RASOI CUISINE OF INDIA

About RASOI CUISINE OF INDIA

Rasoi Cuisines of India is an authentic Pan-Indian restaurant located along Marine Parade in Napier South. True to its name—meaning 'kitchen' in Hindi—Rasoi is guided by a philosophy of cooking with heart, soul, and heritage. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Kamalesh, who brings decades of culinary experience, bridging regional traditions with contemporary execution.

The menu showcases a journey across India, highlighting robust Northern curries, fragrant biryanis, delicate coastal seafood, and vibrant vegetarian specialities. Traditional clay tandoor ovens turn out tender chargrilled kebabs and freshly baked flatbreads, seasoned with in-house hand-ground spice blends sourced directly from India.

Pan-Indian Heritage Meets Coastal Dining at The Rasoi in Napier

Set directly on the lively stretch of Marine Parade, The Rasoi brings a broad celebration of India’s culinary map to Napier South. In Hindi, "Rasoi" translates simply to "kitchen"—a grounding name that informs the restaurant’s core culinary mission: cooking with heart, authenticity, and respect for generational traditions. Rather than limiting the focus to a single region, the dining room invites guests on an expansive tour across the sub-continent, capturing the fragrant and varied dishes that define North, South, East, and West India.

At the helm of the kitchen is Chef Kamalesh, who combines classical techniques with contemporary presentations. From intense heat radiating within traditional clay tandoors to slow-simmered reductions, the cooking philosophy focuses heavily on the integrity of base ingredients. Many of the aromatic spice mixtures and marinades are ground in-house using recipes preserved across generations, avoiding shortcuts to ensure every dish presents its true depth of flavour.

Regional Flavours from Tandoor to Table

The kitchen takes pride in moving well beyond conventional curry house standards. Coastal inspirations surface in dishes like the Prawns Malabari Fry, fragrant with fresh curry leaves and coconut, alongside Bengali mustard-spiced curries and tangy Kasundi paneer tikka. Meanwhile, classic hearty staples from the North hold court through velvety Butter Chicken, fragrant Kashmiri Rogan Josh, and slow-braised Dal Gosht cooked with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.

Modern street-food twists also take center stage. Starters like Palak Chaat—featuring flash-crisped spinach leaves drizzled with cooling yogurt, tangy tamarind, and bright pomegranate seeds—sit alongside creative cross-cultural dishes like Burrata Papdi Chaat, Lamb Biryani Tacos, and the crunchy, spice-crusted Desi Fried Chicken Burger on toasted brioche.

An Intimate Dining Experience by the Coast

Dining at Rasoi combines warm hospitality with an energetic, buzzing atmosphere. The dining room offers an intimate setting where diners can gather over clay-oven breads like garlic naan and thin roomali roti, aromatic jeera rice, and comforting bowls of slow-cooked lentils. For those seeking midday dining, the restaurant offers dedicated lunch options and chef selections, pairing mains with fresh naan and rice.

Whether dropping by Marine Parade for an evening feast, sharing street-style small plates, or taking meals away for seaside dining, Rasoi delivers a thoughtful, vibrant representation of Indian gastronomy to Hawke's Bay.

Signature items

• Palak Chaat
• Burrata Papdi Chaat
• Desi Fried Chicken Burger
• Kashmiri Rogan Josh
• Crisp Tandoori Prawns on Millet Khichdi Risotto
• Lamb Biryani Taco

Menu

Sides

• Raita — Cooling spiced yogurt condiment
• Mango Pickle — Traditional tangy and spicy preserved mango relish
• Onion Salad — Sliced seasoned raw onions with herbs
• Papad — Thin, crisp seasoned lentil crackers
• Jeera Rice — Basmati rice tempered with fragrant cumin seeds
• Peas Pulao — Fragrant basmati rice cooked with tender green peas

Desserts

• Gulab Jamun — Soft milk-solid dumplings soaked in aromatic rose and cardamom sugar syrup
• Kulfi — Traditional dense, slow-cooked Indian frozen dairy dessert
• Carrot Halwa — Slow-cooked grated carrot pudding with milk, ghee, and nuts

Beverages

• Warm Spiced Rum Chai — Aromatic hot spiced tea blend infused with rum notes
• Mango Lassi — Classic chilled sweet yogurt beverage blended with mango puree

Indian Breads

• Garlic Naan — Freshly baked flatbread topped with minced garlic
• Butter Naan — Traditional clay-oven baked flatbread brushed with butter
• Roti — Wholemeal unleavened bread baked in the tandoor
• Lachha Paratha — Layered, flaky flatbread cooked to a golden crisp
• Aloo Paratha — Wholemeal flatbread stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes
• Roomali Roti — Ultra-thin, soft handkerchief-style Indian bread
• Garlic & Cheese Naan — Tandoor-baked naan filled with cheese and topped with garlic

Vegetarian Delights

• Kasoori Paneer — Cottage cheese cooked in a cashew nut and fenugreek gravy
• Khumb Do Pyaza — Sautéed mushrooms and double onions in a warming, peppery brown gravy
• Paneer Tikka Masala — Cottage cheese tikkas in a rich tomato and cashew based gravy
• Veg Jhalfrezi — Stir-fried peppers, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, cottage cheese, and French beans in a sweet tomato sauce
• Spiced Vegetable & Millet Khichdi — Hearty one-pot comfort dish slow-cooked with moong dal, vegetables, and warming Indian spices
• Navratan Korma — Assorted vegetables and cottage cheese in a velvety cashew nut gravy, garnished with dry nuts
• Double Tadke Ki — Twice-tempered lentils infused with onions, garlic, and fragrant spices
• Saag Makai — Creamed spinach with sweetcorn, tempered with garlic

Shuruaat (Appetizers)

• Veg Manchow Soup — Hot and spicy Indian-Chinese soup with mixed vegetables, served with crispy fried noodles
• Palak Chaat — Crispy spinach leaves topped with creamy yogurt, tangy tamarind chutney, and fresh pomegranate seeds
• Samosa — Savory pastry stuffed with spiced vegetables, fried until crisp and golden
• Kasundi Paneer Tikka — Chargrilled paneer cubes flavoured with sharp Bengali mustard sauce
• Samosa Chaat — Deconstructed samosa with spicy chickpeas, yogurt, and tamarind drizzle
• Burrata Papdi Chaat — Fusion of burrata with crispy papdi, lotus root chips, fresh pomegranate, tamarind, and mint
• Cheese & Chilli Kulcha Bites — Mini kulchas stuffed with spiced cheese and green chilies
• Cauliflower Manchurian — Deep-fried cauliflower tossed with bell peppers, onions, garlic, and soy sauce
• Chilli Paneer Dry — Cottage cheese cubes cooked with chili sauce, soy sauce, onion, garlic, ginger, capsicum, and spring onions
• Prawns Malabari Fry — Coastal-style crispy prawns flavoured with coconut and curry leaves
• Masala Jhinga — Tiger prawns marinated with ginger, yogurt, toasted coriander, and caraway seeds, served with mint sauce
• Amritsari — Crisp-fried fish fillets coated in chickpea flour, served with harissa yogurt
• Murgh Kastoori Tikka — Chicken marinated in creamy fenugreek-flavoured marinade and slow-cooked in a tandoor
• Chicken Trilogy — Chipotle, basil, mint, and kaffir lime-infused chicken served on a grill
• Lamb Kheema & Pea Samosa Cigars — Minced lamb, peas, and garam masala in crisp phyllo pastry with curry leaf aioli

Non-Vegetarian Specialties

• Methi Malai Murgh — Chicken simmered in fenugreek cream sauce with subtle, elegant spice
• Murgh Lababdar — Boneless pieces of tandoori-grilled chicken finished in a rich tomato-onion-cream gravy
• Malai Korma — Choice of chicken, lamb, goat, or venison cooked in a creamy cashew-almond yogurt sauce
• Tikka Masala — Choice of lamb, chicken, venison, or goat cooked in tomato, onion, and fenugreek gravy with fresh coriander
• Butter Chicken — Grilled chicken cooked in a luscious butter-tomato-cream sauce
• Dal Gosht — Slow-cooked lamb infused with lentils and winter spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom
• Kashmiri Rogan Josh — Choice of lamb, goat, or venison simmered in Kashmiri red chilli, caramelized onion tomatoes, yogurt, and cardamom
• Bengali Mustard Fish Curry — Fish fillet or prawns cooked in an onion-based mustard sauce with Bengali spices
• Fish/Prawns Methi Malai — Fish or prawns cooked in a mildly spiced cashew nut and fenugreek-infused creamy yogurt sauce
• Lamb Biryani Taco — Pulled lamb shoulder marinated in Kashmiri spices, stuffed inside roti tacos with saffron rice and yogurt chutney
• Chilli Chicken or Chilli Paneer Rumali Kebabs — Tender chilli-marinated chicken or paneer wrapped in soft rumali roti with sriracha mayo
• Crisp Tandoori Prawns on Millet Khichdi Risotto — Creamy millet risotto infused with saffron and coconut milk, topped with crispy tandoori prawns and roasted garlic chips
• Desi Fried Chicken Burger — Buttermilk-marinated chicken thigh fried golden with mint chutney mayo, tamarind glaze, pickled onions, slaw, and chaat masala on brioche with fries

Frequently asked questions

What style of cuisine does Rasoi serve?

Rasoi specialises in Pan-Indian cuisine, featuring iconic regional dishes from across India, including North Indian curries, Bengali seafood, tandoori specialties, and street food chaats.

Who is the head chef at Rasoi?

The kitchen is led by Chef Kamalesh, who crafts signature dishes using traditional clay tandoor ovens and house-ground spices.

Are vegetarian dishes available?

Yes, Rasoi offers an extensive range of vegetarian starters and mains, including Palak Chaat, Paneer Tikka Masala, Navratan Korma, and Spiced Vegetable & Millet Khichdi.

Does Rasoi offer takeaway and delivery?

Yes, online ordering and phone orders for takeaway and home delivery are available.

Can I book a table in advance?

Yes, table bookings can be made online through the website reservation system or by contacting [email protected].

Are gift cards available for purchase?

Yes, digital gift cards can be purchased directly through their online booking and gift card portal.

Tips

• {"body":"The restaurant dining room is compact and popular, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere that fills quickly during peak weekend hours.","title":"Book Ahead on Busy Evenings"}
• {"body":"Do not skip the Palak Chaat or Burrata Papdi Chaat as sharing starters to experience the kitchen's signature balance of sweet, tangy, and crisp textures.","title":"Try the Modern Chaats"}
• {"body":"Order the tandoor-baked Roomali Roti or Garlic Naan to accompany the rich cashew and tomato curries.","title":"Pair with Tandoori Breads"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Extensive vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and nut-conscious options marked across the menu.","payments":"Online orders and reservations handled through digital payment and card portals."}