271 Karangahape Road,
Newton
Auckland,


(09) 377 0007

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4 out of 5

Auckland is well equipped with Indian restaurants, but the wildly popular Satya South Indian Restaurant is proof they're not all created equal. Most of the Indian eateries around town focus on cuisine from northern India. That means food cooked in tandoori ovens, and often a focus on creamy sauces that can sometimes be too rich and heavy. Satya specialises in food from the more tropical southern region of India, and the results are lighter and fresher than most other places around town.

On a Saturday night we're glad we've booked as the slender space that Satya occupies in Karangahape Rd is almost full. With a rustic silk canopy and robust chairs covered in plastic, no-one's ever going to mistake Satya as a flash designer restaurant, but tonight's band of loyal regulars isn't here for the decor. What most have come for is Satya's world famous in Auckland entree called Dahi Puri. The simple menu indicates it's a "Must Try", but it's a recommendation that's barely needed by Satya's regulars. Ironically it's a dish that originated in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, but it's been perfected at Satya. A mix of yoghurt, potato and chick pea is piled on a papadam cracker and then topped with tamarind chutney and freshly ground spices. Our biggest decision is whether or not to put the whole tasty package in our mouths in one go. Looking around it's a delicious quandary being faced by a few other tables.

Settling in with a zingy salt lassi and a Kingfisher beer, our mains arrive. The menu includes dosas (giant Indian pancakes) and thalis (combination plates with assorted pickles and chutneys), but it's a cold night outside so we share a couple of curries. My request for authentic Indian heat in the Chilli Chicken is respected with a healthy dose of zingy fresh green chillis, and Carol's Lamb Palakura mixes tender lamb with spinach. A couple of pieces of delicate paratha bread are much lighter than the stodgy naan that's sometimes offered in other Indian restaurants around town. After two curries we're too full for dessert, and the bill comes in at just over fifty bucks for a shared entree, two curries and two drinks.

In Sanskrit, Satya means "truth", and the flavours at their restaurants in Karangahape Rd, Sandringham and at a new location on Great North Rd in Grey Lynn, are very authentic.

The busy family running Satya is proud they never have to advertise. With food this good, they can easily rely solely on positive word of mouth.