Desperate plan to save cult Sydney kebab shop
The fight is on to save this iconic kebab shop’s trading hours after a neighbour’s noise complaint threatened to shut it down.
Simply put, you haven’t done Sydney right if you haven’t ever drunkenly stumbled passed the upscale boutiques in Paddington’s section of Oxford street, and into the Indian Home Diner.
Founded by Bengali-Australian, Robert Chowdry, his specialty is the revered Indian kebab. The soft but slightly chewy naan envelops a flavourful chicken tikka. Veggie options are available but both options are lashed with a curry of the customer’s choosing and finished with cheese, a crunchy onion bhaji and/or aloo chop, that’s like a spiced potato fritter but better.
But this Sydney icon is under threat.
Two months ago, Mr Chowdury was refused a DA application that would allow it to continue trading until 3am, forcing him to close at midnight.
Should he not abide by the rules, Mr Chowdury would face a $6000 fine for every night the shop is open past midnight.
Previously, Mr Chowdury began receiving noise complaints from a nearby Oxford St resident, which escalated with threats the individual would “close (his) shop”.
It’s not known if the threat is related to the DA application refusal.
At the end of April, Woollahra Municipal Council told news.com.authat the Indian Home Dinner was granted an extension to trade until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights on a 12-month trial basis in March 2020 — but for many that’s not enough.
Especially as Mr Chowdury explained that not being able to operate until 3am would “cripple my restaurant”, and that he can’t afford to lodge an appeal by himself.
Enter UberEats, with support from Bondi Lines.
They’ll be throwing a ‘Rave 2 Save Indian Home Diner’ event that will take place in The Unicorn Hotel on Saturday, May 28, just up the road from the restaurant.
“We’ve answered the call of thousands of Sydneysiders and come to the aid of iconic Paddington restaurant @indianhomediner who have recently had their trading hours reduced,” UberEats said on an Instagram post.
There’s a lot of Australian talent on the performance line-up, including DJ sets by Cosmo’s Midnight, Bag Raiders, Hugo Gruzman from Flight Facilities and Lucy Lucy.
“This decision is set to cripple the local restaurant. Well, not on our watch!”.
Tickets are on sale for $32.74, and 100 per cent of the proceeds will go towards funding Indian Home Diner’s restaurant DA appeal.
Honestly I’ve never come so close to being in Empire Records before in my life. Damn the man, rave on.