Foreign Return Restaurant & Bar

Amazing cocktails and service. But I wish they could be faster. Waited 30 mins for our mains but overall the experience was fantastic

Excellent eating experience.. from walking in the door and being greeted by friendly staff and seated, with drinks and straight away felt like i was on a holiday in India. Meal was served hot and excellent taste like no Indian food i have had before. I would come back tonight for dinner if i could. Love this place!

Name after a term coined to describe Indian expats that return to their birth country, Foreign Return is also the name of the exciting new addition to the bustling Surry Hills dining scene that challenges common notions of Indian food. Foreign Return takes you on a culinary journey through India, showcasing regional specialties from Chettinad to Bengali cuisine, to the Rajasthan’s royal kitchens with a menu that offers one of the most expansive selection of proteins you will find in an Indian restaurant; there’s everything from chicken, duck, venison, lamb and goat to barramundi, prawns, and blue swimmer crab. There is also an abundance of choice for vegetarians and vegans alike. The leatherbound menu is truly a delight to behold and peruse, with dishes featuring unique ingredients and evocative  flavours. There was much to relish with our choice of chakhna that included: Roasted foxnuts in a house-spice blend (Ghee Roast Mint Makhana), crisp-fried taro root with crisp parsley, spiced yoghurt and tamarind (Taro Root Tuk) and fried papad topped with cherry tomatoes, red onions, avocado, chillies, goat’s curd and micro coriander (Masala Papad). A riot of colour and textures, they are a tantalising taster of the ensuing meal. One of the most innovative and surprising dishes on the menu must be the Raj Kachori, a plate served to the table as a crisp vibrant red shell. Cracking into the puffed dome reveals a medley of chickpeas, mint chutney, edamame, yoghurt and pomegranate. At lunch you can even find lunch salads, lunch roti rolls. Dinner service extends to food from the tandoor grill, chakna, plates, regional plates, breads and rice. It’s vibrant and a place that is resurrecting long lost recipes that cleverly incorporate native ingredients, Foreign Return achieves its mission to redefine traditional perceptions of Indian cuisine. Furthermore they’ve got brilliant drinks including a range of cleverly concocted cocktails brought to us by mixologist Nitin Tewari, perfect to complement your meal. We loved our visit and the opportunity to try this brilliant food.

Very average Indian food at a premium price. We had the crab curry and the aubergine curry - both tasted like they used the same sauce. Naan was fine but nothing special. Starters were nice. Portion sizes were very small. Also the restaurant had no record of our booking when we arrived, although they did make an effort to fit us in on a Saturday night which was nice.

Nice location, good service, lovely presentation- but the food was disappointing. Lacking in flavour, cold. You need a new chef guys. To do justice to all your creatively named and presented menu items.

Amazing food, Amazing hospitality ,and very unique concept .After ages seen such a new concept from interiors to the ambience very well placed . And so touched by hearing that for particular dish you order which is most commonly served goes for breast cancer . Extremely professionally run, food was ordered did not take long as usually expected on a weekend in a very busy restaurant. Highly hygienic.

Fabulous experience. Lovely food and excellent service. Gigi and Satchi (?) took very good care of us. Best combination of food and drink we have had in a long time. We will be back soon.

My new favourite restaurant. I loved EVERYTHING about this place. The decor, the ambience, the welcome, the venue, the wallpaper....but above all else, the food was simply exquisite. As a Brit that loves India and Indian food, this was the most experiential dining experience. Everything at Foreign Return has been considered; the vibrant location on Crown St, the use of the birdcage logo and multiple ambient enhancements throughout the space. But the food is what I’ll be back for. Yeah, we are in strange times, we can’t travel and to experience India for real is waaay off..... Until the day I can visit Mother India once again, you’ll see me here regularly. I’ve told at least 25 people about you since Wednesday. I can see from the reviews I’m not alone in my adoration. Expect a well deserved stampede to your door. 10/10 and high fives all round ji.

Amazing set up. Great selection of dishes in entrée. Good flavours. Limited choice in mains. Could make some dishes more spicy to enhance taste. Overall a great experience. Definitely returning to the restaurant.

Delicious food, beautifully presented ! The restaurant has a really lively vibe courtesy of modern elegant interior decor, great choice of music and its convenient location. It's a restaurant you would want to go back again n again to hang out with friends or on a date if you enjoy refined modern Indian Cuisine. I didn't try the cocktails, but they looked stunning too! Absolutely loved the place!