Is Eastern Spice the best Indian restaurant in Geelong?

Eastern Spice has been voted No.1 in the Geelong Foodie Poll and holds the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 10 consecutive years — the most sustained recognition of any Indian restaurant in Geelong. It is also the only Indian restaurant in Geelong with waterfront views across Corio Bay at Eastern Beach.

Is Eastern Spice halal?

Yes. Eastern Spice is halal certified. All meat is sourced from a certified halal supplier — this applies to every meat dish on the menu including all curries, tandoori dishes and biryanis.

Is Eastern Spice BYO?

Yes. Eastern Spice is BYO wine every night with a corkage fee of $5 per person. Beer and spirits are not included in the BYO policy.

Does Eastern Spice have vegetarian options?

Yes. Eastern Spice has an extensive vegetarian menu including paneer tikka masala, dal makhani, chana masala, aloo gobi, vegetable biryani and more. Vegan-friendly dishes are also available — ask staff on the night.

Is Eastern Spice on the Geelong waterfront?

Yes. Eastern Spice is located at 1 Bellerine Street at Eastern Beach on the Geelong waterfront, with views across Corio Bay. It is the only Indian restaurant in Geelong with direct waterfront views.

How do I book a table at Eastern Spice?

Book online at easternspice.com.au/reserve-your-table or call (03) 5221 9544. Walk-ins are welcome but bookings are strongly recommended on Friday and Saturday nights.

Does Eastern Spice offer Indian catering in Geelong?

Yes. Eastern Spice provides Indian catering across Greater Geelong for weddings, corporate events and private celebrations. Packages start from $29 per person for groups of 25 or more. Contact via WhatsApp on 0430 458 703.

What time does Eastern Spice open?

Eastern Spice is open Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to 9:30pm. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

Who is the chef at Eastern Spice Geelong?

Chef Manpreet Sekhon — known as the Curry Queen — is the founder and head chef of Eastern Spice. Trained at Park Plaza Hotel Punjab. Recognised by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra, the Czar of Indian Cuisine. Eastern Spice is the original home of the Curry Queen — she also runs Masti on Brunswick Street Fitzroy and Elchi at 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD.

Is Eastern Spice related to Elchi Melbourne and Masti Fitzroy?

Yes. Eastern Spice, Masti and Elchi are all restaurants by Chef Manpreet Sekhon — the Curry Queen. Eastern Spice in Geelong is where the Curry Queen's story began. Masti is her casual Indian restaurant on Brunswick Street Fitzroy. Elchi at 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD is her fine dining expression — with thirteen Melbourne press features and private dining for 50 guests exclusively.

Best Vegetarian Dinner in Geelong: Why Paneer Dishes Steal the Show

13 May

Written By Manpreet Sekhon

Vegetarian dining in Geelong has come a long way, but finding a restaurant where the vegetarian options are genuinely the highlight of the menu — not just an afterthought — still takes some searching. At Eastern Spice Geelong, the vegetarian dishes are some of the most ordered items in the restaurant. And right at the top of that list is paneer.

Why Paneer Works So Well

Paneer is a fresh Indian cheese with a firm texture that holds up beautifully to heat. Unlike many cheeses, it doesn't melt — it chars, absorbs spice, and takes on the flavours of whatever it's cooked with. That quality makes it one of the most versatile and satisfying proteins in Indian cooking, and in the hands of a skilled chef, paneer dishes compete with anything on a meat-heavy menu.

At Eastern Spice, Curry Queen Manpreet Sekhon brings five-star hotel training to every dish she prepares. The paneer dishes here are made with the same care and quality ingredients as everything else on the menu — scratch-made sauces, handpicked spices, and produce sourced locally.

Paneer Tikka: The One to Start With

Paneer tikka is the standout starter for vegetarians at Eastern Spice. Cubes of paneer are marinated in spiced yoghurt, then cooked in the tandoor until the edges take on that slightly smoky char that makes tandoor cooking so distinctive. It arrives at the table with a freshness and depth of flavour that surprises first-timers every time.

Paneer Mains Worth Trying

Beyond tikka, the paneer mains at Eastern Spice cover a range of regional Indian flavours. Rich, tomato-based gravies. Creamy spinach-based dishes. Dishes with warming spice and dishes with a gentler profile. There's genuine variety here for vegetarians, not just one or two token options.

A Vegetarian-Friendly Menu Across the Board

Paneer isn't the only reason Eastern Spice is one of the best vegetarian dinner options in Geelong. The menu also features dal makhani, vegetable curries, samosas, and a range of vegan-friendly dishes. Whether you're fully vegetarian or simply prefer to eat less meat, the options at Eastern Spice give you plenty to work with.

Dine by the Bay

Eastern Spice is located at 1 Bellerine Street, Eastern Beach — Geelong's only waterfront Indian restaurant. The setting adds something special to any dinner, vegetarian or otherwise.

The restaurant is open Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to 9:30pm, closed Tuesdays. Book online or call (03) 5221 9544.

Manpreet Sekhon

Manpreet Sekhon is the award-winning chef and founder of Masti Indian Restaurant in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Known as the Curry Queen, Manpreet trained in five-star hotels across Punjab, India, where her cooking was recognised by two of India's most celebrated culinary figures — Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra, widely regarded as the Czar of Indian Cuisine. She founded Eastern Spice in Geelong — one of regional Victoria's most acclaimed Indian restaurants — before bringing her cooking to Melbourne with Masti on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in 2020, and Elchi in Melbourne's CBD. Her menus honour her late mother's fearless, instinctive cooking — traditional, bold, and made entirely from scratch.

Best Vegetarian Dinner in Geelong: Why Paneer Dishes Steal the Show

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