Annalakshmi on the Swan
Our Mission - Eat as you like, pay as you feel
Annalakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Food and the adage "athithi devo bhava" meaning "the Guest is God" is the motivating factor. This factor is a tribute to the Goddess of Plenty, Annalakshmi. These ideals, the warmth and the service very soon capture the imagination of diners. Annalakshmi provides food for the soul by providing a good meal to those who walk in.
Annalakshmi on the Swan has been a household name for more than a decade in India, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. It is largely run through the work of voluntary staff that includes mothers and grandmothers all of whom know what it takes to prepare a wholesome meal with homely love.
It is guided by the inspiration of a monk, Swami Shantanand Saraswathi, disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh.
Concept
The concept behind this unique organisation is to allow the volunteers to serve the Perth city on the banks of the Swan, with love through the culinary and visual arts.
Tuesday - Sunday (Closed all day on Mondays)
Lunch: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Dinner: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
eatingWA Restaurant Reviews 8 reviews
January 11, 2009
- Food
Delicious vegetarian Indian food, always cooked pe...
- Delicious vegetarian Indian food, always cooked perfectly! The range is different each visit, and it's great to try something new. The dessert is probably my favourite thing, I don't know what is in it but I can't get enough of it!!
- Service
You basically serve yourself here, but the staff a...
- You basically serve yourself here, but the staff are so warm and inviting.
- Ambience
A spectacular atmosphere with a great view. You ca...
- A spectacular atmosphere with a great view. You can take your time enjoying the food with a huge group of friends, or go in with just a couple... the view is amazing, you can't beat this place.
- Overall
A wonderful dining experience from start to finish...
- A wonderful dining experience from start to finish. Paying what you feel is a sensational idea... Giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy magnificent food. They do cooking classes too, I think I might have to give them a shot soon.
June 20, 2008
- Food
You definatly have to like Indian and rice to enjo...
- You definatly have to like Indian and rice to enjoy the food, but i think its amazing! Great for a big feast of rice, i always find myself craving the delicious food they serve. It is a bit spicy and im not big on spicy but the taste is so good you can overlook the spice. Its not an overwhelming spicy though and you can avoid the spicy dishes. Also a yummy milky/custard/noodle type dessert which is so yummy!
- Service
They are very welcoming....
- They are very welcoming.
- Ambience
I love the atmosphere here. I always feel comforta...
- I love the atmosphere here. I always feel comfortable and relaxed. Also an amazing view. You can sit outside (i havent yet as its been too cold) but would be beautiful on a hot summer night!
- Overall
I love this restaurant, always enjoy dining there,...
- I love this restaurant, always enjoy dining there, definitely a must try!!
June 20, 2008
- Food
The food was very tasty, and there was enough rang...
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The food was very tasty, and there was enough range to please most people with at least one dish. Overall, it was good simple authentic Indian. No need to run screaming if you can't handle spicy food, since not all of it is spicy.
Don't go expecting a huge amount of dishes though - They take their ethos seriously, and many dishes means more waste. This also means that they wont keep filling things up until the very last minute of the lunch/dinner timeslot - so it's definitely best to come earlier rather than later. - Service
It's all very much DIY, but any interaction with t...
- It's all very much DIY, but any interaction with the staff that I had or witnessed was very polite and friendly. In short, service was all you can expect or ask for in such a place.
- Ambience
This is, largely, what made coming here an "experi...
- This is, largely, what made coming here an "experience" for me. It's so peaceful and pleasant - just eating there makes you feel safe and good. It's hard to explain, but there's something quite serene about being able to look around a restaurant and see people from just about every walk of life.
- Overall
Annalakshmi is definitely an experience. This mak...
- Annalakshmi is definitely an experience. This makes it worth visiting once even if, like me, you're a meat-lover with no particular like or dislike of Indian food. And once you've been there once, you'll know if it's the kind of place you want to go to again - I know I do.
October 24, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
Despite my love of meat I really enjoy going to An...
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Despite my love of meat I really enjoy going to Annalakshmi with the family and tucking into some spicy vegetarian. There is a nice variety and range of heat in the dishes that mean the kids can have a feed without complaint.
The atmosphere is cheery while also being very tidy with a traditional feel.
As this is a buffet style of restaurant I have rated the service on friendliness and helpfulness in keeping a steady supply of hot food coming.
I have also heard this is one of the healthiest places to eat in Perth.
April 19, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
We arrived here at 1:30 for lunch and served ourse...
- We arrived here at 1:30 for lunch and served ourselves one plate full of their buffet. Unfortunately it was all cold and so not that nice. We went to get second helpings but they'd already cleared the buffet - they close at 2pm but didn't tell us that when we arrived. Unfortunately because the food was stone cold and we didn't get to eat very much of it we were disappointed. I would return to this place to sample the food but only if I arrived early for lunch. It is beautifully situated on the river with superb views and the decor inside is very authentic and charming. The experience is made more authentic since you eat off large metal plates and sit at chunky wooden carved tables with soft music in the background. I'll also mention that the payment system there is novel - "you pay what your heart feels" meaning you pay whatever you want for the meal. It is an alcohol free venue.
March 22, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
My 2 sisters are vegetarian so we decided to have...
- My 2 sisters are vegetarian so we decided to have our family dinner here. My 2 brothers were skeptical at first as they love their meat. We were all completely full and satisfied at the wholesome food we ate. The curry potatoes ran out at first, but they were re-stocked afterwards. The tastiest dish we all thought was the red kidney beans. The naan bread was delicious too.
December 8, 2006
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
After reading all the fabulous reviews on Eating W...
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After reading all the fabulous reviews on Eating WA I decided to try Annalakshmi for myself! Overall the experience was delightful and a very ingenious idea.
The staff were all extremely friendly and helpful with smiles accompanying soft, warm words. The food was nice (vegetarian), though my sister was not entirely impressed with many dishes being slightly sweet and not so spicy. The naan bread was a little strange, perhaps it is the traditional way of cooking it? Not too sure but it was quite doughy and moist.
They suggest you try small servings of the dishes first and are then welcome to return to the buffet style service as many times as you please. Tea, coffee, orange juice and water are all provided as are small deserts. (was too full to try these so can't comment!)
The location is superb; we sat outside to make the most of the opportunity of sitting riverside without having to pay the price! At Annalakshmi you 'pay from the heart' so you pay what you feel when you leave. This can be good for some and not so good for others who don't want to feel like they are taking advantage and pay too much!
Was a nice experience but won't be rushing back.
November 6, 2006
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
Situated overlooking the Swan River on the Barrack...
- Situated overlooking the Swan River on the Barrack Street Jetty, Annalakshmi is one of my favourite Perth restaurants. The food is extremely tasty and spicy Indian vegetarian cuisine. It is served banquette style with dinners serving themselves a selection of rices, rotti (bread), curries, soups and vegetable dishes. Desert, typically a coconut semolina pudding, and drinks are also provided. Annalakshmi has a great ambience, fitted with beautiful old wooden tables and chairs and traditional Indian music in the background. The staff are also exceptionally helpful and polite, always asking if we have enjoyed our meal. You are encouraged to pay whatever you feel you want to, we typically pay between $10-20 depending on how much we ate. One of the best things about Annalakshmi is that given you help yourself to food it can potentially be a quick easy meal. No waiting for table service, simply go in, serve yourself and leave – a great place to stop in before going out.
Contact Information (08) 9221 3003
- Annalakshmi on the Swan
Jetty No 4
Barrack St, Perth 6000 - (08) 9221 3003
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- Vegetarian, Indian
- Fine Dining
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