Fork & Fingers

Fork and Fingers is an Indian-fusion restaurant that feels cool and chic with a selection of wines and craft beers, but has not at all departed from its Indian roots, food-wise. The décor on the wall reflects that – framed pictures of Indian movie stars and icons against a rustic brick backdrop painted with pop-art. My partner and I ordered their famous Butter Chicken Lasagne and Crab Roll with Indian Pesto & Asparagus from the fusion menu and the Paani Puri from the traditional menu.

The Paani Puri was a surprise at first – a row of delicate bite-sized pastries sitting on top of shot glasses filled with chutney & flavoured water seemed out of place before we remembered where we were. One of the owners explained that this was emulating Indian street-food, with the only exception being the shotglasses containing chutney – the ‘authentic’ version is typically served with the liquid and pastry unseparated leading to sogginess. F&F’s version required pouring of the ‘shots’ into the partly hollowed-pastries. This proved to be a masterstroke as you take your first bite – a distinct crunch followed by an explosion of sweet and savoury flavour of the chutney water and seasoned veggie insides. I shotted the rest of the leftover liquid – something that my palate couldn’t quite handle but something that I’m sure lovers of Indian food will adore.

Next up was the Crab Roll with Indian Pesto & Asparagus, served with an incredibly spicy sauce (supposedly too hot even for the owner’s liking!) and a much more mild, sweeter chutney. The dish was beautifully plated and everything contributed to the wonderful texture and taste of the rolls – from the carrots to the pea puree that was also present. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy seafood normally, the crab rolls stood out for not being overly ‘fishy’; instead exuding bold Indian flavour.

Finally, it was time for the Butter Chicken or ‘Desi’ Lasagne – which is every bit as delicious as it sounds. The only criticism to be had was that the butter chicken flavour was not particularly strong, making it hard to distinguish flavours but I’m sure this was a conscious choice – as the cheesy Italian lasagne sheets perfectly complimented the butter chicken. It was simple, effective and delicious and left me longing for another serve. With my partner full, it seemed like that I would have to wait for next time, a return that we’ll definitely be making.

Overall rating: 4/5 

Location: 230 Union Road, Ascot Vale, Melbourne                                    https://www.forkandfingers.com.au/