Review Cassia @ Skycity - Auckland Central

We did the journey through India tasting menu and it was amazing! We particularly enjoyed the pani puri, vindaloo carrots and the chicken labrardar curry. Decent sized portions meant we walked away very satisfied. The service was excellent too. It’s a good thing we don’t live in Auckland or we would be here all the time.

We love Cassia so much it’s our fav. This is our 4th time to dine here and they always deliver. The food are outstanding, really complex flavours and generous serving. You can’t go wrong with the beef rib - so yum! They’ve also got a nice drink selection too.

Everything A+++++ we indians have experienced all sorts of food outside, from street to 5/7 starts Restaurants. CASSIA is one of the 5/7 stars restaurants. I could proudly say that finally, we have had the Master Chefs level dishes in auckland. Perfect spice levels. I like their set manu system. This is the confidence of the Chef. Whatever they will cook is going to b 100/100.. you wouldn't go wrong, and they ll not give you a chance to complain. Very professional staff.

Cassia at SkyCity offers amazing Indian fusion food and exceptional service. A must-try for food enthusiasts. I will definitely be going back.

Third time I have been here and first time review. The menu is pretty good and the service is fantastic. Very friendly and helpful. The food was all good and enjoyable. The tandoori and the roti were exceptional dishes that I would definitely go back for again!! Great traditional Indian flavours in a modern take.

Our time at Cassia was truly the best dining experience we’ve ever had. From the minute you step into the beautiful premises on Federal Street, you are greeted with friendly staff and incredible smells. The service is phenomenal from start to finish. Now the food, oh the food, it is an absolute knock out. I highly suggest the journey through India option letting the chef choose dishes for a four course meal. We loved that every dish had warmth and spice without burning. A wonderful surprise was the mushroom, green chilli, and truffle dish, and you’ve got to try their classic roasted carrot, vindaloo dish. My mum who has coeliac disease was fed without any problem whatsoever and really only missed out on the naan. Finally, the cocktails are outstanding. I’d highly recommend the Amore speziato. 10/10 experience 🩷

One of the best restaurants in Auckland, highly recommended. It was the second time I went there, and had the same amazing experience. We ordered the August Restaurant month set menu, plus a few extra dishes from the A La Carte menu. Top notch food, presentation and service, everything was very consistent. The cocktail was amazing. The only minor criticism I have is on the blood orange sorbet dessert, I felt it didn’t need the extra crunchy element of the ‘honeycomb’. I’d prefer to have a softer texture like a sponge cake instead. Overall it was an exceptional dining experience, great value and every bite was remarkable.

Food tasted good. Couldn't complain. Service needs some work (some staff need better training, not all). We went for a valentines day set menu ($180) and hoped the atmosphere would suit the occasion. That wasn't necessarily the case. The menu looked like a last minute print out without any thought.

Wonderful service and served just the right level of spice and spiciness for me at least, a good variety of cocktails and beverages, great music and decor. I would rate this restaurant a reputable 4.6 stars. The draw back is that you can’t choose the level of spiciness you wanted and it’s relatively hot for kiwi’s standard; and the table is way too small for the tiny amount of food that we’ve ordered. Oh yes, there is no mobile coverage inside the restaurant, too.

Such a great experience! Flavours that explode in your mouth and the cocktails were amazing. Great place to go to for a special evening.

Absolutely amazing experience! We had the journey through India vegan set menu and everything was so delicious I was in Heaven. The eggplant and carrots were both standout dishes but everything we ate was incredible. Thank-you!

What a spectacular gem of high class Indian food with some amazing aesthetics. The food is delicious and amazingly displayed, the ambience is awesome and service is fantastic. Thoroughly recommend anyone in auckland to check this place out for good food, wine and fun. Plus get the cones, what a delicious appetiser!

5 stars for the food and service: I have been to their Sidart too, but Cassia has the right amount of Indian spice and element in their food. Green curry beef brisket and the carrot (I am surprised too) are my favorite. Took the drink advice from the lovely tall staff, the cocktails are so nice

Easily 5 stars for food. Easily 5 stars for accommodating our party of 3 when we only booked 2. Easily 5 stars for ambiance and super chill vibe. However, while the service is very attentive and very pleasant, the pace of the tasting was about 45 minutes too long. It might sound like whinging, but 20 minutes between finishing a course and then getting the next course is a bit long -although it certainly kept us hungry, which is good for a tasting menu. I'd 100% return and recommend this place to a friend, I'd just also make sure there's sufficient time.

Great take on Indian food in a fine dining style. The carrot dish they had on offer was truly amazing - to be praising of all things a carrot dish (and all the vege dishes actually) in particular on a review shows how good they are. The service can be a bit slow, ordered a glass of wine and had to wait over ten minutes to get it. Also, first courses came flying out and then had to wait close to 40 minutes between the later courses. Lucky the food was so good I looked past that as best I could. The set menu also had nothing unique that wasn’t on the regular menu, and the cost was essentially the same so you’re better off ordering what you want in my opinion and going from there. Despite those quirks I would not hesitate in returning!

I love this place. They really look after you. Love that it’s halal so bestie can eat here too. We were well looked after. Beautiful meal. Those lamb chops are to die for. The malabar fish curry was perfect. Definitely try the laal mass croquettes. The cocktails are perfect accompaniment thank you for the beautiful touch of the chocolate mousse for the birthday girl. Loved it. Can’t wait to be back

Recommendations brought us here, and we were not disappointed. Bookings need to be done weeks in advance for weekend dining, so if you have a special occasion coming up, plan ahead. We were seated in one of the booths - perfect size for 2 or 3 people. Nice too that you can experience the ambience, but also have a conversation without filtering other voices. We had Journey through India set menu. Beautifully balanced tastes on each dish. And finishing touches on desserts were wonderful. Staff friendly and attentive without a hint of being intrusive. Great experience.

For years I had heard so many things about Cassia and never made it. Boy am I glad that changed as the lunch we had there was simply world class. The flavors are so fresh and light which is not normal for Indian cuisine, everything we tried was a home run and we can’t wait to return soon. James Ashwin Kakapo Business Sales

Just wow! I never thought about combining Indian cuisine and fine dining, but now I think completely different. Thank you Cassia team for the wonderful food and drinks!

Tried Cassia at Home, ordered Caramelised Duck leg and Wagyu Beef Croquettes. The duck dish was delicious, perfectly cooked and juicy, mixed with the Chettinad sauce, it's a match made in heaven. Wagy beef croquettes was also amazing, it was perfectly cooked and juicy as well, soft on the inside, slightly crunchy on the outside, I wish I made an additional order of it. 5/5 would go for it again after lockdown.

Good food that wasn't trying too hard. We had the business lunch and it was so filling for $45! Pan puri was delish - I could've ate 5 😋

Sooooooo yummy!!! Everything was perfect. Cannot fault. I truly loved everything about this meal. We got the journey through India set menu and it was incredible!! Yum!!! Can’t wait to go back. Our waiter was so great too.

Lovey snacks. Lamb chops were really yum. Pork belly was bland on its own , but the curry it was placed on added the flavour. The lamb kebab was a bit misleading as it turned out to be a seekh kebab with gravy than lamb pieces which was not made clear. Atmosphere is very loud and had to scream across the table. Great value for what you pay for though.

A simple 10/10. Flawless food. Amiable staff. Amazing ambiance. The best fish tikka I have ever had.

Absolutely loved the lamb kulcha and the eggplant dish. Great ambiance and wait staff are extremely skilled

Cassia has changed my mind on fine dining. The potions were so generous for a fine dining restaurant, the staff was so kind and helpful on recommendations and the food was beautiful. We came in to celebrate my dads birthday and they were so kind and thoughtful to come out with a little desert with a candle on top which was absolutely delicious, that sorbet was on another level. Really enjoyed our night here 😊

I had stopped leaving Zomato reviews but cassia is so good I really had to come back. Ladies and gentlemen this place is worth every penny. If you have money and want to try Auckland's food scene, come here. Everything on their menu is ORGASMIC. Your mouth will thank you in advance. Your eyes will roll back and you will be sent to a plane of higher existence. Just come. Just spend all your savings. Just do it. Thank me later. I've eaten a lot around the world. This makes my top 3. Easy.

Great atmosphere, wait staff very very attentive and offered excellent breakdown and suggestions on what to try. We were so happy with our whole experience with the food being an amazing will be back !

Delicious food. Will definitely be returning to try the other options on the menu. Top dishes were the tandoori fish and beef rib. The chocolate dessert was the best dessert I've had recently

loved the food, staff were good and helpful. Food took a while to come out, but well worth the wait. once the food came out, it came out steadily and fast. Highly recommend a night out here.

I enjoyed the mouth-watering crabs and pani puri

Went there for the first time and expected a lot ffromit .<br/>It delivered excellent tasty food , things I have not tried before and did it with style and fun . Love the seating area and open plan kitchen it’s a great atmosphere.<br/>The service and food are sublime .<br/>I will go back again soon to try things we missed the first time round .<br/>Loved it

Came here for a birthday dinner and it was an amazing experience. Lovely staff, great food with an amazing ambience. Definitely a go to place for special occasions if you love Indian food and for some fine dining 😊😊

CASSIA’s take on Indian fusion cuisine is phenomenal, I couldn’t forget about their amazing lambchops after I first tried them two years ago!<br/><br/>Here are the dishes we ordered this time, I was 💯happy with every single one:<br/>🍽Scallop & Scampi starter<br/>Very generous chunks of raw scallop and coated cooked scampi served with lentil crisps and white strawberries!<br/>🍽Goan Lamb Chops 🏆🏆🏆<br/>Aromatic, juicy and unforgettable!! Standard portion comes with 3 chops, option to add $9 for an extra piece👌🏼 yes please<br/>🍽Market Fish<br/>🍽Garlic Naan<br/>Naan is a must when it comes to Indian food🤤 fairly priced at $6<br/>🍽Califlower Bhaji <br/>Deep fried califlower balls, moist and surprisingly good, a good vegetable side dish to have<br/>🍽Chocolate, Raspberry, Hazelnut, Honeycomb dessert<br/><br/>Cassia is also located on Fort Lane, love how this laneway is populated with an array of good restaurants and bars!<br/>Be sure to make your reservation early, we booked ours almost a month in advance for their busy December season.<br/><br/>💲Price ~$70/person<br/>😋Taste 5.5/5<br/>📍CBD

We had the tasting menu which was a great experience trying different foods and we left with very full bellies.

Went for a birthday meal. Good service, our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. Really ambient setting. They have some Excellent food. Get the carrots (they are incredible!) and the lamb shanks as your to-share entrees! They were AMAZING. The mains are quite filling as they are all curries, I suggest just sharing one, you can always order something else after. The pumpkin entree was also excellent. We got the duck as our main and it was really lovely. Everything was just the right amount of spiced and very flavourful and well cooked. The cauliflower bhaji left something to be desired though, I wouldn’t recommend ordering that side dish. Cocktails were nice but not as good as I expected from other reviews. Extensive G&T menu though if you like your gin which was cool. Definitely worth a visit, unique cuisine done really really well.

We booked a table for 8:00pm but were directed to the bar on arrival for 30 minutes with no acknowlegdement of the wait time. Food was nice but service was lacking for the price. We ordered chicken and were not told how spicy it would be and we are good with spice but this was warning worthy.

A discreet little restaurant located on Fort Street. Excellent ambience and a great atmosphere for an intimate dining.<br/><br/>The lamb chop was remarkable, well spiced and grilled to the perfect tenderness.<br/><br/>Their garlic naan is crispy and crusty. The cocktail was quite delicious as well.<br/><br/>Food taste: 9/10<br/>Food presentation: 9/10<br/>Service: 10/10<br/>Ambience: 9/10<br/>Value for money: 8/10<br/><br/>Price $60 per person (excl alcohol)

This is by far my favourite Indian fine dining restaurant, second time coming here and still just as good. The lamb chops and coriander cream were a crowd favourite, and all the curry mains were falling off the bone and full of flavour. Service is excellent, and I love the industrial vibes of the place. That said, it is quite a loud and busy restaurant with seats close together- so if you are in the mood for a very quiet intimate setting this may not be the place (they do have private dining areas though)...amazing!

Been on the bucket list for a while. First impressions, the place was beautiful. It smelled good, the staff were welcoming and friendly.<br/>We were taken through then menu and given a suggestive number of dishes to order - what fantastic service<br/>The entrees were AMAZING!!! Could have just fined on a selection of these! Not only did they taste great, they looked like works of art.<br/>The mains were quite beautiful too, but didn’t quite hit the mark. The pork belly had too much apple cider vinegar, unfortunately far too acidic. And the beef short rib vindaloo just slightly too spicy - which is fine, I like spice, but there were just no other flavours there to help counter or even provide support for that spice <br/><br/>Would definitely come back. Beautiful fit out and lovely experience

Enjoyed dinner here with my parents. The wait staff are top notch and explained the menu to us. My father had two oysters and my mum and I had the pani puri. Dad loved the oysters and the pani puri was a perfect appetite tease. For starters, we ordered the scallops, eggplant and the fish. The scallops were raw which was unexpected and my mum didn't eat any because of that. The eggplant was very nice but felt like there was too much sauce. The fish was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. For mains we ordered the tandoori chicken and caramelised duck which both came with rice. The chicken was wonderfully cooked, but tasted the same as what I would get from my local takeaway. The duck was still on the bone which was a little annoying when these are suppose to be sharing plates. The flavours were amazing and the duck was cooked to perfect tenderness. <br/>My biggest gripe was the dessert, I ordered the pineapple expecting it to be maybe a mouse or something along those lines. No, it was a piece of cut pineapple with a few other items on a plate. <br/>Overall, really enjoyed it but wouldn't go back in a hurry.

My ‘go to restaurant’ for special occasions as quality comes at a price. The shared surprise and enjoyment of the dishes by friends and family and also perfect service make for warm memories.

Beautiful place, loved the hanging lights. Great ambience. We shared 5 curries between 7 and it was a great amount, staff were helpful with judging how much we needed. All the curries were delicious. The onion pakora curry was my fave, so creamy and flavourful. Lovely naan too.<br/>The staff were friendly but neglected to check in with us on drinks, rice etc and we had to wave them down to get help despite there being only a few tables full.

Technically 3 stars but It loses one because it's so expensive. I was very excited to try this restaurant because I love Indian food and being Metro top 50 and all. For a highly rated restaurant that you have to book 2 weeks and advance (which was actually half empty)and will set you back $200, I was expecting my mouth to be singing with flavour, but from the first mouthful I realised that would not be the case. The flavour profile of every dish I tried can only be described as unbalanced and lacking. Ugghh so disappointing.

To start we got a Potato and paneer fritter, kasundi and Mushroom & Truffle kulcha. The fritter tasted bland like a deep fried mushed potato ball but the sauce underneath was tasty. The mushroom kulcha was great. Fresh bread stuffed with potato and mushrooms with a hint of truffle oil, however the chutney lacked spice and flavour. For starters we got Pumpkin, goat’s curd, tamarind, spiced cabbage which was great. Something different with unique sour notes of pickled cabbage,sweet pumpkin and crunchy seeds. We also ordered Scallop, scampi, cultured cream, pickled onion which was sensational but only as far as nz produce goes, scallops were server raw and were amazing. Scampi tails were tasty but quite dry. We then got our mains which were really disappointing I’m sorry to say. Rajasthani beef short rib, cashew, daikon which was $40 tasted like burnt tomato and onion sauce with a very bitter sauce with a smoky aftertaste. <br/>Short rib was cooked really well but the whole dish lacked flavour, like no flavour at all. We also got a Pork belly, vindaloo, apple dish which again was bland and very sour unbalanced flavour. Pork was very good and free range so well done on that. Got a side of naan bread which was a naan bread you can get at any decent Indian takeaway.<br/>Service and ambience was good, friendly staff, quick and knowledgeable. If you expect flavoursome Indian food with a twist you will be disappointed. Average European dishes with a hint of Indian flavour is more accurate. Deserves a 3 but giving a 2 due to high prices and all the hype.

A truly unique dining experience. A winner of Metro’s restaurant of the year, Cassia is well-known amongst Aucklanders. Owned by celebrity chefs Sid and Chad Sahrawt and managed by engaging and fun Craig Lovie, you are treated to a range of flavours while being humored by great service.<br/><br/>Before diving into the dining experience, the cocktails at Cassia were fantastic. Particular favorites being the Dragon Breath, Monkey Sours and the SPicy Mosambi. In terms of food we ordered a mixture of entrees and mains. The Snapper was a personal favorite fresh tasting it was a perfect contrast to the flavorsome Tandoori Chicken. The naan bread here has that smoky flavor and crisp on the bottom providing a great texture every bite.<br/><br/>Overall a magnificent evening at one of Auckland's premier restaurants.

If you don't like spicy food, there is a good chance you won’t like Cassia. <br/><br/>After seeing so many glowing reviews and knowing this restaurant is from the same family as Sidart (which is absolutely amazing) my expectations were high. <br/><br/>I suppose going to an Indian restaurant comes with the implicit risk that some food will be spicy. However, as someone with a milder pallet and accustomed to either menus or waiters pointing out what food is spicy and what is not, we were caught off guard by the heat of half of our dishes — the tandori chicken main and seehk kebab entre were too hot for us! Given the otherwise excellent service, if not the menu, we would expect the waiter to brief diners on the menu.<br/><br/>Beyond the spicy food, highlights include the cocktails, an absolutely delicious carrot dish and our waiter (notwithstanding the spice issue). We note our waiter got the kitchen to make the main a little less spicy for us, which we appreciated, but Cassia’s ‘ultra mild’ was still quite spicy.<br/><br/>The ambiance was also nice and cozy.

That Modern Indian Dining 🇮🇳<br/>✔️ We ticked Cassia off my list to celebrate my birthday, and it was such an awesome experience. Cassia is hidden underneath the Fort Lane, right next to the ROXY. As we stepped inside and down the stairs, the warm, cozy and inviting atmosphere hit us. And they also have one of my favourite things for restaurants: an open kitchen. 😆<br/>🇮🇳 We are not expert in Indian cuisine, so we asked one of the waiters' recommendations. He explained each dishes well and passionately! Followed his advice, I got Pani puri, potato, chickpea, mint and Celeriac tart, yoghurt, paneer to nibble. I love the Pani puri, it's a popular street snack in India, but it was my first time to try it. Put the whole thing in, one bite. The crispy crepe mixed with all the flavours, mint juice just exploded in my mouth and overwhelmed my taste buds. It was surprising and satisfying. 🤩<br/>🍽 Followed with Caramelised duck, chettinad sauce, onions as my main. OMG! I love it! The skin part is nice and crunchy, while the inside is tender and moist. It's also really soft, to a level it melts in my mouth. I would rate it my favourite out of all the curries I've tried. On the side we had Garlic naan, soft, fluffy naan with the right amount of garlic taste, it's just perfect flavorful and also not greasy at all. 👌🏻💯<br/>🍫 To finish, we chose Chocolate, raspberry, hazelnut, honeycomb. Speechless for this one as it was just bloody delicious!!!! 🤤<br/>✨ Great location, perfect atmosphere, awesome services and the best modern Indian food. I don't see why you still haven't added this one to your list.

Went here for our 3 year anniversary and it was brilliant! So delicious and a real dining experience - we were eating for 2.5 hours with the tasting menu! They’re also so easy if you have dietary requirements, great service, highly recommend

Sidart & Cassia - Aucklands best restaurants! Cassia - cool industrial vibe, bold flavors, exceptional service and the gin menu.... Try the degustation, you won’t be disappointed!

Absolutely love this place! Loved the fusion touch but also they kept the authenticity. Staff are very well trained and cannot wait to come back again

I've had plenty of indian food in my life but nothing like this. If you want to try something youve never had before, get yourself here! Everything was beautiful and the service was prompt.

Wow what a restaurant.<br/><br/>We decided to pop in to Cassia for dinner and boy are we glad we did. This is not curry as you know it - it is a culinary journey of tastes and textures for your tastebuds.<br/><br/>The highlights for us were the soft shell crab and scallops, lamb and the pork belly. The deserts were okay.<br/><br/>We also tried a bottle of Louis Roederer 2011 blanc de blanc - which was delightful but a bit of an extravagance.<br/><br/>Great atmosphere and service.<br/><br/>We will be back.<br/>

So glad to finally get the chance to dine here after seeing that Gordon Ramsay ate here too. BIG fan of Sid Sahrawat. Service was great , food definitely met my expectations.The menu has been crafted really well with a nice selection while still maintaining the authenticity of Indian cuisine. We had the Lamb Kulcha, Fish Tandoori with lime, Eggplant with goats cheese and Caramelised duck. The duck was to die for, the skin nice and crispy and meat is so tender its like fish. im a happy girl.

Came here for anniversary dinner, had a lovely time. Incredible food, nice wine and great service. Highlight for me was the lamb chops and dessert, so good.

This cound be the best Indian restaurant in Auckland. I don't normally eat Indian cuisine, but these are really yum. Food presentation is 5/5, flavour is 5/5, service is good, but should be better. Staff poured water on table but didn't came to wipe it, and there's no signal in restaurant, not convenient at all.

Food is delicious, great presentation but small portion. Cocktail was average. Friendly staff and cool deco, love the light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, looks very cool, but too dark inside so non of the photos taken was perfect.

We have waited and waited to get into Cassia, finally we went for our valentines dinner. <br/>We ordered the tandoori fish and lamb chops for starters. The fish was delicious, so yummy. The lamb was cooked to perfection. <br/><br/>Mains we ordered the beef short rib and the caramelised duck. Unfortunately we did not enjoy the beef, the cardamom was so strong it overpowered everything. I actually could only have 2 spoon fulls, was so strong. The duck was delicious, soft and the acidity made that dish.

Managed to get a booking in this place after 3 weeks of waiting! Well worth the wait for sure! The place is very cosy and reminded me of Melbourne. Upon arrival we were seated and served right away, the staff were super impressive and attentive! For starters we had Lamb chops and kebab and both were divine, the serving was also generous. For mains we had Chicken tandoori which was AMAZING and Beef short rib (wasn’t too into that one...hmm) however the beef melted in your mouth. Sides we ordered cucumber salad and naan and both were super yummy and complimented the mains. And for dessert we had lychee yogurt which was super delicious and elegant. Overall we had such a wonderful night here and we truly recommend this place! Flavours were traditional yet modern, beautiful plating and the staff were lovely. I Would probably recommend their tasting menu instead of al carte (the cost comes up about the same).

Usually not a fan of Indian food not made by myself or my Mum but this is next level. Takes the wonderful flavours of Indian food and marries them with impeccable technique, quality ingredients and creativity. Such a winner. We had the lamb kulcha, scampi and scallops, seekh kebab and caramelised duck. My favourite was the scampi and scallops. Super fresh raw scallops and a lovely curry leaf and kaffir lime emulsion that was so unique and delicious. Second fave was the seekh kebab, so melty in your mouth and not fibrous with a rich gravy. Omg. I want to go back tomorrow.

Food is amazingly presented and full of flavour. My favourite is the lamb seekh kebab and the chicken dish..If you love Indian flavours this is a must try...

Down a set of stairs on the infamous fort lane lies cassia. Indian is my favourite cuisine so i had to try this place out. Awesome little venue that doesnt manage to be too loud. Tried the stuffed lamb kulcha which was ace. The seekh kebab comes with a curry base and was equally as good however i would have preffered a more charred version out of a tandoor. Beef short ribs for the main which were super tender. What ever was on top bought a bice crunchy texture to the dish. Will be back to this one

Grew up with Indian food but didn't think it could be done in such an interesting way. Great use of ingredients, very fresh and interesting food. Skip on dessert though - not really as mind blowing as the mains and appetizers

Where to start, after a long wait to visit this highly regarded establishment i have to say that we were slightly underwhelmed, the menu which does not do justice to the food , made it difficult to get excited about a dish involving a carrot or other dishes on the menu, we started with the pani puri and the celeriac tart which was probably the standout dish, these were followed by tandori fish which was acceptable , tandori chicken which was rather dry the flavour of both of these was ok, this was followed by the beef short ribs which were the star of the show, melt in the mouth unctuous, glutinous with a tasty sauce. I feel that the food while being a step from your local takeway was not sufficiently better to justify the price and i have no desire to return any time soon. The decor was ok if showing signs of wear, the floor staff were friendly and efficient, sadly i had expected better, maybe i am to fussy and expecting to much.

Amazing experience. They were very busy but the food came out fast and service was on point. My faves were the sashimi tuna and the beef short rib so yum! Will definitely be recommending!

I have been waiting to go to this place for a long time! Finally made it for my Birthday Dinner this year. I had great expectations and briefly I was not disappointed. :)<br/>Highlights of the night were - Potato and Paneer Kulcha (the tandoori/smoky flavour was on point), Seekh Kebab (cooked to perfection with delicious gravy), Lamb chops (Amazing flavours and cooked perfectly), last but not the least the Smoked Paneer and Spinach (which is essentially palak paneer, but the smokyness was just ethreal). <br/>On the other hand, only things I wasn’t impressed with were the Pani-Puri (which is my favourite street food back in India, so I was a bit disappointed as for $3per piece, it did not meet my expectations of sensory experience I had expected) & also the Spick Pork gravy was a bit too tomatoey for my liking. <br/><br/>The service was great, they brought a complimentary birthday dessert, which was great. <br/><br/>Overall an amazing experience, the flavours and textures were purely authentic Indian and fresh, it indeed took me back on a trip to my country - India.<br/><br/>Definitely recommended if you want to taste the real Indian flavours.

We had a lovely lunch at Cassia. Our waitress was very friendly and explained how the set menus and portion sizes worked since it was our first time. She recommended ordering 4 mains for our party of 5; we didn't do this but it is definitely a reasonable option. We ordered 3 Business Lunches, 2 starters, and 2 mains. The Business Lunches had smaller portions than the main menu, however our waitress informed us of this before we ordered. The main menu items were very decently sized and can be shared. All of the food was extremely delicious. My family and I especially loved the Seekh Kabab - highly recommend! The staff also noticed it was my graduation day since I was wearing regalia and they surprised me with free dessert that I didn't even order, which was a lovely end to a wonderful mea! Overall a great experience.

Have eaten here numerous times in different formations from large work groups, through to groups of friends and my husband. Every time without fail Cassia delivers delicious food and wine with fantastic service.

We tried their pork, lamb, chicken and paneer mains.<br/><br/>Everything was really good but the pork has got to be the best dish on the menu.<br/>It was beyond amazing.<br/><br/>The lamb chops is another thing not to be missed.<br/><br/>Nice desserts too.

I saw this place while I was moving around with auckland walking tour! I saw couple of people come out from an underground restaurant and this fascinated me! I booked a table for me and my guy for my birthday and I've never been so happy with indian food so far!! It's one of those places where the presentation of the food is masterchef like! :)<br/>I fell in love with the ambience, dasha helped us run through the menu and suggested us to go for 2 starters but we ordered 3:) , one main and one desert! We had a cocktail by the side.<br/>Starters:<br/>Celeriac tart,yogurt,paneer,onion seeds: 5/5 ! Loved the presentation and this just melted and with loads of flavors as soon as we gulped it:)<br/>Panipuri:5/5<br/>We ordered 4 pieces, panipuri had spicy feeling at the end of each one and tasted perfect<br/>Seek kebab :5/5<br/>Loved the south indian touch to it and super soft! Not chewy at all! Well cooked and the gravy brought the best flavor to it<br/>Main:<br/>Spinach,fenugreek,paneer:5/5<br/>We ordered this with one garlic naan. Rice was by default served with the dish<br/>Paneer was freshly made, melted right away as we mixed it with rice or garlic naan.<br/>Cocktail:<br/>La pondicherry :5/5<br/>Mandarin,gin,tamarind flavor! Never had this combo ever! Spectacular presentation<br/>Desert: 5/5<br/>We went by dasha's suggestion with the desert which was pineapple,pistachio and coriander! Serving was small meant for one but we were too full so we shared it between two people:)<br/>Dasha was very friendly and everyone who served us always had a smile every time we spoke to them :)

The ambiance of the restaurant is good. Someone takes your jacket and the staff are friendly. The menu is limited but the food items are interesting. The taste was fine. No wow factor for me. The serving size looked small but it was enough. It's good to give it a try but I won't be in a hurry going back here. Nevertheless, it was a nice first time.

The restaurant that made me feel like I was sitting in a Masterchef or My Kitchen Rules set. <br/><br/>The restaurant is hidden away in fort street (back entrance of everybody’s) and has some really great vibes giving the place a classy and vibrant ambience. <br/><br/>The food was delicious and very different to what you normally get at Indian restaurants ~ this had a modern touch to the classics. <br/><br/>For entree ~ we had the lamb seekh kebab ~ which was very soft and flavoursome ~ we couldn’t get enough!! The texture of the kebab was soft, so you could easily cut it and it just melts in your mouth! <br/><br/>For mains ~ we had the Tandoori Chicken, fenugreek, lemon (one dish) with naan bread and rice. <br/><br/>This was the just amazing, it was just such a different type of tandoori chicken, the modern twist made it stand out so much. The flavours were just wow, the curry and chicken complimented each other so much. I have a low tolerance for spicy food ~ but this was edible for me. <br/><br/>The seekh kebab was $22 and the tandoori chicken was $34.<br/><br/>Overall a great experience and I loved the modern and classy touch to the restaurant and food, plus the staff are so friendly!!

Like everyone, we also had an amazing experience here. Fusion take on Indian cuisine and is super delicious. Hard to get a booking so need to book in advance ☺️ Will keep coming back.

A good start to great holiday at Cassia. We came here to visit my aunt and on our first evening they got us to this amazingly wonderful<br/>Restaurant for dinner. They had an India couple visiting them besides us and after a one month long kiwi holiday, they wished to have some Indian fare. We started with gin cocktails and the men had red New Zealand wine. We had a different kind of pani puri and stuffed bread. We also had some delicious scallops and grilled paneer with parsnips. Some stuffed paratha with chicken curry was also ordered. This place is a must visit in Auckland for those who crave food Indian food and a fabulous ambience and quick and friendly service.

Absolutely amazing vegetarian food. Staff is super knowledgeable, and helpful. Great recommendations. My favourites are paneer dishes and These guys absolutely nailed it. Dessert was a big win for me, with balanced portions, and flavours.

A very modern and indian cuisine . It was a beautiful place with tasty indian flavoures. Friendly and polite staff especially tom. Good service . Decoration was also good. Highly recommendable place . I loved it

A very modern Indian cuisine with zest of kiwi touch to eat. Really tasty food with classy presentation. Really enjoyed every bite. A very polite and friendly staff. Tom was very good with his job and knows the detail of dish to order. Great wow amazing. Gone visit again.

It is definitely one of the best restaurants that I’ve been here in Auckland. Make sure to book a table for they are always busy. Server was really friendly and explained every dish and recommended what to order. <br/><br/>Food is superb! Everything we ordered tasted so good that we finished it up so quick. You might think the size looks really small but the quality of each dish is amazing. <br/><br/>Enough said. This is definitely a must visit.

Just got back from dining at Cassia tonight. Definitely worth the hype! We had to book a week and a half in advance because only random dinner hour bookings were available. <br/><br/>Between 2 of us we ordered 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 desserts as well as drinks. Bill came to $165 which was definitely worth it. <br/><br/>Starters we had the lamb chops and the eggplant. The lamb chops were impeccable. Super delicious and cooked really well. The eggplant was really good too, but not as amazing as the lamb. Serving sizes for just the starters were very large. <br/><br/>Our waiter advised just one main between two (but we went with 2 mains anyway -though she was right it was definitely a push). We ordered the duck main and the seekh kebab. The seekh kebab was delicious definitely the highlight, and was quite spicy so be warned if you don’t like spicy food. The duck had a lovely sweeter taste and sauce was super creamy. I preferred the seekh over the duck but it was still very good. The naans were standard good naans. <br/><br/>For dessert the menu is slightly different from the zomato print. We got a pineapple dessert and a mandarin dessert. Both desserts were very light and a good way to end the meal. <br/><br/>Service by our waitress was polite and friendly. I did see other waiters who did explain the menu a bit more than our did, but it wasn’t an issue. Everyone was super prompt and worked well together. <br/><br/>

Beautiful restaurant. Great services and food! Definitely recommend and would love to visit again! The dishes are for sharing, so it’s a perfect place for family and friends catching up.

Staff were polite. Ambience was nice. Food were amazing. Having the pani puri was a great experience. It was like an explosion of flavours in my mouth.The scallops (entree), beef shortrib (entree) and pork belly (main) are a must try!

Some close friends of mine bought me an e-voucher here and having won so many accolades in the Metro Peugeot Restaurant of the Year Awards, so we came for the tasting menu.<br/><br/>Service is your usual good standard, a little slow but it was a busy night. Although if we had waited any longer we would have just left. Ambience is nice, I really like the design of the place. It is one of those restaurants that is very noisey. I didn't even converse with the mrs, it was that loud and when the waiters brought each dish out and explained what they were I couldn't them either so I just smiled and politely nodded every time. <br/><br/>In terms of food, once we got our first dish everything followed through in good times. Every dish was outstanding, delightful combinations of flavours, textures and spice. I like how they didn't hold back on the heat or maybe they have but the heat was good for us, just slighty hotter than what we like, not a problem though.<br/>Great place, great food, not so great ambience. Would like to come back to try other dishes on a quiter night but having tried booking here advanced so many times, I don't think they ever have quiet nights here. In saying that, that's great for them.

Came here for dinner, had to book one and a half weeks in advance. The only days that were available earlier were times like 5pm or 9:30pm. <br/><br/>The waiter was friendly and attentive and gave us a rundown of the menu as well as a suggestion of how we should order. <br/><br/>We ended up with the caramelised carrots and kumara for a starter. It was paired with a flavoursome butter. Altogether it was a good dish. <br/><br/>There was a long wait in between starter and main but the waiter apologised so something must have gone wrong in the kitchen. This was forgivable because the mains were phenomenal. <br/> <br/>We ordered the duck curry and tandoori chicken with some naan bread. It also came with rice. The duck was falling of the bone as soon as you sink in your fork. The curry sauce itself was buttery and saucy and flavoursome and perfect to be soaked up in the naan. The chicken was also morsels of flavour and went well with the rice. <br/><br/>The bill ended up being approx $110 with two mains, one starter and two mock tails. <br/>

Better the second time around. We had a large group so were lucky to escape the slightly louder restaurant area for the private dinning area. The waitress we had was fantastic gong above and beyond to explain the menu and help the vegan ,vegetarian and picky eaters to find the perfect food items to share. We didnt do the detestation which i did last time as the portions are smaller than getting a few to share. So we did this as the staff help ensure you have what you need. The food once again was faultless and we enjoyed each delicious dish between each of us . The fish was my favorite but there was so many to choose from i couldnt possibly list them all .  <br/>Reservations are a must and definitely taking on the advice of the waiters as they do not alter spice level etc either which i love but might not suit everyone

The atmosphere was nice, but given it's underground the acoustics are quite noisy and we were next to a loud group of ladies. Our waitress was amazing, great wine recommendations and explained the menu really well, and really seemed to take pride in her role there. The food was nice but possibly not as amazing as I expected given the reviews and we got quite a few bones in our fish main. I had the lamb chops for entree which were amazing, with a great level of heat. The pork was really good, although for 6 I would recommend getting two servings, as it didn't quite stretch far enough. A great experience however I think our expectations were already set quite high.

We went for dinner a few weeks ago for our anniversary and the food was incredible! Really generous portions and excellent in taste. The atmosphere is awesome and I loved the decor! The cocktails were very creative and delicious and the service from the waiters was great. <br/><br/>The only reason I wouldn't come back is the very snooty service we got from the maitre d'. Despite the fact that we had spent a large amount of money in drinks, entrés, mains, deserts and and a generous tip, he seemed to have a very snooty and disgusted expression when he handed me back my non-lable coat, pinching it with his finger-tips and holding it out at arms length. He even lacked to say good-bye or thank you...<br/>We we dressed very nicely, but even so, we felt like we weren't good enough to go back.. very disappointing.  :(

Please excuse the photos. I was shaking in excitement and did not want to waste time settling the brightness or focus! <br/><br/>Down a dingy alleyway is Cassia. If you did not know it was there, you would easily walk right past it. As you enter you are greeted by the Host and taken to your table. RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST. <br/><br/>This place is Auckland’s top restaurant for a reason. The ambience, food and service are of a very superior quality. <br/><br/>To start, we ordered the Lamb Chops, Tandoori Fish, Fried Eggplant and Chicken Tikka Roll. The portion sizes are decent. One could easy have an entree, with a naan and still have place for dessert. The HIGHLIGHT had to be the sauce served with the lamb chops. <br/><br/>For our mains we ordered the Tandoori Chicken, Free range Pork, Paneer and Parsnip, and Lamb Seekh Kebab. The ingredients used are of very high quality. PLEASE LET YOUR SERVER KNOW YOUR SPICE LEVEL. <br/><br/>The portions of the mains are very large. You do not need to have a main each. The menu is designed to share and so are the portion sizes. <br/><br/>We shared the Feijoa sorbet for dessert and only had enough place for a spoon each. <br/><br/>The food definitely showcases their skill. You must dine here - a perfectly balanced meal awaits you. <br/><br/>Keep in mind that your phone service/network will be down while you are in the restaurant. Focus of the food and the company you are with :) Happy Feasting!

At one point my lunch companion put her head down and stopped speaking or eating. After a few moments I asked if she was alright. She looked up and told me he dish was so delicious she felt like she could die right then and there and it would be ok.<br/><br/>I wouldn't go that far but then she hasn't been to Sidhart (yet).<br/><br/>Service is impeccable.<br/><br/>I had food envy even though we had eaten way too much food.<br/><br/>The food is delicious. I had a most divine cocktail ( my excuse was that it was lunch time andI wasn't driving).<br/><br/>My standout dish was the scallop. It was served with scampi which was completely outclassed by the scallop.<br/><br/>My dining companion's standout dish was the cauliflower bhaji. She doesn't like cauliflower. That was before she had dessert...the feijoa dessert was something wonderful.<br/><br/>Sorry no photos because I was too busy eating.

Good food, didn’t blow my socks off but definitely makes you want to return back to have more. Subtle yet consistent flavours fill your palate and the menu has a healthy range for vegans. My slight disappointment arises from not having any bread choice for vegans. Both breads on offer has milk powder. It would be great for Cassia to offer a aloo Parantha which is vegan friendly :-) I will definitely be back for more, hopefully soon.

Cassia offers an underground, chic atmosphere with modern fusion Indian cuisine that is creatively presented. The lamb curry and eggplant dish were highlights! Attentive staff.

Very disappointed with Cassia. Mains came out stone cold including breads and side of broccoli. Was charged for the rest of the meal and the maître d didn’t want to know us or understand why we didn’t eat the mains. No sorry which I would have expected from the manager.<br/><br/>My wife was still hungry and so we got a falafel kebab around the corner which was superb!<br/><br/>Won’t be going back to Cassia ever.

Came here with friends and ordered the degustation which we found very reasonably priced for the amount of food we received - IIRC it was around $70pp and we received another two courses, not pictured. Really enjoyed the Pani Puri amouse bouche being poured tableside - adds a bit of ‘theatrics’ to the dining experience.<br/><br/>Most of the dishes were well seasoned, well cooked and well presented (although presentation did range from good-average among a few dishes). However, overall it was a delicious meal and a very pleasant experience. All of the mains came with naan as well which was convenient.<br/><br/>The ambience is also wonderful, nicely tucked away underground next to the Jefferson, with a ceiling adorned by fairy lights. Very nice.

Winning Auckland's Restaurant Of The Year 2 years in a row (2016, 2017) can do a lot to one's expectations. I've never dined at a Michelin stared restaurant, but I could imagine my expectations being of a similar nature to my build up to dining at Cassia for the first time.<br/><br/>I'd been wowed by Sid Sahrawat's restaurant, Sidart some months prior. We used the Tuesday test kitchen staff to experiment on us, and what an experience, 7-8 dishes of perfection. Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had in this city, again, adding weight to my expectations of Cassia. <br/><br/>It’s fair to say with all of my built up excitement, Cassia didn’t really stand a chance of exceeding expectations, it was going to brush them, or fall well below. All a bit unfair really…<br/><br/>The sliding door off Forte street opens up to a long underground, brick bunker styled environment, low ceilings and lighting creating enough dark spaces and corners to encourage infidelity or a briefcase transfer, intriguing.  A simplistic and uncluttered atmosphere that leads to a lot of reverb, not a quiet restaurant by any means.<br/><br/>We started with the Pani Puri, an Indian street food snack. A bite sized crisp bread hollowed out, filled with potato, chick pea then topped up with a mint dressing. Down in one bite. S#!T ….. I said to myself. That is magic in a mouthful.  <br/><br/>2nd dish, Scallops and Scampi with goats curd and almond relish. JEEZUS! ….. I said to myself, I’m going to need a cigarette after this. This is turning somewhat sexual ....<br/><br/>3rd dish, Lamb chops with a parsnip puree, these were of adequate flavour and texture, I feel i could've bought these at one of many restaurants …… Please Cassia, don’t let the magic end here I pleaded.<br/><br/>4th dish, Snapper in a coconut, curried sauce. Oh lordy lord, the magic was back and I was willing to stab anyone with my fork who dared suggest I share this with them.<br/><br/>5th dish, Delhi duck, heavy on the cardamon, light on the duck, far too much sauce, a stagnant dish which left me a wee bit puzzled, it did provide an appropriate mopping bed for the naan I suppose.<br/><br/>The bottle of Zinfandel was a great accompaniment to the richness of the food.<br/><br/>To summarise ...... The light, textured dishes were the standout of the night, seafood and vegetables shine here. The lamb and duck dishes getting bogged down, stuck in the mud, they could do with some lift.<br/><br/>Thanks again Sid, will see you again soon to sample more of your magic.

Recommended by friends, this place definitely does not disappoint. My boyfriend and I had the 5 course tasting menu. <br/><br/>For drinks, we both ordered the Mango Gin Fizz - Yum!! <br/><br/>We had the pani puri as the amuse, and it was awesome! The shell was super thin, and all the flavours were so great in my mouth. Favourites - tuna and pork belly with the garlic naan. The best naan I’ve ever had. We were not 100% impressed with the carrot and kumara, but everything else’s was delicious. <br/><br/>The great food is complemented with attentive service. Atmosphere was okay - we felt it was slightly dark. For $80 per head, it is great value for money for the amazing food you’re having. I would highly recommend this place. We will definitely be back!!

this place is absolutely divine! The restaurant set up is modern, the staff are super friendly with great table service....then theirs the food OMG. Heaven.

Loved the experience here so much that we came back to dine at this place twice in a span of 2 weeks. Hands down, the best Indian fusion food in Auckland. I loved the fact that the food had very AUTHENTIC Indian flavours. The ingredients used were of top quality. The love and respect the food food was cooked with was quite evident. The chicken tikka roll, the duck and the tandoori chicken are a must try. I also really liked the atmosphere here, although the lighting was a little on the darker side. The wait staff do a good job in ensuring that you know how much to order, which helps prevents wastage. Really loved the experience here. Cannot wait to return for the third time.

Absolutely stunning!!! The service and the food was amazing 😍 Was such an enjoyable and pleasant experience would highly recommend to those who love fusion foods especially Indian food. Food was beautifully presented and elegant to the palette 😋 An award winning restaurant and it definitely lives up to its reputation and standards. Thank you for an amazing night!!

Expected much of this place. Have seen the amazing reviews of his other restaurant Sidart.<br/>The food was original and well prepared. The service was exemplary, although it was strange that we were served 2 mains, a salad, one dessert and a beer by 4 different waitresses.<br/>Our only complaint was the noise level. The place was only 3/4 full and the noise was unbearable.<br/>How can anyone start a restaurant in a bare concrete basement and not make some effort towards sound absorption?<br/>We won't be going back.

We went to Cassia to celebrate my mum's birthday last night. As the top restaurant in Auckland, Cassia was definitely hard to book (I booked 3 weeks in advance but still only managed to secure dinner at 8:30pm) but the food and service did not disappoint.<br/><br/>As Indian fusion is a new concept to all of us, we decided to give everything a go! We had the pani puri and chicken tikka roll to nibble. Then we ordered an assortment of entrees including beef short ribs, kumara and carrot with cashew cream, scampi and scallop crudo (a fvaourite!), and quail meat. As we were told that all of the large plates are curries, we decided to only try the Delhi duck with lychee and that was superb! It had the right level of hotness but the refreshing flavour of lychee also came through! Loved it. A thing to note though, it thag the majority of their dishes are kinda hot/spicy and it's not labeled on the menu, however that adds to the flavour of the dishes and make them so tasty! <br/><br/>Service was great too and we had a fabulous time, would visit again. :)

Our firm had its Christmas Dinner here last Friday night<br/>21 people in a private room at the back<br/>So allowing for that it was excellent<br/>All shared dishes<br/>Superb service<br/>The food was without exception top class<br/>Highlights were the Lamb Chops cashew dry korma and kumara<br/>The Roasted Beetroot creme fraiche black garlic and almonds<br/>Tandoori Chicken Malabar sauce and cassia<br/>And the Lamb Seek kabab bhuna masala ginger<br/>You will want to go back!

What is "Modern Indian"? How do you make Indian food modern? Well come here and find out! What a fantastic dining experience. The staff were fantastic and the food phenomenal.<br/>NOTE: The interior which creates a beautiful warm atmosphere is made from a lot of "hard" surfaces so can be noisey as it gets really busy.

I was very excited to dine at Cassia for restaurant month! I had been meaning to dine here and restaurant month in August was a good time to try them.<br/>We had a 6 course tasting menu and an amuse bouche of pani puri. My favourite course was the Tuna, Balmain bug, charcoal onion and cashew cream. I just loved the combination of flavours and the tuna was very fresh.<br/>The 2nd course was the caramalised kumara & carrot with vindaloo and hazelnut - to be honest this dish was a let fown for me. I expected to taste vindaloo somewhere or some spice but they either made a mistake with the butter or my idea of what vindaloo is wrong but what we had was bland.<br/>3rd course was beef short rib and 4th was tandoori chicken. Both were not bad but I think I was expecting something more special because of the reputation. <br/>The desserts were delicious particularly the green apple sorbet. <br/>Overall it was good, the service was good and drinks not bad. I knew that the food here is a modern twist on Indian dishes but I don't know if it has been executed to my liking. I do like intense flavours and I feel like that the food is catered to people who probably don't often have spicy food or are new to Indian cuisine.

Modern Indian, amazing blend of spices. Mouth watering, made me think about the food for days after. Chef was able to cater for my dietary requirements for entrée, mains and dessert which was awesome. The quail was by far my favourite, followed by the lamb, and the coconut rumble. We were not as impressed by the chickpea dish however, found it a little too overwhelming. Otherwise, really really good.

Went here with my husband on a date night. Have been trying to get a booking here for a long time. Was worth the wait. The look was totally different from what I expected but the service was best by far. We ordered the lamb chops, clams & tandoori fish as starters and the flavors were spot on. Than we had the lamb kebab & the prawns with the side of brocollini, the lamb kebab was way too spicy. The prawns were yum but only complaint would be that we only had 5 pieces of prawns in our serve which was not enough for a main course. Dessert was amazing we had the chocolate and the apple crumble. They did get our apple crumble dessert order wrong but it was still yummy.

What a beautiful, modern, absolutely delicious restaurant! I visited with a group of friends and we all left very happy (not just from the wine). A lovely, modern twist on Indian cuisine, each dish bursting with flavour and spices. The ambience and service is wonderful. This is a great spot for a date or with a group of friends. I recommend sharing, so you can try a little bit of everything! I will 100% be returning to this gem.

OMG what an amazing experience! <br/>Food was delicious, perfectly balanced flavours really enjoyed my visit. <br/>Service was friendly and quick, the whole place has a good vibe and nice decor<br/>Top marks A+++ <br/>Will be back soon

Perfect place for a Special day! You will surely not be disappointed. I am quite a foodie and love trying different cuisines and Cassia was up there for me. You don't have to really think twice about visiting this place. I am definitely going to this place again. We had Dillon serving us and he was amazing to. Good suggestion of wines and food. Would recommend anyone to go try Cassia. Pani-Puri is a must try to start off with and the quail was a BOMB! Lastly if you love Indian food or rather Indian Fusion go now or else you dont know what you missing onto.

Given all the buzz surrounding Cassia and how hard it is to get a booking, my expectations coming in were very high and Cassia had every opportunity to disappoint me.  I am glad to say that my experience was quite the opposite as my family and I had a pleasant experience dining here.<br/><br/>Food<br/>We started off by ordering the Cauliflower Bhaji.  It comes with six pieces of lightly deep-fried (if that makes sense) cauliflower with little batter.  Its spices were akin to that of a samosa and the accompanying sauce on the plate was a special mayonnaise that I liked.<br/><br/>The first of three mains we shared was the Tandoori Chicken.  It had a smoky flavor and wasn't sweet or too salty.  The chicken was slightly burned in some parts which I feel is the right way to prepare it.  The dish is dry cooked meaning the sauce is dry and oily rather than a creamy liquid.  The chicken itself was very tender but not quite bursting in flavor. <br/><br/>The next of the mains was the Lamb Seekh Kebab.  These were essentially very high quality lamb sausage slices in a spicy dry cooked sauce.  I felt it tasted quite similar to the Tandoori Chicken but carried more flavor which I attribute to the meat.  Among what we had ordered, this was my favorite.<br/><br/>The last of the mains was the Delhi Duck.  Unlike the previous two, this was an actual sauce-based dish.  The sauce was a sour, smoky curry sauce.  The duck was cooked perfectly with the meat so tender it literally fell off the bone.  Just as impressively, the skin was cooked to a perfect crisp in that it didn't feel too oily but had that nice crunch.  This was my least favorite though as I didn't care for the sour curry which was the dominant aspect of the dish.<br/><br/>Each main came with a bowl of rice, though laughably small.  In saying this, the prices of the mains are actually somewhat justified due to their bountiful meat portions.  Because we didn't have enough rice, we also ordered some Roti which tasted fine.<br/><br/>Service & Ambiance<br/>The restaurant is situated below the ground and the ambiance is inspired by street alleys.  The staff are friendly and attentive, despite how busy they are.  I also have to give it to who I presume to be the maitre d for being very accommodating in getting my family a booking upon finding out we were wanting to dine here to celebrate a birthday.  The service time was also very fast and my family of four were finished within an hour of being seated.<br/><br/>Conclusion<br/>If I were to describe Cassia's in one word it would be 'honest'.  They do not use cream as a crutch in the way many Indian eateries do but rather use impeccable cooking technique to impress diners.  While the demographic leans more towards a Western audience, they still keep certain authenticities of Indian cooking which I found very respectable.  Though commendable, the flavors didn't really blow me away but when combined with the cooking technique and service, made for a worthwhile experience.  At the end of the day Cassia to me, feels like the place to eat when commemorating a festive occasion, whether you are taking out that special someone to or just if you're in the mood for something different.

For a restaurant that has only opened for the last two years, Cassia has certainly helped redefine the image of Indian food in Auckland from being just the takeaway you get on a weekly basis that is often a gamble with food poisoning. As we were welcomed by the warm and knowledgeable staff, we were immediately seated without a hassle, despite having booked for a later time.<br/>One of the friendly staff helped recommend what the popular dishes were. For starters, we ordered the lamb and the tandoori fish which were both delicious with heaps of flavour. The fish was particularly good with a good proportion size and with enough smokiness that stood out compared to the lamb. In terms of waiting time, it took around 20 minutes on a relatively busy night for our starters to arrive which was to be expected. Surprisingly, the best dishes of the night were the curries (chicken and pork). The chicken was extremely succulent and was by far the most flavoursome. Personally, the flavours of the curries felt more toned down compared to a more authentic place like Paradise but this was something minor that did not bother us at all. <br/>Perhaps the only drawback with Cassia is that it plays it rather safe, meaning the flavours and elements contain minimal risks. For those expecting something with a bit more flare, Cassia isn't that kind of restaurant. Instead, this is an establishment that does exceptional Indian cuisine with generous proportion sizes, affable hospitality and good finesse cooking

Very good restaurant, but not convinced that it's worthy of the metro top award two years running. <br/>The food was beautifully presented and definitely tasty. I had the beetroot and creme fraiche starter (the flavour although spicy, lacked depth for me) and the vege korma as a main (tasty but just wasnt overly special). The service was excellent and probably the best part of the experience. I wasn't a fan of the ambience - I like the appeal of a basement bar, but don't feel like it translates as well when it's a metro top restaurant. Walking down a smelly, dark Fort lane to enter a windowless, narrow restaurant was a bit of an oxymoron to me when you're paying $30+ for a main. I see they went with an exposed plumbing look, but they should have really invested in copper pipes (or at the very least painted them metallic) as the white exposed plastic looked very cheap. Overall, would recommend a visit, even if slightly overrated. <br/><br/>(Unfortunately the lighting was too dark to get any decent photos)

A confusing experience:<br/>BAD: I had been wanting to come here for a long time and my partner made a surprise dinner booking for my birthday. She was left a wee bit embarrassed when the host made us feel that he was doing us a favour by arranging a table as 'we made the mistake' of turning up on the wrong day - when we clearly had an e-mail confirming the booking on the day. Not the best first impression. <br/>GOOD: Our waitress was polite, pleasant to deal with and very accommodating - we requested to be moved to another table as the location of the one we were given felt too cramped. Appreciated the immediate switch without a fuss. <br/>BAD: 4 out of the 7 items we ordered were TOO heavily spiced. Now, we're Indian and while both my partner and I don't really care for too much chilly, these dishes mostly had an overpowering 'garam masala' flavour to them. Especially the Madras style clams - I had to leave the gravy. The others were: Chicken/Paneer tikka rolls, smoked paneer & parsnip, chettinad sauce. <br/>GOOD: The dessert - Chocolate, coffee, mandarin, hazelnut. Taste & presentation - Beautiful! Presentation of all the dishes was beautiful actually. <br/>While I don't think we'd be going back to Cassia, I'm looking forward to dining at SidArt by the same chef - Sid Sahrawat.

Amaaazzzingggg place!!! My partners friend is a chef here and after seeing the rating at this place. I really wanted to taste it. Hands down the best most mouth watering paani puri ice tried. Their Tika roll was extremely tasty and I loved the smokiness from the tandoor. For mains we had coconut snapper which was so creamy and we had tandoori chicken which was good but I wish I went with the lamb chops. We also tried two desserts which was choc hazelnut (amaaazzing) and lycée and raspberry sorbet which was refreshing! Amazing customer service , atmosphere was great. Really busy so make sure u book a table! I wanna go back already!!!!

Extraordinary Indian fusion, great food and friendly honest staff~~ 4 of us decided to do la carte rather than going easy with the tasting menu, cos we really want to try different foods... Ordered 2 nibbles, 4 starters, 2 mains, 2 sides, which was recomemded by the waitress. Plenty of food. All 4 of us really liked the dishes. My fav was the Beef short ribs stir fry, so tender!!!

Unique yet delicious! Love the decor of the restaurant and the food was great! Unfortunately only got pictures of dessert! Would definitely recommend!

Being Indian my one rule of thumb is to not eat Indian food while dining out. Hence I was both hesitant and skeptical about eating at Cassia. But I'm so glad I did. The food is unlike anything I have ever tasted. Its familiar and yet different. <br/><br/>We started out with Beef short ribs and lamb chops.  That beef! I died and went to heaven in a mouthful. It is an exceptional dish and a must try. For mains we ordered a chicken chettinad and delhi duck. The minute I tasted that chettinad, I was instantly reminded of home. It was exactly like how my mom would make it and that is the biggest compliment I can give to anyone.  For dessert we had the Lychee and raspberry concoction which was very refreshing.<br/><br/>Meal for three with the above dishes and a glass of wine was approx $60 per person...which I think is extremely well priced. Impeccable service, outstanding food. Worth every penny you spend here. Cannot stop raving about them

Great place ..great food ..amazing service.<br/>Over all experience at this place was just fantastic. <br/>To start with Pani puri - was a bit different and layered paratha , followed by Lamb chops(Best dish) and Tandoori chicken - all I can say is will go back soon.

Great ambience hidden jewel in Auckland city. Best indian food I have had in New Zealand. Will most definately be back to sample some more delights

I must say upon arrival Cassia was certainly not what I was expecting. You step down from the dark streets into a beautiful dimly lit restaurant with hanging lights and glowing candles. However this is Metro's Top Restaurant for 2016, so was bound to have the wow atmosphere. Service is excellent, attentive and the staff offered recommendations for what to get and more importantly, how much! Together we ordered the Chicken Tikka Roll, Free Range Pork, Short Beef Ribs and Delhi Duck. All dishes were absolutely exceptional, with the Pork as a standout for me. Portions were large and we left very content!<br/><br/>Food: 4.5/5<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Value: 4.5/5 (very pricey)<br/>

My partner took me to this place for dinner a few days back. As you enter you're greeted by a friendly bunch of staff who escort you to your table.. there is also a separate space where you can hang your overcoats. <br/>The place is nice and warm.<br/>The menu is very interesting with a lot of great options. We ordered the gol gappas, tandoori fish and lachcha parantha (served with 2 chutneys which are out of this world/super fresh)for our entrees which were delicious.. dinner was followed by a chicken curry which was again awesome.. I would love to go back and try other things on their menu. <br/>P.S don't forget to book a table for yourself 😊

Had dinner here and tried the bhel puri, tandoori fish, parathas for starters and the prawn, chicken and one other dish for mains to share among 5 of us. Most of the food was really tasty and the service was really good.<br/><br/>This is "modern" Indian so don't be under the illusion that you've had similar dishes elsewhere or that they are "authentic". Main thing is, they taste great and finally that's what matters.

Late review but i wanted to thank for the great food and great service we received at Cassia. Ambience, food and service.. All great. Thank You

Beautiful setting and location near bars, The only downfall was that the venue was very hard at the time to get a booking. Amazing food made up for it.

Been wanting to come here for ages and I couldn't be more impressed! The decor was modernly beautiful. Ordered: chicken tikka roll, beef short rib, lamb chops, tandoori chicken and garlic naan. The chicken and vege in the rolls were a fresh way to start the palate :) The highlight was definitely the beef (cooked to perfection)- crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside. The lamb had a spicy kick that the kumura sweetened. The tandoori chicken had a smoky and spicy taste that went so well with rice. The garlic naan however was very dry and bland, probably wouldn't order again. Overall: every plate was a different delicious surprise!! Highly recommend.

Sensational restaurant. Completely and utterly lives up to the hype! Fans of butter chicken ("the blander, the better") might want to give it a miss though LOL

We went here with my family and friends for my 40th Birthday in early April! Some of us are vegetarians including me. The vegetarian food we ordered was so so bad that it was embarrassing for me as a host! Just very blend food! Don't understand what the fuss is about! It's no point presenting food with a bang when the key ingredient called "taste" is missing from the food! I don't mind paying top dollar but your price should match the quality of your food! The place looks great. Pity about the vegetarian food!

Other than one of the waitresses taking my drink away even though i hadn't finished it, i quite this place. Could do with more ventiation or aircon units as it did get a bit stuffy inside, but the food is very nice. I had the Beef main and the Lychee Sobert for dessert, both very delicious!!!!

Seriously the amazing food and the best customer service.<br/>Amazing decor. Priced well for what you get. Will definitely visit this place again and again ☺☺

Absolutely superb in every way. Food awesome. Wait staff--amazing. The food was completely surprising in the best way possible. Traditional Indian food taken to the next level.

One of our favourites in Auckland especially to take visitors to. Great ambience and very helpful, friendly staff. The food is perfect each and every time. Tip: order more than 1 of the tikka roll, they're tiny but delicious! They take bookings which is great. A must-visit.

We had heard good things so went for dinner. Had to book in advance as it's always busy! Cassia should definitely be on your list to visit if you like Indian food. Its lighter and more intriguing than your usual Indian restaurant. Try the chicken tikka roll, it's amazing!!Love the ambience, a little dim with cool low hanging lights. Staff were overall pleasant. Our waiter was helpful with food suggestions.Overall a very cool place and we'll definitely be back!

Having read all the amazing reviews we really wanted to like Cassia but our experience was average. The service was excellent. The $10 mango and passion fruit soda I ordered tasted like watered down cordial. Not a good start. I had beef rib which fell apart deliciously. My husband had market fish which could have done with a few more minutes on the hob. Our disappointment came from the curry sauce poured over the dishes rather than cooked in to infuse the flavour. Maybe this is the appeal of modern Indian but by comparison to Brick Lane & other top end Indian restaurants, Cassia was definitely style over taste.

Modern menu - not your usual Indian dine out place. Felt pretty healthy as I ate. The interior decor is pretty good helped to create a nice relaxed ambience for diners. Overall - like, will probably be back some time.

I have Always wanted to go there and eventually made it. I have to say I overall liked the food however the room was so so so noisy. I guess there's nothing the restaurant can do because it is a small and also underground place so maybe that's why the noise don't get out of door easily. Anyway get to the food, I wished the tuna entree can be a little bit bigger in portions. It's actually only four pieces of thinly sliced tuna. It's so tasty and fresh but just wasn't enough. The Eggplant entree would be better to come with some bread instead of half empty plate. The mains were all nice, I loved the chicken the most. Would avoid the lamb even its the most tasty dish however it's actually made of lamb chorizos not lamb steak.

Great presentation. Love the starters they were pretty good. Mains were Indian carries which were unfortunately not authentic enough to enjoy.<br/>The Fish dish was over cooked and covered by strong curry source which spoiled the taste & texture of the fish. We had ordered plenty of food & drinks cost us $68 each which was reasonable. I enjoyed overall but I wouldn't go back.

After hearing so many things about Cassia, we managed to book a table and go for a nice Saturday night dinner here.<br/><br/>The online booking system is great and includes a follow-up confirmation email with an option to cancel your booking. <br/><br/>I would suggest taking a taxi/public transport as parking options are very limited. ( We were lucky though to find a car spot just about 2 minute walk away from Fort street )<br/><br/>This restaurant has a garage kind of a vintage look with lots of yellow lighting and a visible open kitchen spread across. The cocktails are made opposite the kitchen and the ones making them are super skilful from what we could see even though we did not have any alcohol. <br/><br/>Cassia's got a very pleasant ambience and their staff offer very professional service. <br/><br/>Talking about the food now - we ordered the following:(just me and my wife eating and I think we over ordered)<br/><br/>- Pani Puri : tomato, tamarind & smoked yoghurt.<br/>- Potato and Mushroom kulcha with Coriander relish.<br/>- Mushrooms, Paneer, Cauliflower Pakora - cavolo nero.<br/>- Tandoori coconut fish with pickled cucumber & coriander.<br/>- Seasonal vegetable curry, delhi spices.<br/>- Tandoori Chicken chettinad, kadhai spices, picked radish.<br/><br/>The food presentation was one of the best I've seen in Auckland but in terms of the taste some dishes were great and the others were over experimented. <br/> Overall a good experience of Indian fusion and I'll be back with a few more friends to try other menu items.

If you like Indian as much as me then you need to try Cassia! Indian Fusion with a deconstructed mind boggling twist! One of the coolest little eateries around down town. Book in advance Tuesday night and it was packed!

You only need one reason to book a table at Cassia, and that reason is Sid Sahrawat. Cuisine NZ’s Chef of the Year 2016 and the man behind one of New Zealand’s most lauded restaurants (and a personal favourite of mine), SIDART, is lending his magic touch to Indian cuisine and the results are even better than I expected. Actually, of course I should have expected it would be this good.

Cassia is ah-mazing.<br/>We have heard so many good things about Cassia so we had to give it a try on a special occasion.<br/><br/>The place is gorgeous, there's a rustic, underground charm to the whole place, with the ceiling beautifully decorated with light bulbs. There's an open kitchen facing the customers, filling up the air with their delicious, spicy smell of food. The whole placing was buzzing with people.<br/><br/>We were greeted and seated by a friendly staff, and ordered the Mango gin fizz and the Hibiscus Highball. Both were delicious, just the right amount of alcohol and fruity, flowery touch. The waitress made her recommendations and we decided to go for their Chicken tikka roll, Mushrooms and cauliflower pakora, Lamb chops, Beef short ribs curry and naan.<br/><br/>The food arrived looking beautiful and smelled delicious. The chicken roll felt like a banh mi with a twist, the bread roll was soft and fluffy, and the chicken had a great smokey flavour. I could eat 10 of those in a roll (no pun intended*).<br/>Then the Mushrooms, the green sauce was savoury and flavouraful, and the fried cauliflower was crunchy and just gorgeous. The lamb chops were also fabulously tender with a little heat and paired really well with the sweeter kumara sauce, we were sharing 3 between the 2 of us, and I did not hesitate in polishing off the third piece when my partner offered politely.<br/>Then came the beef short rib curry. I mean...the meat was so juicy and tender, just cooked to perfection, and the sauce was spicy, aromatic and extremely moreish. I was firmly stopped from picking up the plate to lick it. Their pickeled onion was also a lovely touch, I could imagine eating them in a sandwich, perhaps the chicken tikka roll (?!).<br/><br/>Their pricing was very good too, considering that it's a fine dining restaurant, we came away feeling really really full.<br/><br/>Overall we had an ah-mazing culinary experience with Cassia. The food was fabulous, the whole restaurant conceptualisation was gorgeous. If I have a tiny complaint? I'd say some of the staff can be a bit cold. As a fine dining restaurant I'd imagine the staff be a bit more friendly and enthusiastic about their work. Nevertheless, will definitely visit this place again and again.

Went hear for a birthday dinner. The restaurant is hidden on Fort lane and you might miss it easily.<br/>NOTE - I am being critical here as this was rated as the Top restaurant of 2016 for Auckland.<br/><br/>Ambience - 3/5 - I actually found the ambience a little of a let down. The minimalist approach was taken too far I guess with all the pipes and broken wall visible. <br/>Service - 3/5 - Service was good except for one of their staff who seemed quite a snob. We had to ask for the menu a couple of times and the service was impolite. Other staff was great and smiling along. <br/>Food - 5/5 - This is what actually counts and it was amazing. We tried the chicken and paneer tikka roll. It was a different take on the traditional roll and served on bread instead of the roti. None the less it was amazing. The chicken was tasty and spiced perfectly.<br/>For the main course we ordered lamb chops and paneer & goat cheese fritters. The lamb was cooked to perfection and was absolutely lip smacking. It has a nice crust on the outside and soft on the inside. The spices were mild and tasty. This was definitely one of the best lamb chops I ever had. The paneer was great and my wife (for the first time) finished an entire dish on her own..!! <br/>We ate so much that we did not have any room for dessert. Will be back here for them. <br/>Not to forget - The drinks were pretty good as well.

Came here for my partner's 21st and though I expected it to be good, it was great. The service was fantastic, our glasses were always full of water and the waitress even had a chat with us at one point which was really nice. Decor was obviously beautiful, and the exposed brickwork with the lighting created a really modern but still inviting feel. The food though. We ordered two mains, one pork vindaloo and the kerala beef, along with a side of greens and some naan bread. Man we were full! The dishes were all bursting with flavour and the kick to the mains was just right. The beef was my favourite, the short rib pulling apart so well. My partner loved the pork hock and we both though the apple with it was perfect. We were so full afterwards as well, and the bill was thankfully not as bad as I thought! Will definitely be back for more... thank you guys so much for a really great night!

High end Indian fusion food. every dish was so good with balance od flavours and textures. Complex and exciting goodness. large portions that so satifying but still elegant. big and nice place never feel too compact and they have good service as well. cocktails are really fresh and balance. must be the first choice when craving for some spice.

This restaurant, seriously had the best customer service I ever had and the food is amazing too. It was a friendly welcome and the waitress suggested and explained the menu to suit our tasting. The ambient of the restaurant is warm and cozy. The starters came out quickly, doesn't need us to wait long and the main came with fragrance rice. Recommended with garlic Naan, damn the garlic Naan is amazing!!! Thanks.

Fantastic food, and a really great space for such great modern Indian. The hapuka, the tuna and the lamb were amazing and must haves. They get the complex spices just right for each dish, and the results are well worth it. Will definitely be back.

Ah, where to begin! Not quite what we expected and we were pleasantly surprised! We went for the degustation menu with wine pairing. Each course was a play of either Indian curries or Indian street food. Loved the presentation and the mix of spices. Being married to a half Indian who can make a mean curry, I am familiar to the flavours and scents of the spices and yet I found the new combinations so refreshing! I have recommended to family and friends. Also a breath of fresh air, to have a degustation in a casual setting.<br/><br/>The only downside was the wait staffs' food and wine knowledge. They literally just read whatever was on the menu and also on the wine label. We were kind of used to getting a bit more info when the food is presented, say what notes to expect in the wine, how and when best to drink it with the food it's paired with, which country it's from, etc. Same goes with the food - what flavours and textures am I expecting, anything special about the produce used, etc. That was the only downer.

We were able to make time on a Thursday evening at 7:30 and decided to try Cassia. As a good restaurant (supposedly) I can expect the restaurant to be busy but being denied a table with plenty of free tables available is unexpectable. Also the host did not seem bothered to offer options or even offer a seat at the bar. Plain and simple No!!

Had the business lunch here, staff here are friendly, food is is absolutely amazing, decor and atmosphere works for the restaurant. Will definitely be coming back here again!

Surprising Indian food with high quality ingredients. <br/><br/>One thing that I liked a lot about Cassia is that the dishes are for sharing, so you can try a lot of different foods, especially if you're lucky enough to go there in a big group, as I did.<br/><br/>We were in six, and we ordered 4 entrees and 4 mains. That was more than enough. Unbelievable for a fine dinning restaurant, but there was no room for the dessert.<br/><br/>The food itself was very good, with some interesting ideas like venison tartare with beetroot.<br/><br/>My favourite choice was the duck and the lamb roast with onion ring.<br/><br/>As an overall experience Cassia was great, but I expected more from the place that is considered the best in the city. <br/><br/>Some of the food were too spicy for my taste, but that's expected from an Indian restaurant.<br/><br/>The service was a little lost in the begging, but the staff was very nice and kind.<br/>

Nice service and very chilled out atmosphere. Had the business lunch and the food was quick out of the kitchen. The starters of Pani Puri and Soft Shell crab roll were OK but the real stars were the mains of Tandoori chicken and market fish. The dessert was good too. Worth a visit.

I absolutely loved the underground feel of the venue. The atmospheres was lively and great for us as we had a group of 8 and didn't feel concious about making too much noise. I would recommend the restaurant for large groups. The tasting menu is very reasonably priced and is a great way to try a number of the dishes. The only let down was the the carrot cake dessert which left a very bitter after taste. However I would definitely go again....fingers crossed they change the dessert soon.

Now this place has rave reviews. And why not? I'm pretty sure it was voted the best restaurant in Auckland last year. We came here on a saturday evening. The staff were friendly. We got the duck and chicken and the cray fish. My dish was great. If you're not into your heavily spiced and aromatic dishes this place isn't for you. But was it really worth the $104 we paid for the dinner? Probably not. If you want a great feed regardless of cost. Come here. Otherwise there are other Indian places with flavoursome foods around. Granted the ingredients wouldn't be as high end. But the flavour is all there.

I heard good reviews about this restaurant so my husband and I decided to have dinner there on a Thursday. We didn't book for a reservation but we're lucky to get a table that night.<br/><br/>The place is in the basement which is quite cool although the only downside of that is having poor phone signal in case you're expecting for a call, etc. The interior is modern and very posh.<br/><br/>We ordered Fish Tandoori and Soft Shell Crab for entree and shared a Pork Belly Vindaloo for main. The food were nice and flavourful. It's the first time I tried Indian fusion cuisine and I was amazed of the mix of flavours. The star of the show for me was the Pork Belly. The skin was crackling but the inside was so tender.<br/><br/>I guess the only downside for me is the price against the serving size. But if you don't mind paying more then you should definitely try this place.<br/><br/>

Tried 5 course tasting dinner menu for $ 80.00  there. All raw food materials were very fresh. My best favorite dish was the Pork Belly Vindaloo, a traditional spicy Indian red curry dish. I am fond of spicy food, but this dish even was a little bit strong  to me. It was served with very soft and tasty garlic naan, the never ever best garlic naan in NZ.  I was also very satisfied with their true warm-hearted service, too. All staff were very friendly to me.

We finally came here... Had to! We started with 6 starters/entrees... The tikka rolls were delicious as was the soft shell crab, lamb chops flavoursome and tender, tandoori fish yum, skirt steak delicious and pani puri different! Everything came out fairly quickly great presentation and with great service. The curries we tried were the vege curry- yum... Lamb-delicious, duck&chicken-tender and my favourite was the crayfish&prawn curry... Really nice garlic naan too. Definately a place to try if you haven't.

Amazing experience! Great food, quick and smooth service.. Can't wait to come back and try again!<br/><br/>Could not decide on a favourite dish... The tandoori rolls are heaven to wet your appetite! The carrot starter with cashew cream was heaven, as was the lamb chops! We shared 3 curries which was more than enough for 4 people with garlic naans and rice. Pork belly was so sweet and perfect, chicken and duck curry was spicy and intriguing! But despite being a meat loving group we all loved the paneer fritters!<br/><br/>Can't wait to try it all again soon!

I had the 5 course taster. My favourites from this menu were:<br/>1) Roasted carrots, cashew cream <br/>2) Lamb rump, spiced eggplant<br/>3) Scampi tail, cured kingfish<br/>...and I can see why this is place won restaurant of the year! :) <br/><br/>Only negatives I found were that the naan bread (that came with the pork belly dish) were half burnt. At the price you pay you would expect the naan bread to be better made. <br/><br/>Price: $$$<br/>Food: 8/10<br/>Atmosphere: 7.5/10<br/>Service: 10/10<br/>Overall: 8/10

Worst india food i ever tasted in my life...<br/>I was super excited to try out this place since it was metro no1 restaurant. <br/>Went on weekdays for lunch. Had 3course lunch menu. I have to say the place was very nice. Was not very happy with the customer service.. It felt like they did not care....

We went to dinner as a four last night. It was a busy night and I was interested to see if Cassia could live up to the hype. The dining room is inviting and relaxed, with the open kitchen we could see Sid was in attendance on the pass. We ordered the $80 five course tasting menu and there were plenty of highlights. The food was generally classic food infused with Indian flavours to give a seamlessly delicious result. The highlights for me were the surprisingly awesome slow roasted carrot with cashew cream, the lamb with eggplant puree and goats cheese foam, and the almond sponge dessert with the El Bulli style dehydrated crisp. After consideration I would say Cassia lived up to its billing. The chef wasn't going all out with bells and whistles purely to impress, which I liked; the technique was still there but what I got was beautifully executed beautifully flavoured plates of food where everything fit. This was a very satisfying memorable meal

This was probably the most enjoyable dining experience I've ever had. The atmosphere and decoration was so nice, everything from the lights on the ceiling to the pillows on the seats were nice to look at! And then the food, the spiced eggplant entree was actually to die for, I never knew that food combinations could create something so amazing! My dinner date especially liked the free range pork, as it was so tender that it melted in your mouth. The cocktails were also delicious and exciting. The service was fantastic too, our waitress was very nice and she came to refill our glasses and check on us at precisely the right moments, never interrupting or coming too soon or too late. I will definitely want to come back!

My wife said "OMG it's like the 3-star Michelin restaurant in the 100 Foot Journey movie has materialized in real life" and that succinctly summed up our Indian fusion experience at Cassia. We couldn't fault anything, from service, to presentation, to taste, to leaving. <br/><br/>We walked in off the street & took the last 2 seats at the bar, so could see the operation up close. All the staff, from the bus boy to the head chef, knew it was their job to make it a fine dining experience. Amazed our dishes started coming less than 10 minutes after we were seated, in a full restaurant. <br/><br/>

This guys are the best in town. Great service and menu. Let them order for me every time and never disappointed. Priced well for what you get! Love love love

Usually with these type of modern/fusion/reinvented eateries you get an awkward 50/50 mix of authenticity and "kiwi-taste-accommodating-flavours". Cassia is on 80/20, which for me is a perfect ratio. The place is pricey, but it's worth a splurge on every now and then. It's a shame their chocolate thyme tea is not made of dark chocolate though, would have lived to try it!

I am a big fan of fusion food. Done well it is a perfect<br/>culinary marriage of two different cuisines. Cassia certainly delivered and<br/>went beyond my expectations.<br/><br/>There were six of us in the group. We shared the pani puri,<br/>spiced eggplant, Venison Tartare, skirt steak, soft shell crabs and the lamb<br/>chops. No one dish was better than the other. Every single item was just bursting<br/>with flavours, spiced and cooked to perfection. <br/><br/>We ordered our own mains. I opted for the free range pork<br/>vindaloo. My last recollection of vindaloo was not such a good one so I was a<br/>little hesitant. The waitress said it was unlike any other vindaloo so I went<br/>along with her choice. When the dish arrived it was not what I expected. I<br/>thought they would be in little morsels but it came as one big healthy piece.<br/>Moist, absolutely tender and the vindaloo sauce was one of the nicest curry<br/>sauces I have had. I enjoyed every moment of it.<br/><br/>Throughout the meal we all exclaimed vehemently on the<br/>flavours. The meals were beautifully presented. The service was great without<br/>being overbearing. <br/><br/>I really look forward to returning to Cassia, hopefully not<br/>too long a wait.

It's pretty simple. I've been here multiple times. I have not been able to find fault with anything at this place on any of the times I've been here. The food is great, the cocktails are delicious and the service is excellent. I'm not really a regular at any restaurant, but I seem to keep coming back to this place and never regret it.

All I can say is that this restaurant is the total package. Exciting fusion flavours, visual artistry and excellent service. A must do for the perfect date night! Special shout out to the lamb chops. I still dream about them. Divine! Would caution on the tandoori chicken though. It is HOT. Raita is a must have with that one. The duck curry is decadent. Approach with an empty stomach. 5 stars!

Possibly the best Indian i have ever eaten. Unique, big bold flavours that are in your face and all in a dark underground restaurant with am industrial feel.<br/><br/>Prices are ok with entree around $20 and mains around $30.<br/><br/>Service is friendly but could do with some polishing.<br/><br/>Really popular so on the weekend you will need to book but food comes out fast.<br/><br/>Shared the salad, spicy eggplant and market fish. Delicious. Would go again....and again and again.

I had been told about Cassia from a number of people, all good things of course, so I had to give it a go. <br/><br/>Cassia is fine dining Indian cuisine. If you love your Indian good then Cassia is a place to try!<br/><br/>The restaurant is tucked away in the middle of Fort Street. I probably would've missed it...

The best Indian fusion food I have had and some very interesting concoctions of cocktails...superior service and ambienece makes this a place for special occasions!

You cannot describe dining here as just lunch or dinner, it's a dining experience. Everything from, starters to main course to dessert was exquisite.<br/>A fantastic range of cocktails as well.

We'd been waiting to try out Cassia for a while now so we decided to check it out last week.  Down an alleyway off Fort Street, we weren't too sure what to expect.  We were blown away with the setting, the service was fantastic and quickly had us seated.  They were also really good with explaining what items on the menu meant.<br/><br/>We weren't in the mood for too much to eat so we started with an Old Fashioned and a couple of nibbles - pani puri and the chicken tikka roll.  These were all good and it was nice to be able to start with something a bit smaller.<br/><br/>We then ordered our mains - Goan fish curry and Delhi duck.  The fish was really nice, but perhaps a little too much heat for the mildest thing on the menu though.  The Delhi duck was an awesome fusion of Indian and European food and was delicious. Both mains also came with rice, and we ordered naan bread too.<br/><br/>For dessert we had the Gulab jamun (which was kind of like juicy donut balls) and the coconut bavarois. We could not fault either of them.  <br/><br/>We'll definitely be heading back here again in the future.<br/>The low light in the restaurant made photographing the food a bit difficult so they don't really do it justice.

Cassia is simply the love of my life. Ok, so the place may look pretentious for Indian food, but I assure you the service is top notch and the food is comforting, real, fresh, tantalising and orgasmic. Whether you decide to choose the tasting menus, lunch menus or a la carte, you could never go wrong. Go for the onion kulcha, duck, beef short ribs, eggplant, ANYTHING. Don't miss the desserts that have streaks of Indian flavours without being too sweet or too much. Oh, and the wines and cocktails match every course beautifully. Oh dear, I think I'm salivating!

We went to the place on a Thursday night and it was packed. The place is hidden in a quiet lane and we knew it's going to be a nice evening as soon as walking into the automatic door. The deco is rustic and warm. The menu contains a short list of food but the variety is good including a good balance of meat, seafood and vegetables. The service was friendly and professional. Most importantly the food was beautiful. It was difficult to wait for our dishes while smelling all the spice and aroma in the room. The only issue we had was the noisy environment. It was very challenging to hear the conversation from each other unless raising your voice significantly. If you can't handle a very loud eating environment you may find the experience a bit hard.

We were excited to have a crack at this place for some time now and the food turned out to be above expectations. By far the best Indian restaurant in Auckland. Starting from the nibbles to the main course and desert every bite was amazing. <br/>The food here is different from the traditional indian style of cooking so be ready for it. The highlight was the presentation of food. It was like sitting in a Masterchef kitchen and having such wonderfully plated and delicious dishes served. <br/>The staff was friendly and explained each dish and helped us with our order. <br/>Overall it was a really great experience and worth every penny spent. <br/>

Never expect this restaurant is located on a narrow side road.<br/>When you drive through Fort Lane make sure you drive slowly to be able to catch it. <br/>You can park your car at the public car park on Fort St. But the fee is very expansive. I parked for 1.5 hour that cost me $26!<br/><br/>I visited Cassia on weekday afternoon about 12 noon not many people there. The restaurant is quite spacious and with the open kitchen concept you can see how the chef prepare your food.<br/><br/>The waitress is very helpful and he knows what he is doing. He will let you know which dish on their menu is spicy and how it tastes.<br/>Many of the food are very spicy, please ask the waitress before order.<br/><br/>I ordered garlic naan, tandoori chicken, curry clams and mussels, slow cooked beef rib curry and mixed veggie. They tasted so good and spicy! I loved my choices.<br/>The lunch cost me $106 with 3 of us sharing the meal.<br/><br/>P/S: they have set lunch menu which cost $39 per person some one year ago but now is $45 per person. Please ask for it.

What a great little find. I had originally stumbled across this place while passing through Fort Lane and decided to try it out for my girlfriends birthday. It's got a really nice atmosphere inside and staff are very friendly and extremely on to it. We shared two starters, two mains and one desert and it was all very good. Good spice levels too which is nice to see in a NZ restaurant, normally spicy equates to mild. The portions aren't huge but it is rich food so you will definitely come out feeling satisfied. The flavours and textures in all of the dishes were superb though, we will definitely be returning and probably pretty soon.Idea of price - 2 starters, 2 mains, 1 naan, 1 desert, 2 beers and a glass of white wine - $165.50

After being on my Wishlist for a while I finally came to Cassia to celebrate my birthday. I liked it instantly when we walked in. The interior was really cool with exposed brick walls and pendant lights all over the ceiling. It was also quite dimly lit - although it set a romantic mood, it took a lot of effort to be able to read the menu... The lights were then turned down even further not long after we sat down, which I found really unnecessary (hence no photos). <br/><br/>Now the food... First things first.... Holy spice!!!!! We ordered the chicken tikka roll and lamb seekh kebab to start (we were told the lamb was HOT). The lamb came first and and exploded with spice after the first bite... But it was so delicious I kept going back for more... even though my mouth was seriously suffering. The chicken tikka rolls came soon after and were also delicious with a little less kick! For our mains we got the Delhi duck and beef short rib, which we were told by our waiter was medium heat. Don't get me wrong, both dishes were very flavourful and the meat soooo tender, but by the end of the night my mouth was on fire - I've never experienced medium heat so hot before. My boyfriend handled the heat much better, however even he agreed that "medium" was a little misleading. Unfortunately due to my inability to stay at one restaurant for dinner AND dessert (I regret leaving almost every time) I didn't try dessert (I regret it).<br/><br/>The service was pretty good and were fairly attentive throughout he entire evening. However we both felt like we could have been better informed about the menu. Overall the night was really good. The food was so much different to anywhere else I've been recently. It's definitely worth a visit if you're after something a bit outside of your comfort zone... But be ready for a flavour spice explosion! <br/><br/><br/><br/>

This is not a restaurant, this is an experience. Service was amazing followed by amazing food. Had an amazing night. I recommend you to visit this place.

Perfect evening at Cassia last week. The food was phenomenal but it was the service that really made it for me. I had both a lovey wine and starter recommended to me by the knowledgeable and passionate waiter. The stir fry crayfish was to die for👌🏼

I had the beautifully plated chicken tandoori with naan bread. Spicy and strong flavours of different spices. Chicken very tender. It's authentic but at $34 I was probably expecting a little more uniqueness than good tasting chicken. The other options particularly the lamb sound interesting might have to give cassia another go to see if it is more than just an Indian restaurant.

By far the best Indian food we had in Auckland. Dishes are well balanced spicy lamb seekh kebabs(very spicy) really tasty, beef short rib flavours on point. Totally recommend tandoori fish. Seat was on a bar, got to see the behind the scene action in the open kitchen. Not being to picky but had to ask to place the order most of the times, still no big deal! Restaurant manager in particular very attentive and friendly. We cancelled one main after having the entree, as we were too full with nibbles and first course, manager understood that and did cancel it, glad we got to try the Gulab jamun dessert, nice combination. Overall great food and service. We will be back for sure.

FALSE ADVERTISING OF THEIR LUNCH HOURS <br/><br/>Just because it was not busy they closed early for lunch even though it says they close at 3pm i am really dissapointed and would never go there because of bad customer service and false advertising and i will pass this experience onto my friends and family.

First time encountering Indian fusion. Would loved to have tried more dishes but they are very filling; I guess there is always next time...

Wow!. Easily the best Indian food I've had in Australia and NZ. <br/>Similar in quality to what you might get in best UK places.<br/>Definitely recommended.

frankly, the gin-based drinks are what we have been talking about in regards to this place. very good, refreshing and new. It has long tables to cater groups, and the ambiance is warm, welcoming. It is okay and actually recommended to share plates. I say it was a good-try.

Came to try this restaurant for a friend's 22nd birthday and tried their $55 for 5 courses + dessert deal that ended at the end of August. <br/>It was meant to be an Indian fusion type of meal but only the main dish was actually Indian style (Tandoori Chicken) but it was way too spicy :( However, in saying that, I have very low spice tolerance. <br/><br/>I really liked the atmosphere and decorations of the restaurant though and the Mango cocktail was nice. The staff were very friendly as well but I'm not sure I would go back for food. However, the meals on its own may be different so if you haven't tried it, then I would say to give it a go. It's either a hit or miss.

Cassia is a special spot, recently had a truly wonderful evening here. Unique in all the right ways, Cassia serves a strong personality of dining that is unlike other eateries. Finding a wonderful balance between traditional flavours and cutting edge food science, Cassia is not just a yummy belly filler, but entertainment through wonder, discovery and delight. <br/><br/>Thoroughly impressed, and would recommend to anyone wanting an outstanding dining experience.

Everything about Cassia is perfect. I went for the Auckland restaurant month set menu. 5 courses for $55. Every dish in the set menu was delicious and was just the right amount of food. Such a good way to try a few different things instead of getting one main. The manager later told us that they are planning on keeping the set menu for good, so I'll definitely be going back! The service is friendly and quick. Definitely a must try!

Now, first things first, this isn't your typical Indian restaurant. I've eaten some great Indian food in England (Birmingham especially) and India, but nothing like Cassia. It's modern, Michelin-star-aspiring cooking using highest quality Kiwi ingredients and classic Indian spices and flavours.<br/><br/>We were lucky enough that Sid Sahrawat was running the pass at Cassia tonight - he's more often at the helm of his 3 hat Sidart restaurant. <br/><br/> I went with my wife for our 10th wedding anniversary and we chose the special 5 course tasting menu for Auckland Restaurant Week. This menu changes items, today it started with pani puri as an amuse bouche. Its a crisp shell, filled with a little potato, mint and chickpea and topped with spicy flavoured water and immediately placed in the mouth whole and crunched. Wow! An immense wave of zingy flavour which set my taste buds tingling. Next up was prawn pakora and scallop, both things I'm not a great fan of - but wow, it was delicious. Next - potato and cauliflower with spinach and cow's curd - this was even nicer than the previous course. Next - Market fish with beetroot, apple and parsnip - this was the dish of the night - and I don't even like parsnip! Then, Tandoori Chicken with green chilli korma and garlic naan. Beautiful, though I could have had rice instead of the naan as the dish was so highly flavoured the garlic was somewhat redundant. Dessert was glorious, cardamom icecream providing an Indian note, combined with banana puree, honeycomb, tempered chocolate and freeze dried raspberries.<br/><br/>Pretty much faultless, and my wife is immediately planning a visit to Sidart.

Had a banquet lunch with our clients and we all loved it. Great place for trying new foods and all dishes were presented beautifully. Cocktail master behind the bar also made some amazing 'off the menu' cocktails. I love a place who can not only serve beautiful food but can make amazing cocktails too! Definitely a big thumbs up from me!

Went to try the Restaurant Month Menu and found myself and my partner In for a great treat. A great experience from drinks, entrées, mains and extraordinary dessert with buttermilk sorbet. Great service, loved the whole fun and welcoming ambience. Got to say, being an Indian, I tried one of the best Naan bread in my whole life. <br/>Enjoy this hidden treasure folks. 👍👍

Everything Sid Sahrawat touches, turns to gold. I told him this last night, and he exploded in laughter and shook my hand over some pleasantries. I was here for the launch of Auckland's Restaurant month, and boy did this restaurant have a lot to live up to. The first course was reminiscent of Sid's take on food - only the best ingredients, no expenses spared - scallop with only the white part of the meat served in a fantastic yogurt (and I'm no stranger to Indian techniques when it comes to yogurt). The lamb curry was divine - lamb rack cooked to perfection and a curry that creeps up on you, a combination that would make your head spin. Finally, impeccable service. A special mention goes our to our waiter (a giant blonde Scandinavian man), for his excellent hospitality. A truely special occasion, eye-opening if you've never experience Indian this way before. What more can I say? Another jewel in the crown of Sid Sahrawat.

We went to cassia for our wedding anniversary. Had to book on a thursday night...they were really busy and full. But all the staff was very attentively and friendly. Our waitress explained little bit about our food. Which was great. Food served quickly and really tasty. Lots of good elements were used in the dishes and worked really well for us. Portion was little bit small acc to the price. But its forte st in town so that's totally understandable. Will be definitely returing with our family.

Really nice food and very good customer service...especially...Panipuri and Vege brioche.....ummmmm....its really indian style spicy food..who ever like to taste of modern indian spice should visit a once....

This year for Dad’s 55th birthday, my<br/>family decided to give Cassia a go. I had heard great reviews about Cassia from<br/>other friends and family which increased my expectation level in addition to the<br/>fact that it was Sid Sahrawat’s restaurant. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted<br/>by a waitress who gave us a rundown of the menu. The service at Cassia, I have<br/>to say, is amazing! The waitress was super helpful, and attentive…a total star!<br/><br/><br/>In starters, we ordered Fennel brioche, spiced chicken,<br/>cucumber, almonds. This dish was yum, yum and yum! <br/><br/>To follow, we ordered the Lamb chops, onion rings, and coconut<br/>chutney. This was the best Indian lamb dish I’ve had in New Zealand! My Dad who<br/>doesn’t enjoy eating Lamb, loved it, saying it was his dish of the night! In<br/>addition, we also ordered the Tandoori Fish, dry korma, smoked yoghurt,<br/>cucumber. This was a good dish as well.<br/><br/>For main, we ordered the Delhi duck, kumara, lychee, fresh<br/>herbs. This was a great dish..  In<br/>addition, we also ordered the Chicken tikka, kadhai spices, and cauliflower.<br/>The waitress said this is the spiciest curry on their menu, so if you are not a<br/>fan of chilli – stay away from this one! But I loved this curry oh so much!<br/>Being an Indian myself, I’ve had tonnes of Chicken Kadhai’s, but this one <br/>definitely hit the mark right up at the top! It was finger licking good! :D<br/><br/>We ended the night ordering the Gulab Jamun dessert and also<br/>the Chocolate dessert. They both were absolutely delicious! <br/><br/>This is an excellent restaurant! Definitely my favourite<br/>Indian restaurant in Auckland! Loved the twist to classic Indian dishes.<br/>Definitely recommend!

Went there on our anniversary. Food was awesome. we both had 3 course meal- entry, main and desserts. we spent quite a bit that night. However, we were really annoyed with thesitting arrangment.. For that sort of price they need to provide with a better sitting. It was tiring and very uncomfy to look at a brick wall for 2 hours with not so good chairs!Went there on our anniversary. Food was awesome. we both had 3 course meal- entry, main and desserts. we spent quite a bit that night. However, we were really annoyed with thesitting arrangment.. For that sort of price they need to provide with a better sitting. It was tiring and very uncomfy to look at a brick wall for 2 hours with not so good chairs!

As an Englishman living in NZ now for 5 years (another example of the overseas souvenir), I've found the paucity of good Indian restaurants worrying. I navigated my way round that problem by marrying into an Indian family but I digress...<br/><br/>Hallelujah for Cassia. All hail to this fine example of tasty Indian fare with a contemporary twist. Great service and great surroundings too. Taking my Indian in-laws there this coming Friday for the ultimate review. Will it pass muster? I reckon so.<br/>

I was excited when I heard that Sid Sahrawat was opening a new restaurant – Cassia. Indian is a personal favourite of mine but there aren’t many fine dining indian restaurants in Auckland. We arrived around 7pm on a Tuesday night and our waitress gave us a rundown on the menu. Every dish on the menu looked delicious so it was hard to choose what to get.<br/><br/>We started with the tuna and prawn, kasundi, daikon, curry foam dish ($22). It was definitely the right entrée to get our taste buds ready for the main event. We then ordered the Bengali style fish, mustard seeds and kale curry ($34) and the lamb rump, korma flavours, saffron, coconut curry ($34). The curries were served with rice and they were the best curries I have ever tasted. It was the perfect way to warm up on the chilly winters night. <br/><br/>We finished our meal with a chocolate chai tea which was the perfect way to end the night.<br/><br/>The food was to die for and I wish that I could have this every night for dinner. Highly recommended! <br/><br/>Food: 5<br/><br/>Service: 4<br/><br/>Value: 4<br/><br/>Atmosphere: 4

My partner took me to Cassia for date night. So glad, he had booked a table as it was jam packed on Friday at 8.30pm. We arrived early and had a seat at the bar, where we checked out their cocktail menu. The poor bartender was rushed off his feet as a lot of people seemed to be there for cocktails, rather than dinner. <br/>Once we were seated our waiter was enthusiastic to explain the concept of Cassia- Modern take on Indian Food.<br/> We started with the soft shell crab and lamb chops- both looked like pieces of art! My soft shell crab was crunchy with big tender pieces of crab, it was so more-ish. My partner's lamb chops were cooked to perfection but he believed could have been marinated a bit longer in a spice mix. For mains, we decided on the Kerala Pork belly and I had the Bengali Fish with Kale. My partner said that his pork belly was the best pork belly he had ever. My fish was fantastic, beautifully cooked and the kale crisps were a nice touch. <br/>I thoroughly enjoyed my evening, the food was great and the service was fantastic. I would come back for the service alone!

Why Come here??<br/><br/>Inspiring lunch is always the bomb.. front of the house here are very attentive and cool they are not too formal, its makes us feel more comfy like how we want our brunch to be.. We had pana-puri to start and the flat bread , pana-puri is a one bite wonder of texture and simple flavours ,though Im not ordering the flat bread again.. <br/><br/>let go with mains!! <br/><br/>delhi duck.. nicely confit with that beautiful kumara sauce!! Balanced and packed with flavour, got a lively crunch to it as they render the duck in the oven, it is melts in your mouth!!<br/><br/>Chicken tikka.. the chicken is lightly tossed onto the sauce and even if its spicy you can still taste all the spices unlike other places that Overkill you with spicynezzz and just live to it, spicy, this one is very welk executed..<br/><br/>lamb chop.. spiced rub, perfectly cooked and bone is cleaned up nicely.. looking at it seems a bit dry but when you eat it with the coconut chutney it balanced it out to a perfect harmony..<br/><br/>dessert: <br/><br/> light to finish and very fine for me.. all the techniques from milk foam wafers, nice bouncy panna cotta and the kulfi - licious with dulce are like having it fine dining style on lunch time..<br/><br/>Pricing : expensive for a lunch ! why ?? Because its what you paid for!! An Amazing quality meal!! Hurry and try Cassia<br/><br/><br/><br/>

I went to Cassia and had the $39 business lunch.  In short, it was amazing!  Each dish had perfectly balanced flavours and a nice hit of spice - finally a restaurant that isn't afraid to use chilli!!!!  Those who don't like spicy food may not enjoy it as much.  Great value for money.  The fish curry and the chicken and fennel brioche were the standouts.  Only comment would be that alongside the naan and rice, it would be nice to have some raita to offset the spice of the curries.  Looking forward to going back.  Super cool atmosphere too.

My reservation when heading out for an Indian meal, is always the fear of being overwhelmed by curry sauce and poor cuts of meat. <br/><br/>Cassia's modern twist, has really captured my attention back to Indian cuisine and my taste buds are still buzzing from the flavours. <br/><br/>Onion kulcha - a lovely  starter with sweet onions and a tasty coriander relish.<br/><br/>Tandoori fish in dry Korma and the chefs special quail was a great shared course between the three of us.<br/><br/>For mains, we shared the duck and the pork belly with some fresh naan and side of beans.<br/><br/>I thought everything was   d e l i c i o u s.<br/><br/>The service was fantastic, very attentive and friendly.  These guys know what they're doing, and seem to have a genuine interest to make your night enjoyable.  If you're unsure what to order, the staff will give you some sound advice.

Simply amazing! I love the bengali/ East Indian inspirations in some of the dishes, but I love the creativity, flair and innovation even more. Helps that the food is insanely delicious and the cocktail menu is superb too. Highly recommend for that special night out!

Wow, this place rocks. Tables were busy so we sat at the bar for a drink, and ended up dining there (not because we had to, but because it was a great place to sit and watch the massive amounts of chefs busy doing their thing in the kitchen - idle they are certainly not, what a show! Loved the food, we went for milder dishes, and they were hot by my standards, but so morish it didn't matter.  Great winelist too, nice and interesting, such a nice change from everyone having the same wines everywhere, so refreshing!

Indian food is a personal favourite of mine, though many traditional Indian restaurants don't really branch and and mainly stick to classic dishes. Cassia is not like this! A modern and fresh take on the vast flavours of the Indian cuisine. Honestly unlike anything I've ever tasted before, absolutely delicious. I started off with the onion kulcha and coriander relish: pressed onion pita triangles with a fresh dipping sauce. Best meals of the night: the lamb chops with onion rings and coconut relish (tender and juicy with Indian onion rings and a delicious sauce) tandoori fish with dry korma and smoked yoghurt (flaky fish with spices and a beautiful smoky yoghurt) and lastly, the cardamom pannacotta with rosehip (creamy pannacotta with a flowery aroma). Overall this meal was absolutely to die for! Perfect for a lunch break meals with colleagues or just a lovely dinner in a classy atmosphere and great service.

Was there last night....what an amazing restaurant...from the start to finish the whole dinner was wow....<br/><br/>We were greeted in the restaurant by amazing staff...who gave us flawless service the whole night.<br/><br/>Then to the food... we both had scallops...which were to die for....<br/><br/>Followed by an amazing duck , which again was divine...and my partner had Pork....wow...<br/><br/>After that we had desert which I must say was just a lovely finish to the night...<br/><br/>All I can say is thank you very much for such an amazing experience....which we will again be repeating.<br/><br/>This is a restaurant you don't want to miss out on....

Posted on November 26, 2014 December 5, 2014 by amythlf New age Indian cuisine is not commonly seen in Auckland and with my palate preference, Indian food is seldom on my priority list when it comes to cuisine choices. Yet, with my exceptional meal at Gaggan  in Bangkok where chef Gaggan Anand used his genius interpretation of Indian flavours to create an unforgettable meal, I was amazed at the potential. So when news came about that the amazing Sid Sahrawat, the mastermind behind SidArt, has opened up an Indian restaurant which showcases his talent by combining traditional Indian flavours with local produce and modern techniques, I know instantly that we had to go and try. Taking up the spot of Mandarin Dumplings, Cassia can be found on Fort Lane. We arrived early on a Thursday night without a booking and we were seated quickly as we were one of the first to arrive. Our waitress gave us a quick rundown on how the menu worked, offered us some of her recommendations and then brought over a plate of onion kulcha while we studied the menu and decided on what to eat. The side of coriander relish with the kulcha is worth raving, it starts with a subtle amount of heat and slowly builds up to a hot eruption of flavours. We ordered two entrees and a main to share so we could leave some room for dessert. The scallops, plump and juicy were lightly seared and served with juliennes of apple, radish and dollops of foie gras. It was paired alongside a subtle curry emulsion that was masked by the rich foie gras. The lamp chops, heavily seasoned with assorted spices were seared and remained pink on the inside. It was presented over a bed of pickled onion and coconut chutney and topped with giant crispy onion rings. Our Bengali-style fish main was a surprised as we expected more of a curry-styled dish (as described by our waitress) but it was beautiful nonetheless. Nice texture contrast between the crispy kale, the fish was moist and the mustard seeds provided plenty of heat. All th

Wow just wow... Feel like I've died and gone to heaven. I wish I could eat like this everyday! The flavours in everything are so balanced with the right amount of heat. Something for everyone too. The service was also amazing. We visited for a team work meal and as people in high end hospo we are hard to impress. Faultless I would come back again and again. If I could give higher than a 5 I would

Great to see semi formal food presentation served in such a way as to be conducive to sharing. Elegantly prepared dishes with carefully considered flavors. We really enjoyed sitting at the bar ordering dishes and drinking Gin. The service was casual and friendly without any pretension and the room was airy and spacious (the owners have employed a handful of design tricks) even though windowless and underground. Cassia was the first stop on a night of restaurant hopping, it proved to be the highlight (others were Depot, Masu, Bellota, Indochine, Cafe Hanoi) Cassia is first on my list of places to go back to next time im in Auckland.

Taking up the spot of Mandarin Dumplings, Cassia can be found on Fort Lane. We arrived early on a Thursday night without a booking and we were seated quickly as we were one of the first to arrive. Our waitress gave us a quick rundown on how the menu worked, offered us some of her recommendations and then brought over a plate of onion kulcha while we studied the menu and decided on what to eat. The side of coriander relish with the kulcha is worth raving, it starts with a subtle amount of heat and slowly builds up to a hot eruption of flavours.<br/><br/>We ordered two entrees and a main to share so we could leave some room for dessert. The scallops, plump and juicy were lightly seared and served with juliennes of apple, radish and dollops of foie gras. It was paired alongside a subtle curry emulsion that was masked by the rich foie gras. The lamp chops, heavily seasoned with assorted spices were seared and remained pink on the inside. It was presented over a bed of pickled onion and coconut chutney and topped with giant crispy onion rings.<br/><br/>Our Bengali-style fish main was a surprised as we expected more of a curry-styled dish (as described by our waitress) but it was beautiful nonetheless. Nice texture contrast between the crispy kale, the fish was moist and the mustard seeds provided plenty of heat. All their curries are served with a side of basmati rice and we also order a portion of garlic naan to accompany our curry.<br/><br/>For dessert, we had the cardamon pannacotta with lychee and the mango sorbet with liquorice puree, coffee meringue and pieces of pineapple and raspberry. Both were reminiscent of dishes from SidArt and they were delectable. The refreshing lychee sorbet neutralised the richness of the cardamon pannacotta and the freeze-dried lychee is a fine textural touch. The mango sorbet hidden under a portion of foam and sheets of light meringue has a fruity sweetness and was a satisfying end to our meal.<br/><br/>Although there were some dishes where the Indian inspiration didn’t shine as much as expected, I throughly enjoyed my dinner at Cassia. Unlike typical neighbourhood Indian restaurants, the dishes are comparatively light/mild and great for people that enjoys the ethnic influence without being overwhelmed by the different spices.

Usually when a new Indian eatery opens in the neighbourhood, there isn’t so much attention drawn to it. But when you hear it’s Sid Sahrawat of the famous Sidart restaurant that is the mastermind behind Cassia, there is excited anticipation for what he’ll add to our Auckland food scene.<br/><br/>Instead of the usual butter chicken curries you can eat at your local Masala, the philosophy is a modern twist on traditional Indian flavours using fresh local ingredients. And that is exactly what I experienced.<br/><br/>Being the indecisive diners we are, the bubbly but experienced waitress offered to start us with the onion kulcha. It was soft with flaky layers which we dunked into the coriander relish.<br/><br/>These scallops were one of the best I’ve had, being the ultimate melt-in-the-mouth experience that great scallops should have. The apple added a nice touch of crisp texture into the dish and balanced out the richness of the foie gras.<br/><br/>The duck was cooked beautifully and fell nicely off the bone. Whilst I’m not a spicy eater, I loved the fragrant heat of the curry and battled the burn with mouthfuls of white rice. The lychee was a nice addition to the dish and always surprised me whenever I felt the pop of sweetness mixed with the gravy.<br/><br/>With the curry being so hot for a weak spicy eater like me, I opted for one of the cocktails to distract my tongue. Lychee is a recurring motif on the menu and with a love for this tropical fruit, it was an instant attraction. It was as good as it promised to be, with the gin quite strong.<br/><br/>Cassia is a beautiful place for a night out. Following the industrial casual chic trend, the overhanging lights gives it a mysterious ambiance to the low ceiling. As slow eaters, not once did we feel hurried to leave and we enjoyed bright conversations with the staff. The food was aromatic and presentation was flawless. While you do pay more than your average $10 butter chicken, the quality of fresh ingredients doesn’t come cheap. I’d recommend going with an open mind and be ready to try some flavour combinations you’d never have thought of!

I've been wanting to try this place since it opened and finally had the opportunity to find my way there over the weekend.  <br/><br/>The restaurant is beautiful, with all the handing pendant lights and lends quite a nice ambience to the place. We were seated on a table with another group of people which I can imagine some people may not like it but was perfectly fine by us.<br/><br/>We got the drinks ordered quickly which was nice but after the drinks were served we didn't have anyone come take our order for quite a while and we were absolutely starving! In the end we had to flag someone down to take our order. We ordered two starters and 3 mains to share as well as some garlic naan bread. It didn't take too long to get our food though which we were so grateful for. We chose the yellowfin tuna and scallops and I can honestly say this was by far one of the best dishes that I have ever tasted. It was absolutely amazing and I wish there was more of it but sadly, it was quite a small portion. If I could have gotten away with licking my plate I might have done it! I can't say it felt at all Indian inspired but it was so delicious I didn't care where I was! When the mains arrived they looked good and tasted good but the only thing I wish they had stated on the menu was the spice level, as it was quite spicy and I would have liked to have known that so I could ask them to tone it down just a tad. I have been to India before and this is quite normal for them to be that spicy but I just think some people might struggle with this level of spice.<br/><br/>An enjoyable experience, the wine was good and so was the food. I would come back again definitely.

In a city crammed full of competition, it's hard to find that niche, that point of difference - something would see you retain a customer rather than the next.<br/><br/>Case an point would be Cassia and the ever imposing Britomart precinct. <br/><br/>In a few square blocks which one can only define as saturated by 'hip' restaurants charging exorbitant prices and cocktail lounges that;<br/><br/>1. Can't provide you with the libation you crave -and- <br/>2. Charge through the nose just because you're there.<br/><br/>Cassia is a new concept in terms of the product provided, but not in the style. <br/><br/>The easiest way one could describe this Sidorientated adventure is kind of like a trip to Depot - Take out the fresh oyster bar, replace fish sliders with chicken (but a bun that is far superior). The potato skins for kulcha. The lacklustre drinks menu for cocktails crafted by one of Auckland hospitalities O.Gs.<br/><br/>A dumpling bar in turn sculpted to offer a moody dining experience, complete with fixtures and artwork to foot.<br/><br/>Dining at the bar was the best choice we made that night. Arrive early - or not. You won't be disappointed. Will definitely book on return.<br/><br/>Service - 5<br/>Food - 5

My friend and I arrived at Cassia at 6.30pm on a Saturday night (without a reservation) and were seated immediately. We left 2 hours later and not once did we feel hurried. We chatted away as diners around us ate and left, new diners were seated who also ate, and also left. We felt there was a long wait between courses (possibly due to Saturday dinner rush) but we never felt abandoned. The food was flavourful, some ingredients were unexpected and we had more than enough to eat.<br/><br/>Please note, it was suggested we order six dishes to share between two, but we ordered four dishes so that we could leave room for dessert and we were positively STUFFED. I would recommend two dishes per person if you’re planning on dessert too.<br/><br/>We had:<br/><br/>Gin and tonic apéritifs:<br/>• West Winds Cutlass, East Imperial Tonic, Capsicum & Coriander (yum)<br/>• Tanqueray Ten, East Imperial Burma Tonic, Grapefruit (right up my alley)<br/><br/>Dishes:<br/>• Seared scallops, foie gras, curry emulsion, apple, mooli (beautifully cooked)<br/>• Fried eggplant, mushrooms, onion seeds, cows curd, fresh chilli, mint (creamy and stunning)<br/>• Pickled fish w garam masala, chickpeas, tamarind, fried bread, mint dressing (a bit salty for my palate and packs a spicy kick, would have been great to have our rice and bread at this point)<br/>• Delhi duck, kumara, lychee, fried basil (delicious, wish there was more of it)<br/><br/>Sides:<br/>• Garlic naan (pretty good)<br/>• Basmati rice (aromatic and lovely)<br/><br/>Desserts:<br/>• Passionfruit rice cream, pineapple, mango sorbet, coriander, pistachio, coconut (sorbet was great, coriander was interesting, not a fan of the rice pudding component)<br/>• Chocolate kulfi, date, banana mousse, cumin caramel, hazelnut (very yummy, not too sweet, richly flavoured)<br/><br/>Tea and coffee:<br/>• Darjeeling<br/>• Flat white<br/><br/>We loved all the dishes we got. They were very interesting and it was fun picking out the different flavours in each dish. I loved the sorbet in my dessert but I”m not a fan of rice pudding which the rest of the dessert was based on.<br/><br/>Special mention to their Gin and Tonic menu with 6 different gins and flavours and their impressive aromatic cocktails. <br/><br/>The decor is interesting. The underground bunker had the potential to feel very cold and industrial but with white farmhouse dining chairs, throw pillows and warm lighting, they’ve done a great job in transforming the space. I just wish we got a better view of the colourful photographic mural that adorns one wall. We fell in love with the unique crockery our dishes were served in. It’s the little things.<br/><br/>The service is great, though it would have been nice to have to deal with less staff. Our questions were answered thoroughly and recommendations given when requested. Our waiter even let us know the foie gras scallop dish came with 3 scallops so we had the option of adding an extra scallop so we could have 2 each (which we did) rather than split a scallop or fight for it.<br/><br/>Cassia is more expensive than your neighbourhood curry house and you’re paying for an experience of thoughtful, edible art with robust flavours. If you are after a butter chicken, you wont find it here. In fact, Cassia only has a single chicken dish and it is far removed from a curry. This is a restaurant for adventurous eaters, though we didn’t find any of the dishes particularly challenging or scary. Expect to spend $60-$80 per person.

Attracting the entire town’s purveyors and the PM himself, Siddharth Sahrawath’s Cassia arrives with the biggest splash for any Indian restaurant in Auckland. Vegetarians alas are again given the cold shoulder here, and so are most curries and the butter-chicken-tikka shebang, replaced and revised by a spin on nouvelle Indian cuisine. Highlights: a hunk of tasty duck atop a spicy yet compatible raw mango pickle sauce, fenugreek lamb with full-throttle chutney, brinjal with palak paneer, and exquisite cardamom pannacotta with stunning lychee sorbet. Misses: chilli-smothered fish with chickpeas, a tomato kasundi which ill-suits both snapper and softshell crab that’s lost in cornflour batter. Décor is basement-industrial-casual-“chic” (downsized Clooney). Service has highs and lows. $80 for 4 courses. 0verall 2.75/5 = above average. Photos @ upnworld