Okra Sri Lankan Cuisine

Carlton's hole-in-the-wall Sri Lankan gem. the lamprais baked in banana leaf is Melbourne's best.

A small, modestly decorated restaurant on Rathdowne St Carlton. intimate, welcoming, and unpretentious. The owner Lion runs front-of-house and creates an atmosphere of genuine hospitality, popping out of the kitchen to explain dishes, crack jokes and make diners feel at home. Outdoor seating available. Music playing. The setting looks a little worn but the warmth more than compensates.

The lamprais is the centrepiece. fragrant rice, cashew curry, eggplant, coconut sambol, onion relish, fried boiled egg, fish cutlet and choice of meat all baked together in a banana leaf. Owner Lion personally describes dishes and brings out complimentary tastes. Friday Hopper Night features a varied buffet. Available for dine-in and takeaway. Serves alcoholic beverages.

Sri Lankan home-cooking at its most genuine. reviewers with Sri Lankan backgrounds and those who have travelled to Sri Lanka consistently rate Okra as authentic or better. One Sri Lankan reviewer says it rivals the best in Colombo. A food-knowledgeable reviewer notes freshness confirmed by popular dishes selling out (nothing frozen here). Owner teaches diners about the food as they eat.

Exceptional value. two people eat for around $55 and leave full, including drinks. A full banquet for two at $30 each is cited as outstanding. Reviewers consistently describe the pricing as very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes.

Summary drafted with AI from public reviews.