During a chilly winter in Washington DC in the late 1980s, while The Clove's owner Sayeda Alam was doing her MBA, she was devastated by the cold front of a local curry house's staff. This inspired her to foster a spirit of warmth in the presentation of Indian cuisine. It's a matter of good fortune that Sydney became her abode and The Clove fulfilled her mission, serving up awesome Indian food to the people of Sydney with greater care, colour and even, judging by the creativity of some dishes - courage!

For some, dinner at The Clove is a religious experience - maybe inspired by the sacred symbolism of its many arched windows, joined by the ritual quaffing of a good red wine - and at the prices they serve them (the place is licensed and BYO), a holy amount of wine can be quaffed without condemning the budget.

Banquets are popular at The Clove, the disarming yet attentive nature of the staff, the excellence of the food, the inexpensiveness of the wine and the cosiness of the Banquet Room (above) making a satisfying party night very easy to have.