Found in Northbridge, opposite the brass Monkey, Sauma has a menu with a modern-Indian twist – think butter chicken pies, wagyu samosas and finger-licking sweet tamarind lamb ribs. My Dad is a big fan of curry, so when I found Sauma was on my list of restaurants to explore for Eat Drink Perth I invited my parents along for lunch. Sauma is not your typical Indian restaurant, it’s brimming with light and feels very fresh and modern- just like the food!
What struck me immediately was the excellent service. It was warm, efficient and totally on the ball. I accidentally knocked a knife off the table and the waitress who was a good 10 meters away, noticed and quickly replaced it with a fresh one. Very attentive. No wonder the Michelin assessors use that trick! I started with a Sunshine juice, $7. It is a tasty combo of fresh orange, carrot, apple, ginger and lemon juice.
We all loved the cheese nann bread, $6, especially Little Chef. It was so fresh, brimming with soft cheese and herbs.
The lamb ribs, $16, are twice cooked – adding to the tenderness of the meat. Flavoured with sweet tamarind, chili, mint and coriander they are absolutely mouth-watering. There will be a fight over the last rib! The onion bhajis, $13 have a modern twist -they are beer battered. I love an onion bhaji and these are very good. They’re garnished what I think is a vibrant pickled yellow pepper, which are very tasty too.
The roast beetroot and potato salad, $17 doesn’t last long! It is full of flavour and. Hiding underneath the veg are lashings of house cured Bombay gin and fennel salmon.It is unmistakably Indian, with strong cumin flavours and finished with a tandoori mayo – but so fresh and modern too.
Another Indian dish with a twist is the butter chicken pie, $9. The golden flaky pastry is spot on and the tasty filling is brimming with meat. The salad, which so easily could be an afterthought, has a zesty coriander dressing drizzled on. 
We all relish the spicy mountain style goat curry, $26. The tender meat is cooked on the bone in a sauce of ginger, turmeric, chili, tomato and beetroot.
Sauma is a must-stop for lovers of Indian food. The vibrant restaurant is fantastic for groups, with it’s long tables, as well as for couples. I though Sauma is a great find and we highly recommend it!
EAT DRINK PERTH 2016
During Eat Drink Perth, Sauma has a special Indian street cart menu. Share an Indian street food feast with your sweetheart – cheese naan, tandoori salmon and chicken, a house plate to share, jackfruit curry and slow cooked lamb saag. Finish on a sweet note with a traditional Indian desert – creamy mango kulfi (ice cream).