The Indian Cafe Stoke

About The Indian Cafe Stoke

The Indian Café Stoke brings the restaurant group's long-standing culinary heritage to the Stoke community. Established as part of a family of eateries that first launched in Nelson in 2002, this location opened its doors in 2020 to serve locals and visitors authentic Indian and Nepali specialties prepared fresh from scratch.

Every dish is made to order using fresh ingredients, featuring a comprehensive selection of traditional tandoori meats, slow-simmered regional curries, Indo-Chinese favorites, and warm breads straight from the tandoor oven. Operating seven days a week for dinner alongside lunch services from Monday to Saturday, the restaurant accommodates dine-in guests, takeaway collections, and home delivery orders.

A Taste of Heritage: Authentic Indian and Nepali Dining in Stoke

Since the original dining room opened in central Nelson in 2002, The Indian Café has maintained a reputation across the region for traditional cooking, balanced spices, and warm hospitality. Expanding to Queen Street in Richmond in 2016, the team brought their established recipe book to Stoke in 2020. Situated on Songer Street, the Stoke restaurant brings the same foundational philosophy to the neighbourhood: every sauce, bread, and tandoori skewer is prepared from scratch using fresh, wholesome ingredients.

The kitchen operates on the belief that good Indian food takes time. Rather than relying on batch-prepared shortcut bases, each curry is cooked individually to accommodate diners who prefer their curries mild, medium, or fiery hot. In addition, all curries on the menu are prepared entirely gluten-free, providing clear peace of mind for guests managing dietary restrictions.

Flavours from the Tandoor and the Hills

Central to the dining experience is the intense heat of the traditional tandoor oven. Entrée meats such as marinated chicken tikka, seekh kebabs, spiced lamb chops, and fresh fish skewers arrive at the table piping hot on sizzling platters, accompanied by crisp salads and house-made mint or tamarind chutneys. Beyond roasted meats, the tandoor bakes an extensive selection of fresh breads, ranging from classic garlic naan and flaky lacchha paratha to indulgent cheese stuffed varieties and sweet chocolate-filled flatbreads.

The culinary range also pays homage to Himalayan traditions with a dedicated selection of Nepali and Indo-Chinese dishes. Diners will find handmade steamed momo dumplings stuffed with spiced chicken or vegetables, alongside fiery chilli-tossed dumplings, crispy chicken 65, and savoury wok-tossed fried rice.

Classic Curries and Vegetarian Delicacies

The main curry offerings showcase regional recipes from across India. Along with rich northern staples like slow-simmered butter chicken, aromatic lamb rogan josh, and creamy cashew-based kormas, the kitchen features coastal Goan fish curries and tangy vindaloos pickled overnight in vinegar and spices. Seafood lovers can explore bay fish cooked in spiced tomato gravies or tail-on prawns bathed in rich coconut cream.

Vegetarian dining holds an equal place of honour on the menu. Dishes like dal makhani are cooked slowly over gentle heat until tender before being finished with butter in a traditional copper haandi. Fresh cottage cheese is crafted in-house for preparations like palak paneer, shahi paneer, and delicate malai kofta dumplings served in smooth cashew gravies.

Dine In, Takeaway, and Gatherings

The Indian Café Stoke welcomes guests for lunch service Monday through Saturday, opening every evening across all seven days of the week for dinner. The premises are fully licensed for those seeking beer or wine alongside their meal. Diners wishing to enjoy meals at home can place phone orders directly with the counter or make use of delivery and takeaway options via online platforms like Yummi and Ordermeal. Event catering is also available for parties, celebrations, and gatherings across the region.

Signature items

• Butter Chicken
• Chicken Momo (Steam)
• Dal Makhani
• Tandoori Chops
• Malai Kulfi
• Chocolate Naan

Menu

Sides

• Papadam — Four pieces of crispy lentil wafers
• Raita — Cooling spiced yogurt condiment
• Mint Chutney — Fresh home-made mint dipping sauce
• Tamarind Chutney — Tangy and sweet home-made tamarind sauce
• Mango Chutney — Sweet spiced preserved mango condiment
• Mixed Pickle — Traditional spicy Indian pickled vegetables
• Side Dish Platter — Platter combining assorted chutneys, raita, pickles, and papadams
• Green Salad — Fresh seasonal salad plate
• Sliced Onions — Freshly sliced raw onions

Banquets

• Original Banquet — Entree platter of samosa, pakora, seekh kebab & chicken tikka with butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, beef vindaloo, navratan korma, sides and dessert
• Vegetarian Banquet — Entree platter of samosas, vegetable pakoras, and onion bhajia with dal makhani, palak paneer, navratan korma, sides and dessert

EntréEs

• Vegetable Samosas — Home-made pastry pockets stuffed with mildly spiced vegetables
• Onion Bhajia — Roughly cut onion dipped in mildly spiced chickpea flour and deep fried
• Vegetable Pakoras — Vegetable patties battered in mildly spiced chickpea flour and deep fried
• Vegetarian Platter — A combination of vegetable samosas, onion bhajia, and vegetable pakoras
• Chicken Tikka — Tender pieces of chicken marinated in spices, skewered and cooked in the tandoor oven
• Kashmiri Kebab — Tender diced chicken marinated in chef’s special spices and cooked in the tandoor oven (dairy and artificial colour free)
• Seekh Kebab — Spiced mince of lamb pressed on a skewer and cooked in the tandoor oven
• Kesari Kabab — Tender chicken marinated in yoghurt, cashew, saffron and spices cooked on skewer in tandoor oven
• Tandoori Platter — A combination of four meat tandoori delicacies served as an entrée platter
• Tandoori Chops — Succulent lamb cutlets marinated in spices cooked on skewers in the tandoor oven
• Mixed Platter — Combination of two pieces each of vegetable samosa, pakora, chicken tikka and seekh kebab
• Tandoori Mushrooms — Fresh button mushrooms marinated in yoghurt and spices cooked in the tandoor oven
• Paneer Tikka — Home-made cottage cheese marinated in ginger garlic paste, yogurt and spices in tandoori oven
• Fish Tikka — Fresh fish cubes marinated in mild spices, skewered and cooked in the tandoor oven served with mint chutney
• Tandoori Prawns — Succulent prawns in their shells marinated in mild spices, skewered and cooked in the tandoor oven
• Tandoori Chicken — Whole chicken marinated in lemon juice, ginger, garlic and exotic spices cooked in the tandoor oven

Beef Mains

• Beef Vindaloo — Diced beef left overnight to pickle in Goan spices and vinegar, garnished with julienne ginger
• Beef Korma — Tender boneless cubes of beef cooked in a delicately spiced creamy gravy of cashew nuts
• Beef Madras — Tender boneless cubes of beef cooked in a rich gravy with a subtle hint of coconut cream
• Bhuna Gosht — Tender diced beef cooked in a dry onion and tomato gravy, garnished with caramelised onions

Lamb Mains

• Lamb Rogan Josh — Diced lamb cooked north Indian style with herbs and spices and garnished with coriander
• Lamb Korma — Diced lamb cooked in a delicately spiced creamy cashew nut gravy, garnished with sliced almonds
• Lamb Dhansaag — Tender diced lamb cooked with mixed lentils, Indian spices, baby spinach and caramelised garlic
• Lamb Madras — Tender lamb cubes cooked in a rich gravy with coconut cream and shredded coconut
• Lamb Saagwala — Tender diced lamb cooked in a fresh spinach gravy with fresh herbs and spices
• Lamb Do Pyaza — Tender diced lamb cooked with pickled onion, hint of cumin, and whole red chillies
• Boti Masala — Tender diced lamb cooked with onions, tomatoes and a delicately spiced cashew nut gravy
• Lamb Vindaloo — Diced lamb pickled overnight in vinegar and spicy Goan seasonings

Indo Chinese

• Chicken Fried Rice — Fried rice tossed with spiced chicken and seasonings
• Veg Fried Rice — Fried rice tossed with fresh mixed vegetables
• Chilly Chicken (Dry) — Stir-fried seasoned chicken pieces tossed dry with chillies and sauces
• Chicken 65 — Spicy, deep-fried battered chicken preparation with South Indian spices
• Chicken Momo (Steam) — Steamed dumplings filled with spiced chicken mince
• Veg Momo (Steam) — Steamed dumplings filled with seasoned vegetables
• Chilly Chicken Momo — Chicken dumplings tossed in a spicy, tangy chilli gravy
• Chilly Veg Momo — Vegetable dumplings tossed in a spicy, tangy chilli gravy

Chicken Mains

• Butter Chicken — Tandoori cooked pieces of tender chicken cooked in fragrant spices in a creamy tomato gravy
• Chicken Korma — Boneless chicken cooked in a delicately spiced creamy gravy of cashew nuts, garnished with sliced almonds
• Chicken Saagwala — Boneless chicken cooked in a fresh spinach gravy with fresh spices and herbs, garnished with julienne ginger
• Chicken Tikka Masala — Grilled chicken cooked in an onion, tomato, capsicum gravy, garnished with coriander and capsicum
• Chicken Vindaloo — Goan hot and spicy curry of chicken cooked in spices and vinegar left to pickle overnight
• Mango Chicken — Boneless chicken pieces cooked in onion and yoghurt gravy with a hint of mango puree
• Chicken Mushroom Masala — Boneless diced chicken cooked with fresh button mushrooms and chef’s special spices
• Chicken Do Pyaza — Boneless chicken cooked with pickled onion, hint of cumin, and whole red chillies
• Chicken Nawabi — Boneless chicken cooked in onion, tomato and coconut cream gravy, garnished with shredded coconut
• Chicken Madras — Boneless chicken pieces cooked in a rich gravy with a subtle hint of coconut cream
• Chicken Jalfrezi — Grilled chicken cooked with vegetables, garnished with whole red chillies and coriander

Seafood Mains

• Fish Masala — Fillets of fish from the bay cooked with onion, tomatoes, herbs and spices
• Malai Prawns — Succulent tail-on prawns cooked in a mildly spiced creamy coconut sauce
• Dhingri Prawns — Succulent tail-on prawns cooked in a rich gravy with mushrooms and tomatoes
• Goan Fish Curry — Fillets of fish cooked in coconut cream, onions, tomatoes, finished with ginger and coriander
• Butter Prawns — Succulent tail-on prawns cooked in fragrant spices and a creamy tomato gravy
• Fish Vindaloo — Goan hot and spicy curry of fish fillets cooked in spices and vinegar left to pickle overnight

Tandoor Breads

• Tandoori Roti — Wholemeal oven baked bread
• Naan — Plain white flour bread baked in the tandoor oven
• Garlic Naan — Bread stuffed and topped with garlic
• Kheema Naan — Bread stuffed with spiced lamb mince
• Potato Naan — Bread stuffed with spiced potatoes
• Cheese Naan — Bread stuffed with melted cheese
• Cheese & Onion Naan — Bread stuffed with cheese and onions
• Cheese & Garlic Naan — Bread stuffed with cheese and minced garlic
• Paneer Kulcha — Bread stuffed with home-made cottage cheese
• Peshawari Naan — Sweet tandoori bread stuffed with dry fruits and cherries
• Lacchha Paratha — Layered and buttered wholemeal flour bread
• Chocolate Naan — Plain white flour bread stuffed with rich chocolate

Biryani And Rice

• Chicken Biryani — Fragrant basmati rice dish prepared with spiced chicken pieces
• Lamb Biryani — Spiced diced lamb cooked together with seasoned basmati rice
• Beef Biryani — Tender diced beef infused into aromatic basmati rice
• Prawn Biryani — Succulent prawns cooked with aromatic spiced basmati rice
• Veg Biryani — Assorted vegetables cooked together with spiced basmati rice
• Cauliflower Rice — Grated cauliflower prepared as a light rice alternative
• Jeera Rice — Basmati rice seasoned with tempered cumin seeds
• Plain Rice — Steamed fragrant plain basmati rice

Vegetarian Mains

• Kadai Paneer — North Indian delicacy of cottage cheese in a dry gravy of onions, capsicums and tomatoes
• Palak Paneer — Home-made cottage cheese cooked in a fresh spinach gravy, garnished with sliced ginger
• Matar Paneer — Home-made cottage cheese and minted peas cooked in a tomato and onion gravy
• Shahi Paneer — Cottage cheese cooked in rich creamy tomato gravy with cashew nuts and chopped onions
• Bhaji Dum Masala — Medley of vegetables cooked with chef's special spices in a dry gravy
• Malai Kofta — Homemade cottage cheese balls cooked in rich cashew nut gravy with sliced almonds
• Navratan Korma — Medley of vegetables cooked in a delicately spiced creamy cashew nut gravy
• Chana Masala — Chickpeas cooked with chunky onions, tomato, coriander and ginger in a thick spiced gravy
• Sabji Meolny — Mixed chunky vegetables cooked in a fresh spinach sauce
• Aloo Matar — Succulent peas and potatoes cooked in an onion and tomato gravy
• Aloo Gobi — Cauliflower florets and potatoes cooked in a tomato and onion gravy with julienne ginger
• Bombay Aloo — Potato cubes tossed with cumin seeds, chunky onion and tomato sauce
• Saag Aloo — Potatoes cooked with onions and tomatoes in a fresh spinach gravy
• Dal Makhani — Mixed lentils slow-cooked with mild spices, finished with butter in a copper haandi
• Matar Mushroom Masala — White button mushrooms cooked with peas and chopped onions in tomato gravy
• Dal Fry — Mixed lentils pan fried with onions, tomatoes, herbs, fresh coriander and ginger

Desserts & Drinks

• Malai Kulfi — Hand made Indian ice cream with cardamom seeds and cashew nuts
• Gulab Jamun — Creamed milk and flour dumplings served warm in sugar syrup
• Cheesecake — House cheesecake offering rotating flavors
• Mango Lassi — Traditional Indian chilled mango and yogurt drink

Frequently asked questions

Are the curries gluten-free?

Yes, all curries served on the main menu are prepared completely gluten-free.

Can the spice level of dishes be adjusted?

Yes, all but a few mains can be customized to your preferred heat level: mild, medium, or hot.

Does the restaurant take reservations or takeaway orders by email?

No, table bookings and takeaway orders should be made directly by calling the restaurant by phone.

What online ordering services are available for delivery or pickup?

The restaurant accepts online orders through Yummi and Ordermeal, or you can call the Stoke branch directly.

Is there a surcharge on public holidays?

Yes, a 10% surcharge applies on public holidays.

Does The Indian Café provide event catering?

Yes, customized Indian and Nepali catering menus are available for special gatherings and parties.

Tips

• {"body":"Call the Stoke branch directly to book a table or arrange takeaway, as bookings are not taken via email.","title":"Phone for Bookings"}
• {"body":"Try the steamed or chilli momo dumplings for a taste of authentic Himalayan street food alongside traditional curries.","title":"Explore Nepali Momos"}
• {"body":"Keep in mind that a 10% surcharge is added to the bill when dining on public holidays.","title":"Public Holiday Dining"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"All curries are gluten-free; extensive vegetarian menu available.","payments":"EFTPOS and major credit cards accepted (except Diners Card)."}