The Gan-jeez Brings a New Dining Style to Canberra
Puneet and Neetu have brought something special to Canberra that enriches our diverse and interesting food scene. A fusion of Indian and Australian cuisines, The Gan-Jeez menu captures what we love from both and marries them together in beautifully presented, thoughtful Indian classics with a twist!
The result is dishes that surprise and delight, served by a warm and welcoming team who are a pleasure to meet. With free, close parking (great for Canberra winters) and easy access from Ginninderra drive it’s a good choice for both a date night or for a group.
Newly opened this year, The Gan-jeez is offering Canberra a unique experience of Indian-influenced cuisine with fine dining features, while keeping prices mid-range. The menu and service will please both lovers of Indian flavours and those who are looking for something out of the ordinary. Familiar flavours are creatively re-invented and presented in different forms. Gels, glazes, foams and mousses are used in tantilising new ways. Innovative vegetarian dishes are strongly featured. The Gan-jeez vision reflects the passions of Puneet and Neetu who also own a Spanish Tapas Bar and more traditional Indian restaurant.
We were guests so this was a special opportunity to try a range of dishes and make the plans for our next visit which I’ll share in my top tips.
Entree
I had a short list of the entrees that had caught my eye:
Tandoori Duck & Coconut Chutney Slider
Tava Scallops, Mango Coconut Salsa and Mango Chilli Jam
Smoked Salmon Dhokla, Chickpeas Battered Cake, Herb Cured Smoked Salmon and Mustard Dressing
Beauty of South ‘Dosa’ Crab cooked with Chilli, Mustard, Onion and served with Samber Gel and Coconut Chutney
But finally we choose the:
Beauty of South ‘Dosa’ Crab cooked with Chilli, Mustard, Onion and served with Samber Gel and Coconut Chutney $13
Tandoori Duck & Coconut Chutney Slider $5
Tava Scallops, Mango Coconut Salsa and Mango Chilli Jam $14
…with our unanimous favourite being the crab dosa.
Main Course
For main course I had in mind a choice between the:
Bengali Seafood Curry ‘Fish of the Day’ Cooked With Zucchini, Pumpkin & Eggplant Broth
Lamb Shank Rogan Josh with Sweet & Sour Pumpkin Masala & Basmati rice
Green Prawn Curry with Herbs Marinated Prawns Cooked In Creamy Spinach Gravy
…but in the end we chose very well with the Goat Tikka Masala – Tender Goat On The Bone Cooked With Onion, Capsicum, Coriander.
The goat really was the most tender and delicious morsels of melt in your mouth meat. In fact I thought it was the best goat curry I can remember enjoying.
The serve size is wonderfully generous and made for sharing between at least two people. This makes it great for a group menu and excellent value at $22.
I have to say the garlic naan $4 was fantastic and one of the many highlights of the meal.
The rice serve was also generous and nicely priced at $3 and an unexpected surprising treat for us was a very unique Raita Explosion palette cleanser that just popped in your mouth! Yogurt, pomegranate and mint foam beautifully presented!
We were also able to share in the experiences of our friends at the table next to us who were already return guests back for another taste of the $26 Confusion Called Fusion “Butter Chicken” that is Tandoori Chicken Popcorn, Rice cake, Naan Short Breads, Creamy Tomato Glaze. The naan cob, filled with butter chicken really did look something special and it’s now on our wishlist for our next visit.
They had paired this with a very beautiful $22 Roasted Vegetable Coconut Curry with Gobi, Zucchini, Pumpkin Simmerred In Coconut Creamy Gravy.
Dessert
Puneet then surprised us with the most incredibe Passionfruit Kulfi and a Twisted Jalebi & Rabri brought to us by the lovely Meghna.
The Passionfruit Kulfi $13 with a perfectly sized serve of home-made ice cream has a shell that keeps it firm and stops it melting too fast. I loved this because it meant I could savour it slowly and really enjoy it. Gorgeous with the spun toffee, passionfruit swirl and fruit foam.
The Jalebi and Rabri $14 brought back fond memories of Jalebi in Old Delhi Market and was a burst of intense crisp sweetness. The deep fried caramalised suger soaked pretzel was lovely with the pistashio and fennel thickend sweetend milk.
The Gan-jeez does not offer BYO, but wine by the glass is well priced from $8 a glass and $42 a bottle.
Top Tips
If you are constrained by budget or capacity then my tip is to share a main course with one rice and two naan and a dessert between two people. This would work out at less than $25 per person, leave you both feeling comfortably satisfied. It’s a waistline-friendly way to visit often. You could even share a butter chicken or tandoori duck slider and stay under $25 per head.
A group of four people could share four main dishes and six people could share 3 main dishes.
When I head back I will absolutely have to order the naan and the passionfruit kulfi again. Then the next main on our wishlist is the butter chicken naan cob. I just love the idea of breaking off the naan and dipping it into the sauce! After reading Travel and Beyond’s excellent review of other dishes, I’m also looking forward to trying the prawn dishes and slow cooked lamb shoulder.
And I can’t wait to introduce my friends to this new Canberra gem.
Details
85/15 Braybrooke St, Bruce
0251002591
thegan-jeez.com.au
Open for Lunch 11am-3pm and Dinner 5-9.30pm Tuesday to Sunday
Breakfast 7.30-11am Saturday & Sunday
Those scallops caught my eye Michele. Great post. Along with Rose’s, it looks like a good new local place to try.
I think you’d like it Gary!
What a lovely review. You’re right about the generous serves and the moist tender meat preparations. We too will definitely return!
Thanks Rose! Yes, I’d love to try some of the dishes that you tried. Sound excellent!
This looks fabulous:) Fun and interesting.
Worth a visit for sure!