Family Restaurant Melbourne: Where the Whole Table Gets a Seat at the Feast.
Indian and Sri Lankan fine dining in Mount Waverley, made for birthdays, big families and long, loud, happy dinners.
A Family Restaurant in Melbourne That Feels Like a Celebration
Most families know the feeling: five people, five opinions and one booking to please everyone. Waadiya is a family restaurant in Melbourne that makes that easy. Our menu puts Indian and Sri Lankan dishes side by side, so the person who wants butter chicken and the person who wants fiery Sri Lankan curry both leave happy.
The dining room has the soft lighting and polish of fine dining, but the mood is warm and relaxed. It’s a place for date nights and Sunday lunches, for work dinners and three-generation birthdays. Dishes arrive to be shared, and the conversation gets louder as the table fills up.
Behind it all is our host, Nalin Jayaweera. Living far from home, he found that cooking was how he stayed close to the flavours and people he grew up with. That feeling is the foundation of Waadiya. Read his story on our About Us page.
THE ROYAL TREAT
The Royal Treat: A Feast for $64 Per Person
If your family can’t agree on what to order, let us decide. The Waadiya Royal Treat is a generous South Asian feast with your choice of an Indian or Sri Lankan menu, featuring entrées, bottomless mains and dessert. Think pan rolls, fish cutlets and hot butter calamari to start, then curries, rice and fresh bread that keep coming until you’re full.
It’s the easiest way to feed a table, and the best way to try a bit of everything.
SIGNATURE DISHES
Sri Lankan Food in Melbourne Worth Travelling For
Searching for Sri Lankan food near me? These are the dishes our guests talk about most.
Kottu Roti
Shredded flatbread stir-fried on a hot griddle with fresh vegetables, eggs and your choice of meat, tossed in a blend of spices. It’s smoky, savoury and one of Sri Lanka’s best-loved street foods, now served in a proper dining room.
Hopper Train
One guest called it the highlight of their visit: endless freshly made hoppers, crisp at the edges and soft in the middle. Tear one, scoop up some curry and keep the train rolling.
Black Pork Curry and Sri Lankan Curries
Sri Lankan cuisine is all about depth. Our curries range from mild to properly hot, so the kids and the chilli lovers can both enjoy the same meal.
INDIAN MENU
Looking for the Best Indian Restaurant Near You?
Our Indian classics hold their own. The butter chicken is creamy, silky and made for dunking fluffy naan. The lamb rogan josh is rich with spice. The tandoori lamb chops are marinated in yoghurt and spices, grilled until succulent and served with fresh herb chutneys. There are fragrant biryanis too, and plenty of vegetarian choices, including samosas and paneer dishes.
If you’ve been typing the best Indian restaurant near me into your phone, order a few dishes, add a basket of naan and share everything. Then add a Sri Lankan curry for a table no ordinary Indian restaurant can match. Browse the dine-in menu before you book.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
For the Tables That Deserve Something Bigger
Royal Waadiya Seafood Platter
For a milestone dinner, this lavish centrepiece brings lobster, blue swimmer crabs, tiger prawns, whole fried tilapia and baby squid, served with ghee rice, fresh salads and a bowl of rich crab stew. It’s available for 4 or 6 people, with or without lobster. Advance reservation is required for Royal Seafood Platter, and please allow about an hour for preparation.
Wild Boar or Venison with Cassava
Something different for adventurous eaters: wild boar or venison with cassava, paired with the earthy character of coconut toddy. It’s made to be enjoyed slowly.
WINE AND DRINKS
Wines and Cocktails That Love Spice
Good spice deserves a good glass. Our curated wine list includes crisp white wines that cool the heat and lift the flavours of coconut and seafood dishes, with richer options for the bolder mains. Our cocktails are as fun to look at as they are to drink, and some arrive with ice that lights up. Not sure what to order? Ask your server for a pairing.
