A tale of two cities - suburban eating in Brisbane and Melbourne

We had two impromptu meals out.

 The first was at the Sultan's Kitchen, on Sandgate rd, Clayfield, in Quuensland, a suburban Indian restaurant, where we stopped for a  bite to eat after attending an art exhibition.  Service was friendly, and welcoming, and for little ones, the cooks working with the tandoori oven could be viewed behind a glass window.  The decor is slightly kitsch, the location on a main road a bit hard for parking, but better than nearby Albion, where we first tried to stop.  We ordered the mixed entrees - which in hindsight would have been enough.  I found the chicken a little underdone, and the fried foods a bit mushy, but the dips were nice if a bit small, the sausage was good, and it was all tasty.

Next, we ordered the mild prawn masala, vegetable  biryani, garlic naan and , by mistake, saffron rice.

The cooking was very rich, very saucy, quite tasty and, according to Bob, not mild.  The sauce was again very good.  We couldn't finish it all, there was so much.  We  were glad we hadn't ordered the tempting lassi or the desserts. A nice meal.

In Melbourne, Victoria, we were taken to Box Hill Centre shopping centre, to an old favourite which is improving steadily, RaRamen.  This is not a fancy place.  You just come here for the food, not for fancy service or decor. Plain tables stacked in the restaurant and extending into the shopping aisle.  Near the market, between the cake shop and the coffee/ chocolate shop, and opposite the Greek delicatessen and the take-away offal shop.  The waitress comes to take your order, writes it in Chinese, and you go off to the counter to pay in cash.  On the way back, you help yourself to free slushies, water,tea and or red bean soup.   There is vinegar, soy and chilli sauce on the table. The dishes arrived.

The seaweed salad was brilliant!

The pork and chicken steamed dumplings were equally good, and equal favourites with the salad.

The fried pork dumplings were delicious though

And the salty fish and chicken fried rice were nice, even though I am not usually turned on by fried rice, which I feel is home cooking.

 The steamed Shanghai steamed dumplings were probably my least favourite although the others obviously enjoyed them.

Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised by liking the Spring Onion pancake.

  You should guess by now that this place focuses on dumplings and is one of my favourite eateries.  Highly recommended.