Our Story
Enter Via Laundry, led by Chef Helly Raichura, is an Indian restaurant in Carlton North offering a rotating regional Indian menu that changes every few months. Moving beyond stereotypes, EVL explores the diverse culinary traditions of India, blending ancient regional dishes with native Australian ingredients. Past menus have featured Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Goa, Mughaliya, and Kashmir. Currently, the menu is inspired by The Food of Bharat, a book by Chef Helly Raichura, offering a unique, educational, and celebratory Indian dining experience.
Originally Raichura hosted diners from her home where guests entered the dining room through her laundry. The passion project gained much popularity in the Melbourne food scene and later in 2022 Enter Via Laundry Carlton opened with an aim to create and maintain a homely dinning experience serving elevated Indian cuisine.
We offer two dining options: 5 Course Set Menu, available on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and a 10 Course Set Menu from Thursdays to Saturdays at 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm by reservations only.
The BAR at Enter Via Laundry offers drinks and bar snacks from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm Wednesday to Saturday, walk-ins as well as reservations are welcomed at BAR.
Chef and Author
Author and chef Helly Raichura is a self-taught cook and the mind behind Enter Via Laundry. After a decade of working as an HR professional and missing the rich heritage of India, Raichura decided to share her love for regional Indian cuisine from her own home kitchen. She gained recognition and an extended waitlist for her restaurant with her intricate ‘pasta, not pasta’ khandvi dish as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia in 2020. She has co-hosted India Unplated, a cooking series on the SBS Food Channel, alongside Adam D’Sylva. Raichura’s ethos focuses on evolution of Indian cuisine; every plate she prepares is an evolved iteration of the rich culinary heritage hidden in every region of the nation. Swaying away from the stereotypes of Indian cuisine, Raichura curates her menu from the deep knowledge of Indian cuisine and from her travels to the diverse regions and sub-regions of India. Her menu aims to preserve and reinvent the rich culture, practice, and tradition of Indian cuisine in Australia.
As an Author Raichura has written a cook book The Food Of Bharat scheduled to launch on 4th of March 2025.
Join us on the 8th of March for Launch Party – Book Signing + Q&A + Snacks + Drinks
Restaurant
While the guests no longer enter via the laundry there certainly is a secret entrance through the alleyway that maintains the secrecy of the this cozy space. Keeping the charm of the original story alive, our restaurant is designed to create a homely atmosphere. Each table is individually set up (tables are not shared) in a tastefully decorated spaces boasting Indian and Australian Aboriginal art.
A set regional menu is served at the restaurant with an option of 5 Courses (Available only on Wednesdays) or 10 Courses (Thursday to Saturday). Staying true to Indian hospitality our space is designed to feel like a dinner party hosted by team Enter Via Laundry and create an unforgettable intimate experience perfect to celebrate your special occasion, to treat yourself or explore Indian cuisine.
We cater for all dietary requirements. Please let us know in comments if you are celebrating a special occasion.
Bar
The BAR at Enter Via Laundry is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 6:00 pm for walk-ins as well as reservations. The BAR serves wine, cocktails and bar snacks only. Our cocktail list offers classic cocktails as well as a EVL signature cocktails that melds Australian ingredients with traditional Indian tastes, offering a nostalgic experience crafted by Tom McHugh. Bar snacks are designed to enjoy with drinks, you will find some of our top favourite dishes from previous menus and seasonal specials on the menu.
For a limited time we are also offering The Murg Mussalam Feat on Thursdays only! We want to change the perception of Indian cuisine and bring you a lesser known but very delicious chicken preparation with accompaniments plus a dessert and glass of wine for just $55 pp. Click here for details.
Please note 5 and 10 Course Set Menu is not available at the BAR.
The Food Of Bharat Menu
This season, we’re thrilled to present a menu inspired by the book “The Food Of Bharat” by Helly Raichura. To promote the book and its recipes, this special menu will take you on a culinary journey through the evolution of Indian cuisine, featuring dishes from each chapter of the book.
At Enter Via Laundry, we’re passionate about exploring the diverse culinary landscape of India. Every few months, our travels and research lead us to a new region, where we discover hyper-regional cuisine to inspire our menu.