Aagaman
271 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
03 9676 9234
Indian, Nepalese
$$$
Food
- Pappadum With Tamarind Sauce And Raita
- Momos
- Tapori Tandoori Mushrooms
- Goan Fish Curry
- Lamb Korma
- Saffron Rice
- Garlic Naan
- Pista Kulfi
- Mango Lassi
The Good
We started off with Pappadums, which were light and crispy and came accompanied with a tamarind sauce and a raita sauce. The tamarind sauce was rather sweet and the raita had a smooth texture. Compounded by a refreshing hint of mint, this paired well with the classic Indian flavours.
The Momo’s, a traditional Indian dumpling, were well presented. Exceptionally moist, the inner stuffing was well-seasoned and the best I’ve come across in Melbourne to date.
For the mains, we selected the Goan Fish Curry and Lamb Korma, served with Saffron Rice and Garlic Naans. The Goan Fish Curry was rich, thick and creamy and the fish was cooked to absolute perfection.
The Lamb Korma was equally rich, thick and creamy, however, the lamb within was rather tough and perhaps required further marinating or cooking time. Accompanying the beautifully spiced curries was the Saffron Rice, which was delightfully fragrant.
We also sampled the Garlic Naan, which definitely deserve a special mention. These were undoubtedly the most delicious naans I have ever had, delicately soft and fluffy and coated with a generous amount of garlic.
To end the night, we had Pista Kulfi, an Indian ice cream dessert, which tasted like frozen condensed milk with pistachio pieces. It was quite nice, however the flavour of the pistachio itself was rather muted and would've benefitted from bolder flavours.
The Mediocre
The silky smooth Tapori Tandoori Mushrooms were well contrasted by the sweetness and texture of the sultanas embedded within. Despite being so vibrant and colourful, giving the illusion that they would be bursting with flavour, we were left slightly disappointed as the mushrooms only exhibited a weak aroma of tandoor, which weren't helped by the muted flavours of the cottage cheese. Additional spices would be a welcome addition to further enhance the flavours of these mushrooms.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
It was a delightful evening, enjoyed in the setting of a classy Indian restaurant.
While the execution was not flawless, the majority of the dishes served tonight was highly enjoyable and ranks amongst the tastiest I've sampled in Melbourne.
The service was friendly and prompt, coupled with accomodating recommendations to dishes and ideal spice levels, Aagaman could easily become one of Melbourne's best Indian establishment with some minor improvements.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Yes! The Garlic Naans are to die for, and accompanied by some of that flawless Goan Fish Curry, it was overall a fantastic Indian feast.
Penguineats would like to thank Aagaman for inviting us to sample their menu.