The ever-popular Surry Hills ‘unauthentic’ Indian diner, Don’t Tell Aunty has answered the call and opened a sister venue on Sydney’s north shore. An expansive space on Miller Street in Cammeray is the new home of the slightly more polished, but equally vibrant and fun Don’t Tell Uncle. 

The miniature restaurant chain is born of a 20 year friendship between co-owners, Varan Deep and chef Jai Singh who made the decision to open Don’t Tell Uncle back in 2020, and finally opened the doors in July of 2023. 

Don’t Tell Uncle will still have all of those fun elements that has earned them their loyal Don’t Tell Aunty following but with a slightly more grown-up flair. 

The menu at the Cammeray outpost is tighter than its Bourke Street sister (that’s not to say it’s a short list) but there’s plenty of room for creativity, like with the chicken kali mirch – a traditional curry that’s been reimagined into a heady and addictive crisp chicken wing with more than enough black pepper to wake your palate up.

A few of the Surry Hills mainstays will be making the trek north and, pleasingly, that includes the perfectly pink lamb chops, which are served up north with pickled cabbage and a dizzying mix of house spices, garam masala, balsamic and ginger. The blue-cheese naan and a whole swag of ‘happy shots’ aka chaat (a popular Indian street-food with a crisp shell, doused in savoury pickles) will be migrating too.

Related story: Spice up your life with a visit to Melbourne’s best Indian restaurants

The drinks list by bar manager Dipesh Limbu has a few of the usual suspects like pale ales from Three Sheets and rieslings from Pikes but where things really get interesting is on the cocktail list. Sixteen cocktails from classics like barrel-aged negroni and Manhattans to a whole category called ‘The Crazy Stuff’ where carrot juice meets chat masala and vodka in the Mumbai Mule and the earthy warmth of rum and cardamom powder in the Bollywood Breeze.

Don’t Tell uncle is open now at 504 Miller Street, Cammeray. For more details or to book, head to donttelluncle.com.au.

Related recipes: 64 Indian recipes that are second to naan