Anniversaries tend to go one of two ways. You book somewhere expensive and quiet, sit across from each other and run out of things to say by the entrées. Or you leave it too late and end up wherever has a table.
Waadiya is a better answer. We’re an Indian and Sri Lankan restaurant in Mount Waverley, and the food is built for sharing. Dishes land in the middle of the table, and you end up talking about what’s in front of you before you get to anything else.
Why a shared table suits an anniversary
Ordering your own plate and eating it in silence isn’t how South Asian food is meant to be enjoyed. Here you pass bowls, tear naan, argue over the last piece of tandoori chicken and compare notes on the curries. A few years in, that kind of easy back-and-forth is worth more than a tasting menu.
The room helps too. The lighting is low, the service is friendly without hovering, and the wine list is good enough that you’re not stuck with one bottle choice.
Option 1: The Waadiya Royal Treat, $64 per person
The Indian Royal Treat
- Entrée: samosa, tandoori chicken, seekh kebab
- Mains: butter chicken, lamb rogan josh and vegetable korma, with rice, naan and raita
- Dessert: kulfi or gulab jamun
The Sri Lankan Royal Treat
- Entrée: pan roll, fish cutlet, hot butter calamari
- Mains: choose two from chicken, lamb, beef, black pork or Jaffna fish curry, then choose cashew curry or eggplant, served with rice and egg roti
- Dessert: watalappam or kulfi
The mains are bottomless, so you can keep going until you’re done. Only one menu can be ordered per table, so decide together whether it’s an Indian or a Sri Lankan night. If you can’t agree, flip a coin and come back next year for the other one.
Option 2: The Royal Waadiya Seafood Platter, for four or six
For a bigger milestone, like a 25th with family or a joint celebration with close friends, the Seafood Platter is the showpiece. It brings lobster, blue swimmer crabs, tiger prawns, whole fried tilapia and baby squid to the table, with ghee rice, fresh salads and a bowl of rich crab stew alongside.
It’s available for 4 or 6 people, with or without lobster. You need to reserve in advance and the kitchen needs about an hour to prepare it, so mention it when you book.
Prefer to choose your own dishes?
Order à la carte and build your own spread. A few dishes that work well for two:
- Butter chicken with naan: creamy and mild. The one everyone reaches for.
- Tandoori lamb chops: marinated in spices and yoghurt, grilled and served with herb chutneys.
- Kottu roti: shredded flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg and your choice of meat. A Sri Lankan street-food classic that’s good for sharing.
- Wild boar or venison with cassava and coconut toddy: if you want something you won’t find at the usual Indian restaurant, order this.
Wine and drinks for your anniversary dinner
A good bottle makes the night feel like an occasion. Our wine list runs from a house sparkling to French champagne, so you can pick whatever suits the evening.
Sparkling and champagne
Start with a glass or open a bottle. The list includes a South Australian house sparkling, a French Blanc de Blancs, Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve and Moët & Chandon Champagne for a proper toast.
White wines
If you prefer white wine, there are sauvignon blancs from South Australia, Coonawarra and the Adelaide Hills, plus chardonnay (including Lost Farm from Tasmania), Basileus Riesling from the Clare Valley, pinot grigio and pinot gris, and two moscatos if you like something sweeter.
What to pair with what
- Sparkling with the entrées. It cuts through the richness of samosas and fried calamari.
- Riesling or sauvignon blanc with fish, prawns and the Seafood Platter.
- Moscato with dessert, especially kulfi or gulab jamun.
Not sure? Ask the team and they’ll recommend something for your menu.
A few tips for the night
- Book ahead and mention the occasion. Weekends fill up, and the Seafood Platter has to be ordered in advance anyway.
- Lunch is an option. If evenings are hard to organise, we’re open Thursday to Sunday from 12 pm to 2:30 pm as well.
- Planning a bigger table? We’re also a family restaurant in Melbourne and a birthday restaurant in Mount Waverley, so a group celebration is no trouble.
- Not sure about spice levels? Ask. The team will point you toward what suits both of you.
Why people drive out to Mount Waverley
Couples come from Glen Waverley, Burwood, Clayton, Mulgrave and further out because they want something more interesting than the default date-night spots. Sri Lankan food is still new to a lot of people, and trying it together is a good way to mark a year.