Husband-and-wife duo Sid and Chand Sahrawat are stalwarts on Auckland’s dining scene — their contemporary Indian eatery, Cassia, loved city-wide for its vibrant fare and lively atmosphere. Opening on Fort Lane in 2014, Cassia was born from Sid and Chand’s desire to share the food they cooked at home surrounded by family. As such, the inspiration for the eatery was the traditional dishes of Sid’s childhood fused with Chand’s delicious home-cooked curries, and while Sid’s professional experience had been predominantly with European Cuisine, the pair saw an opportunity to show New Zealand how spectacular and complex Indian cuisine could be.
Cassia instantly solidified itself as one of the city’s go-to dining destinations, with a menu that encapsulates Sid’s signature modern Indian fare, marrying classic, crowd-pleasing favourites with inventive dishes sure to satisfy.
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Cassia operated on Fort Lane for close to nine years before the eatery suffered at the hands of a number of unfortunate weather events forcing its closure multiple times. The Sahrawats finally made the call to close the Fort Lane address, and reopen with a brand new lease on life on Federal Street at SkyCity in 2023 — a location that feels like it was always meant to be. The SkyCity precinct is a location dedicated to the very best in global gastronomy, where Cassia, dedicated to serving modern Indian with a Kiwi slant, sits alongside the traditional flavours of the Pacific in Michael Meredith’s Metita, elevated Japanese cuisine at MASU by Nic Watt, classic American deli eats at Al Brown’s Fed Deli, and the finest Chinese dining experience at Huami.
The ‘new Cassia’, much like its predecessor, enlivens the concept of ‘Agni’ (fire, light and warmth), offering an intimate, cosy, and chic mix of dim lighting, vibrant artwork, and comfortable corners to settle in for an exceptional culinary experience.
As Cassia marks 10 years in business, the Sahrawats are celebrating in fitting fashion, with an unmissable event celebrating Indian flavours and modern techniques, reflecting the journey of Cassia over the last 10 years. The celebration will see Cassia’s first chef, and now-owner of Sidart, Lesley Chandra, join Sid in the kitchen to craft a bespoke menu bringing together the best of Cassia — from 2014 until today. “Lesley was our first head chef when we started Cassia in 2014 and helped shape the vision,” Sid and Chand tell us, “So it was only fitting that we bring him back to celebrate a decade of Cassia with our incredible guests.”
The one night only event, taking place on Thursday July 18th from 5pm, will take diners on an enticing journey through the last decade of Cassia — with 10 bespoke dishes (marking 10 years of Cassia) and beverage matches, all expertly crafted by Sid and Lesley to bring the essence of the eatery to life. Here, you can expect to find the likes of flavourful Pork Vindaloo Fritters, delicate Wagyu Tartare with spiced beetroot, truffle emulsion, and green chilli, and the duo’s delectable Hawke’s Bay Lamb Chops served with chapli kebab and a dry korma, as well as an unmissable dessert marrying dark chocolate with fresh mango, coconut, and honey. Tickets are $195 per person, and include 10 bespoke dishes and beverage pairings.
As Cassia marks this milestone it’s evident that, despite being in business for a decade, this is just the beginning. With Sid in the kitchen creating culinary magic, and Chand on the floor ensuring the very best experience for those visiting, Cassia offers an unmatched dining experience in the heart of the city — and, based on the last decade, we’re certain that the Sahrawats still have a trick or two up their sleeves.
skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/cassia
