambience. Haldi has taken Indian dining experience in the north to the next level. Highly recommend if you are looking for a nice evening with good food.

Haldi is a top notch Indian restaurant in trendy Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds and is serving up some of the best Indian food in Melbourne. Creamy spicy fragrant curries are made from scratch. Sauces are authentic and diverse, and are not mixed together from one dish to another (like many Indian restaurants). <br/ <br/ In fact each dish is created from scratch in its own pan. Thus the dishes are vibrant, fresh and authentic. Our experience at Haldi Indian restaurant was sensory and joyous, with big flavours and first class presentation of dishes. Haldi is several steps up from 'a good honest local Indian restaurant ' and shows a touch of class while still being excellent value.<br/ <br/ Paneer Nuggets featuring a Golden paneer sandwich complete with Tokyo onion rings, captures the imagination and the taste buds. Served with chana and tomato sauce it is a fun and playful dish with modern interpretation but all the flavours of paneer are there. A great start to our meal.<br/ <br/ We also enjoyed Papadum featuring Lentil crisps and dips with Vindaloo chutney, Beetroot chutney and Mint chutney. Note the vibrant colours. This was achieved without anything artificial. Tangy flavours were excellent.<br/ <br/ Tawa Murgh hit the high notes featuring Tawa grilled chicken breast with herb flavour, stuffed mince lamb, roasted to perfection. This is a generous portion for an entree. <br/ <br/ Sharabi Raan is a delightful smoky dish served with a touch of theatre, with Raj removing a glass cloche with release of smoke. Lamb marinated with old monk and spices is smoked with herbs. This is a dish I 've never experienced and I found it comforting and rewarding to indulge in delicious tender smoky spicy lamb, especially in winter.<br/ <br/ Curries are a specialty at Haldi, and we felt there was generous amount of meat in the meat based curries but also the sauces were a standout. Sauces are where the real skill lies and these were first class.<br/ <br/ Butter Chicken is often a dish from which we gauge an Indian restaurant. Haldi serves up a vibrant rich creamy Butter Chicken with right amount of spice (butter chicken should never have excessive heat) as one of the best in Melbourne.<br/ <br/ Beef Vindaloo option for those who like it hot, also hit the mark with diced beef in garlic wine marinade and dried chilli peppers.<br/ <br/ A highlight was the 'Chef Special ' Fish Curry featuring Rockling, with perfectly cooked fish in a golden spicy sauce. It 's not every day I would choose a fish curry but this was outstanding.<br/ <br/ The wine list here is excellent ; it 's not huge but carefully selected with top notch wines that I recognised, at reasonable prices. The wine list has been crafted by expert sommeliers to match the food. We enjoyed a bottle of McLaren Vale 's finest, the Mitolo Angela 2016 McLaren Vale Shiraz which as a medium to full-bodied shiraz was a great match for our spicy dishes.<br/ <br/ Dessert also hit the high notes with a fusion Ras Malai, inspired by the Bengal region of India it features rich cheesecake with a deconstructed Oreo crust and pistachio kulfi. <br/ <br/ Highly recommended.