Indian Delight
Nearly 50 years ago, a young man named Inder Jaiswal made the journey from India to Australia with just $10 in his pocket. Fast-forward to today and the Robina local and owner of Agnee Indian has gone on to establish himself as a respected restaurateur, with venues in India, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
Inder has selflessly mentored many of his countrymen as restaurateurs and chefs, including his son Arjun, who joined in 2004.
The duo managed The Indian in Robina Food Central for many years, before launching their latest venture, Agnee Indian, on Scottsdale Drive in 2010.
The team from InsideR sat down with the curry curator to discuss his business ventures and the secret to becoming a favourite with locals and Indian food aficionados.
Tell me about your journey to becoming a restaurateur?
I landed in Melbourne in December, 1971.
I found a job making power tools in a factory, and worked there for eight and a half years so I could study business at night school. Once I learnt as much as I could about business, I learnt of a restaurant for sale, so decided to put my study into practice. I didn’t know much about restaurants, but I knew I could improve the business that already existed. That was the beginning of my journey and I have never looked back.
What brought you to the Gold Coast and eventually, Robina?
I moved to the Gold Coast 30 years ago after I came across a business opportunity, shortly after selling my restaurant in Melbourne. After making the move, the original deal didn’t end up going through, but I was determined to stay.
An opportunity then presented itself to open a restaurant in Nerang, and we launched House of India in 1990. We later moved to a more central Broadbeach location of Victoria Square, where the business thrived, giving us the opportunity to expand to Surfers Paradise, Runaway Bay, Southport and even India. We moved on from that venture in 2004.
That same year in November, a site became available at Robina Food Central my son, Arjun joined me, and we started to build the business together, naming it The Indian Cafe Restaurant.
When we saw plans of the site of our latest venue on Scottsdale Drive, we decided to purchase it, and that was the beginning of Agnee Indian.
If it weren’t for my son working with me for the past 14 years, I don’t know where I would be. The customers all love Arjun and keep coming back because of him and his meticulous service.
How do you find the Robina locals? Do you have regular customers?
Nearly 90 per cent of our customers are regulars – the Robina locals are what keep our business going and I am forever grateful for these wonderful people.
We also have guests who travel to Robina from Byron Bay and as far as North Queensland to try our food – we have even had customers from Germany and Scotland.
What’s the most popular dish?
Butter chicken and vindaloo is popular, as well as my prawn masala and our traditional tandoori platters. Of course everyone loves the naan breads too.
What do you like about owning restaurants in Robina? If you weren’t running a restaurant, what would you be doing?
Realistically, I could make a restaurant work wherever I needed it to, however, it is the community spirit of the locals that make operating in Robina so enjoyable.
If I wasn’t running a restaurant, I’d like to be living in an old Queenslander home, with an organic farm out the front, watching nature take its course.
