Spice Guru Restaurant and Bar brings a broad Indian dining menu to Victoria Avenue in central Whanganui. The venue combines a restaurant, bar and takeaway operation, so it can handle a seated dinner, drinks with food or a meal collected for home. Its menu is arranged in a way that suits both a quick curry-and-rice order and a longer shared meal: begin with fried or tandoor-cooked small plates, add several curries with different sauces and heat profiles, then bring biryani, rice and bread to the middle of the table.
The opening dishes make good use of contrasting cooking methods. Onion bhaji and vegetable samosa bring crisp, savoury bites, while paneer tikka and chicken tikka move the focus to the tandoor. That split is useful for mixed groups because vegetarian and meat-based choices can be shared without everyone ordering the same style of starter. A selection of these plates also creates a more varied introduction than moving immediately to a single main, with fried textures, grilled pieces and spiced fillings all represented.
Curries cover familiar favourites as well as meaningful vegetarian choices. Butter chicken and korma lean toward rounded, creamy sauces, while vindaloo offers a sharper direction and lamb rogan josh adds a deeper meat-based option. Dal tadka centres lentils, and malai kofta provides a vegetable-based main with a richer sauce. Vegetable or chicken biryani can stand alone as a rice dish or join a shared order, while breads and plain rice give diners control over how they balance each curry.
The house-special section is where the menu steps beyond the standard curry list. Tawa lamb brings meat and spices together in a pan-cooked preparation, while mixed seafood curry gives fish and shellfish diners a distinct route through the meal. Because Spice Guru is also a bar, cocktails and other drinks can accompany those richer dishes rather than being an afterthought. The result is a venue that works particularly well for groups wanting several flavours at once, with starters, curries, rice dishes and drinks all able to play separate roles.
Address: 23A Victoria Avenue, Whanganui Central, Whanganui 4500, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Spice Guru Menu
Small Plates
Pappad & Dips
Crisp pappad, trio of house chutneys.
Onion Bhaji
V GF DF. Crispy onion fritters, mint chutney.
Potato Samosa
V DF. Spiced Vegetable, flaky Pastry.
Delhi Ki Aloo Tikki
V. potato patty, mint, yogurt, roasted spices.
Paneer Pakora
V GF. Paneer fritters, coriander chutney.
Mushroom Duplex
V. Stuffed mushrooms, spiced cheese.
Honey Cauliflower
V GF DF. Crispy cauliflower, chilli honey.
Chicken Tikka
GF. Tandoor chicken, yoghurt, warming spices.
Spinach Tikka
GF. Chargrilled chicken, spinach marinade.
Chilli Chicken
GF DF. Crispy chicken, chilli glaze.
Lamb Kebab
GF DF. Chargrilled lamb, smoked spices.
Aura Prawns
GF DF. Chickpea-coated prawns, crisp curry leaves.
Gun Powder Prawn
GF. Tandoor prawns, spicy gunpowder seasoning.
Masala Fish Fry
GF DF. Market fish, coastal spice crust.
Mixed Platter For Two
GF. Chicken Tikka, Lamb Kebab, Onion Bhaji.
Mains Chicken
Aura Butter Chicken
GF. Chargrilled chicken, smoked tomato, cultured butter.
Chicken Vindaloo
GF DF. Goan chili, vinegar, warming spices.
Chicken Tikka Masala
GF. Tandoor chicken, tomato, fenugreek.
Malabar Chicken
GF DF. Coconut, curry leaves, black pepper.
Chicken Korma
GF. Cashew, saffron, cardamon.
Chicken Saagwala
GF. Spinach, garlic, finished with cream.
Mango & Saffron Chicken
GF. Mango, saffron, aromatic spices.
Chicken Jalfrezi
GF DF. Peppers, onion, tomato, green chili.
Kadhai Chicken
GF. Roasted kadhai spices, peppers, ginger. Served in a traditional mini kadhai.
Himalayan Chicken
GF DF. Tender chicken, mountain spices.
Mains Lamb
Lamb Rogan Josh
GF DF. Kashmiri chili, yogurt, whole spices.
Tawa Lamb
GF DF. Iron-griddled spices, fresh herbs.
Lamb Korma
GF. Cashew, cardamom, saffron.
Lamb Daal Ghost
GF DF. Slow-braised lamb, yellow lentils.
Lamb Vindaloo
GF DF. Goan spices, vinegar, slow heat.
Malabar Lamb
GF DF. Coconut, curry leaves, black pepper.
Mains Beef
Beef Rogan Josh
GF DF. Kashmiri spices,slow braised
Beef Malabar
GF DF. Roasted spices, coconut, curry leaves.
Beef Vindaloo
GF DF. Goan chili, vinegar, bold heat.
Beef Kadhai
GF. Roasted kadhai masala, capsicum, ginger.
Mains Seafood
Coastal Fish Curry
coconut, curry leaves, coastal spices.
Prawn Masala
Tiger prawns, roasted masala.
Prawn Malabari
Coconut, black pepper, curry leaves.
Butter Prawns
Tomato, cultured butter, fenugreek.
Mains Vegetarian
Dhaba Dal Makhani
GF. Slow-cooked lentils, rich and house made Makhani(butter)
Paneer Lababdar
GF. Chargrilled paneer, smoked tomato, cream.
Yellow Dahl
GF. Slow-cooked lentils, cumin.
Vegetable Korma
GF. Seasonal vegetables, cashew, saffron.
Palak Paneer
GF. Spinach, paneer, tempered garlic.
Chana Masala
GF DF. Chickpeas, roasted spices, tomato.
Kadhai Paneer
GF. Paneer, Roasted kadhai spices.
Aloo Gobhi Adaraki
GF DF. Cauliflower, potato, fresh ginger.
Spinach Kofta
GF. Spinach & paneer dumplings, tomato cashew sauce.
Mushroom Do Pyazza
GF. Mushrooms, caramelised onions, coriander.
Salads
Prawn Mango Salad
GF DF. Tiger prawns, mango, fresh herbs.
Chiken Tikka & Avocado Salad
GF. Tandoor chicken, garden leaves, yoghurt dressing.
Rice
Chicken Dum Biryani
GF. Fragrant basmati, saffron, raita.
Lamb Dum Biryani
GF. Slow cooked lamb, aromatic basmati.
Vegetable Dum Biryani
GF. Seasonal vegetables, saffron, basmati.
Yakhni Pulao
GF. Fragrant basmati, spiced lamb stock.
Zeera Rice
GF DF. Basmati, toasted cumin.
House Specials
Desi Surf & Turf
GF DF. Lamb, prawns, signature masala.
Salli Boti
GF DF. Parsi lamb, crisp potato straws.
Pork Belly Masala
GF DF. Slow-braised pork belly, roasted spices.
Masala Goat
GF DF. Slow-cooked goat, village-style masala.
Naga Chicken (Spicy Govt Warning)
GF DF. Spicy chicken with chillies from Nagaland.
3 Idiots
GF DF. Fish, tiger prawns, scallops.
Chicken Pathiya
GF DF. Sweet, tangy, spice and unforgettable.
Paneer Tikka Masala
GF. Chargrilled paneer, smoked tomato.
Side Dishes
Raita
Papadum
Onion Salad
Mango Chutney
Zeera Aloo
Breads
Plain Naan
Butter Naan
Garlic Naan
Cheese Naan
Cheese & Garlic Naan
Chili Naan
Peshwari Naan (Sweet Coconut & Dry Fruit)
Mince & Cheese Naan
Tandoori Roti (Whole Wheat)
Sesame Naan
Cheese And Spinach Naan
Missi Roti (Gram Flour & Spices)
GF
Aloo Paratha (Potato Stuffed)
Dessert
Gulab Jamun Cheesecake
House made Cheesecake with gulab jamun & pistachio
Rasmalai Tres Leches
Vanilla sponge soaked in Saffron rasmalai milk, almonds and rose petals.
Sizzling Brownie
GF. Warm brownie, vanilla ice cream & chocolate sauce.
Gulab Jamun 2Pcs
W ice cream
Vanilla Sundae
Strawberry, chocolate, or mango
Housemade Indian Ice Creams
Paan Ice Cream
Creamy betel leaf ice cream with sweet paan.
Gulakand Ice Cream
Rose petal preserve ice cream with fragrant cardamom.
Soft Drinks
Coke
Fanta
Sprite
Raspberry Coke
Raspberry Sprite
Lemon Lime Bitters
(House made)
Bunderberg Ginger Beer
Masala Tea
Lemon Honey Ginger Tea
Orange Juice
Apple Juice
Pineapple Juice
Tomato Juice
Lassi
Salted Lassi
Sweet Lassi
Mango Lassi
Pineapple Lassi
Strawberry Lassi
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