Indian Ocean Restaurant Dungarvan.

The Indian Ocean restaurant in Dungarvan is in a stunning location overlooking the harbor, and Maroof Humayun and his family, who have run the restaurant for the past ten years, have capitalized on this feature by putting in picture windows the whole length of the premises allowing his customers to enjoy the fabulous view.

Inside the Indian Ocean is classical with dark wooden floors throughout, subtle lantern style lamps on the wall alongside authentic Indian pictures.  As you enter the building there is a reception area to collect food to go, and the main dining area is divided in two, both sides identically designed and both have low Indian music playing in the background giving a very relaxed atmosphere.

We popped along for a set Sunday lunch with a difference, and once we were seated and given the menus, a plate of poppadoms with a selection of four dips - onion chutney, chilli sauce, mint sauce and a mango pickle - were placed in front of us to nibble on, along with a large jug of iced water.  The set menu was divided in three with a vegetarian selection for €12.95, and two other options for €13.95 and €14.95, all of which offered an appetizer and main course with tea/coffee to follow. 

There was also a quick lunch option of a main course and rice for €9.95 and a choice of European dishes if your little ones don’t want to go with Indian cuisine.  There were also about four dishes marked as being low fat options, so if you’re watching the figure, it’s a thoughtful addition.

The way the menus were broken down was in sauces first, from Korma, Tikka, Jalfrezi, Vindaloo and so on and then you choose between vegetarian, chicken, lamb or beef.  We ordered a vegetable soup, a chicken and a lamb tikka to start and followed with sizzling chicken Takka, beef Jalfrezi and a sizzling chicken tandoori with boiled rice, pilau rice and a naan bread to share.  We also added on a sizzling king prawn tandoori with a plain curry sauce on a recommendation from the manager.

 A couple of glasses of red wine and I opted for a bottle of Kobra beer and the order was complete Starters wire good, the lamb and chicken Tikka the star here, while main courses were very good, each had a distinct taste, and I have to say the King prawn Tandoori won dish of the day in my eyes; the prawns were cooked to perfection, really juicy and the sauce didn’t over-power them.

That was meal over; at least until we were presented with a dessert menu and Fred chose a coconut ice cream which was so refreshing that I nearly finished it on him.  Then was all enjoyed a cup of tea and watched the fishermen out on the harbor as the sun set on the Comeragh Mountains that surround the town.

All dishes are prepared at the time of order from really fresh locally sourced ingredients.  Everything at Indian Ocean is about the customer, offering good food at reasonable prices.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would certainly return.

** Other options at Indian Ocean is their early bird menu Sunday to Thursday excluding bank holidays which is two courses for between €14.95 and €16.95 or the a la carte which gives you an extensive selection of dishes with starters ranging between €3.95 to €7.95 and mains broken down into tandoori sizzling dishes, Balti, seafood or chicken, lamb and beef as well as four dishes recommended by the chef.  All these run from €12.95 to €16.95 and finally there is a choice of set menus.  As much effort and thought has also been put into the wine list with a small choice of house wines for €17.50 a bottle and then a more select list broken into region and ranging from €19.95 to €48.00.