India Garden, Cromwell

About India Garden, Cromwell

India Garden is an Indian and Nepalese restaurant at 61c The Mall, Central, Cromwell, offering a relaxed, friendly atmosphere alongside excellent service. The restaurant serves both Indian and traditional Nepalese food, aiming to give diners a genuine taste of both cuisines' flavours.

Dishes draw on centuries of skill with spices, though the kitchen is quick to point out that this doesn't mean everything is fiery hot - dishes can be made as mild or as spicy as each guest prefers. The chefs bring many years of experience in home-style Indian cooking, aiming to create a memorable meal every time.

The menu spans entrees, Mo:Mo and other Nepalese dishes, Indo-Chinese options and biryanis, a full range of naan breads, and mains across chicken, lamb, vegetarian, vegan and seafood categories, finishing with desserts like Gulab Jamun and Mango Kulfi. India Garden also hosts birthdays and private functions, with a decorated hall, fully stocked cocktail bar and tap beers, and caters for special events. Ordering is pre-order only, with pickup available; delivery is not offered at this location.

India Garden Cromwell: Indian and Nepalese Dining in Central Otago

On The Mall in Central Cromwell, India Garden brings together authentic Indian and traditional Nepalese cooking in a relaxed, friendly setting. The restaurant prides itself on excellent service alongside genuine flavours, giving diners a proper taste of both cuisines rather than a watered-down version of either.

Spice, Done Properly

India Garden makes a point of explaining its approach to spice: centuries of skill in using spices doesn't mean every dish is fiery hot, and the heat level of any dish can be adjusted to suit personal taste. The kitchen's chefs bring many years of experience in home-style Indian cooking, aiming to give every guest a meal worth remembering rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to spice.

From Entrees to Biryani

The entree menu covers classics like Vegetable Samosa, Onion Bhajia and Chicken Pakora, alongside tandoor-cooked Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Tikka. For sharing, the Vegetarian Mixed Platter brings together samosa, onion bhaji, paneer pakora and tandoori mushroom with tamarind chutney, while options like Tiger Prawn, Malai Kebab, Lamb Chop and the India Garden Mix Grilled round out the starters.

The Mo:Mo and Nepalese section brings a distinct flavour profile to the menu, with Chicken and Chilli MoMo dumplings alongside Himalayan Venison, Mountain Goat and Chicken Gorkha, each built around traditional Himalayan and mountain herb and spice combinations. The Indo Chinese section pairs biryanis — Vegetarian, Chicken and Lamb, each cooked with fragrant basmati rice and topped with nuts — with dishes like Manchurian, Chilli (paneer or chicken), Chilli Garlic Prawn and Chicken 65.

Curries, Naan and a Sweet Finish

On the mains side, India Garden's menu includes creamy favourites like Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala, alongside bolder, spicier classics such as Vindaloo and Madras. Vegetarian diners are well covered too, with Paneer Butter Masala and Channa Masala among the options. A full naan bread selection rounds out the meal, from Plain and Garlic Naan through to Cheese and Garlic Naan, Keema Naan stuffed with minced chicken or lamb, and Paneer Naan baked in the tandoor, alongside classic and garlic Roti. For dessert, Gulab Jamun and Mango Kulfi provide an indulgent finish.

Functions, Birthdays and Events

Beyond everyday dining, India Garden Cromwell hosts birthdays and private functions, offering a decorated hall with a fully stocked cocktail bar and tap beers. The restaurant also caters for special events, making it a venue option for anyone wanting to combine a celebration with a full Indian and Nepalese menu.

Ordering from India Garden

Orders through India Garden's online system are pre-order only, with pickup available at the Cromwell restaurant; delivery is not offered at this location. Guests wanting to dine in can book a table in advance to secure their spot and enjoy the restaurant's warm hospitality in person.

Signature items

• Butter Chicken
• Chicken Biryani
• Tandoori Chicken
• Vegetarian Mixed Platter
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Gulab Jamun

Menu

Mains

• Butter Chicken — A creamy favourite
• Chicken Tikka Masala — A creamy favourite
• Vindaloo — A bold, spicy classic
• Madras — A bold, spicy classic
• Paneer Butter Masala — A vegetarian option
• Channa Masala — A vegetarian option

Entree

• Vegetable Samosa — Flaky pouch of plain flour stuffed with potatoes, green peas and spices (2 pieces)
• Onion Bhajia — Crispy mixed vegetable and onion fritters (5 pieces)
• Chicken Pakora — Slices of boneless chicken dipped in chana flour and fried in canola oil (8 pieces)
• Tandoori Chicken — Tender chicken marinated in herbs with yoghurt and spices, cooked in the clay oven
• Chicken Tikka — Tender boneless chicken marinated in sauce and roasted in the tandoor (5 pieces)
• Vegetarian Mixed Platter — An assortment of vegetarian starters served with tamarind chutney (samosa, onion bhaji, paneer pakora, tandoori mushroom)
• Tiger Prawn — Prawn cutlet marinated in herb and fried in canola oil
• Malai Kebab — An entree kebab option
• Lamb Chop — An entree lamb chop option
• India Garden Mix Grilled — A mixed grill entree option

Desserts

• Gulab Jamun — An indulgent Indian dessert
• Mango Kulfi — An indulgent Indian dessert

Naan Bread

• Plain Naan — Classic naan bread
• Garlic Naan — Naan sprinkled with diced garlic
• Onion Naan — Naan stuffed with diced onion
• Cheese and Garlic Naan — Naan bread stuffed with cheese and diced garlic
• Keema Naan — Naan bread stuffed with minced chicken or lamb
• Paneer Naan — Naan stuffed with homemade cottage cheese and baked in the tandoor
• Roti — Classic tandoori roti
• Garlic Roti — Roti with garlic

Mo:Mo & Nepalese

• Chicken MoMo — Nepalese-style chicken dumplings
• Chilli MoMo — Meat momo satay with diced capsicum and onions in a hot and spicy gravy
• Himalayan Venison — Diced deer meat cooked with typical Himalayan herbs and spices
• Mountain Goat — Diced goat meat cooked with typical mountain herbs and spices
• Chicken Gorkha — Chicken cooked with typical Himalayan herbs and spices

Indo Chinese & Biryani

• Vegetarian Biryani — Mixed vegetables cooked with fragrant basmati rice, topped with nuts
• Chicken Biryani — Classic mughlai dish of curried boneless chicken with fragrant basmati rice, topped with nuts
• Lamb Biryani — Lamb pieces cooked with fragrant basmati rice, topped with nuts
• Manchurian — Veg or chicken option
• Chilli — Paneer or chicken option
• Chilli Garlic Prawn — An Indo-Chinese prawn dish
• Chicken 65 — A spiced fried chicken Indo-Chinese dish

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does India Garden serve?

Indian, Nepalese and Indo-Chinese cuisine, including North and South Indian dishes.

Is delivery available?

No, delivery is not available at this location; pickup is available, and orders are pre-order only.

Can I book for a private function or birthday?

Yes, India Garden offers a decorated hall for birthdays and private functions, with a fully stocked cocktail bar and tap beers.

Are there vegetarian and vegan options?

Yes, dedicated vegetarian and vegan mains categories are available, including Paneer Butter Masala and Channa Masala.

What are some popular dishes?

Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Biryani and Tandoori Chicken.

Where is India Garden Cromwell located?

61c The Mall, Central, Cromwell 9310.

Can I choose how spicy my dish is?

Yes, dishes can be made as mild or as spicy as you prefer.

Tips

• {"body":"India Garden Cromwell takes pre-orders only, with pickup available and no on-demand delivery.","title":"Order ahead"}
• {"body":"Dishes can be made as mild or as hot as you like.","title":"Ask for your preferred spice level"}
• {"body":"A decorated hall is available for birthdays and private functions, with a cocktail bar and tap beers.","title":"Book the hall for a function"}
• {"body":"A good way to sample several starters at once.","title":"Try the Vegetarian Mixed Platter"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Dedicated vegetarian and vegan mains categories are available."}