I strongly advise you to ignore the more negative comments here. I found the portion size to be spot on, spicy, rich food should be served in small-ish bowls, it's also precisely what you get in India! If their curries don't fill you up try having a (superb) masala dosa as a starter, you'll be stuffed!
If anything, I found the service too attentive, I only need asking once if I've enjoyed my meal! The sign outside advertising Sri Lankan food is a little misleading, you actually get flavours from all over Southern India. The authentic dishes transported me back to some of the very best places I've eaten in in Goa, Kerala & Tamil Nadu. Wonderful stuff!
Excellent prices too, average main is around $13 and there are lots of vegetarian dishes around the $10 mark.
Their Roti Prata is just delicious! Its a Singaporean thing, but if you find a restaurant that does great Roti Prata and Nasi Lemak, you'll be back every week! We do! Lamb curry is so yummy, so is their chicken and fish curry. They even do fish head curry! OOOooo yum! Ambience is good, ample chairs and table. We do a lot of takeaway too. I'd suggest ringing ahead first.
There are two Kammadhenu restaurants in King Street, Newtown. This one is opposite the (now closed but still easily identifiable) Newtown Hotel. As others have commented, there are only three tables here for couples, near the door and too cold in winter. The rest is bench-style seating.
The staff are friendly, the service has been bad in the past but was quite good when we came again yesterday. Once you manage to order, the food seems to appear pretty quickly. There is a wide variety of North and South Indian, Sri Lankan and Malaysian/Singaporean food. We normally stick to the south indian vegetarian food (dosai etc.) and what is referred to in Malaysia as south indian muslim food, roti canai, murtabak etc. A meal of this type, for two, can be had for $20. The sweets are also very cheap and tasty.
We don't have the Malaysian/Singaporean noodle dishes are or, usually, the meat, chicken and fish dishes. One can get these types of meals, better prepared, at other restaurants in the general area, and enjoy a better ambience. The place is very popular. Coming before 7 is a good option if you want to avoid sharing a table.
Kammadhenu's food is some of the more authentic South Indian and Sri Lankan available in Sydney. Smells and flavours of a number of dishes take me straight back to eating at little places in Kerala or Colombo. Dosa, hoppers, parota and southern dishes are all the real deal. People complaining about tandoori dishes or butter chicken not being what they like should probably go to a tandoori restaurant instead of one that specialises in food from the south.
The other thing reminiscent of dining in the Subcontinent is the pretty awful service, waiters run food from kitchen to table and that's about the extent of it. To their credit, my order's always been taken correctly and the bill's always been right.
I love the long beer menu and the excellent prices. The shared tables don't phase me at all, and again if bumping elbows with your neighbours is going to ruin your night, go and eat somewhere else.
After over 50 visits to this restaurant, I am pleased to say that other than one of my first earlier visits, has never let me down in way of taste, quality and satisfaction. The owner is very friendly and takes personal interest in the food served and is very open to comments.
If you are looking for good Indian Curries, folks this is the place. For a restaurant of such size they have an excellent selection of beers which would also turn heads at most bars.
Really enjoyed the food. The staff were extremely hospitable and willing to make some changes to accommodate special needs. Great place and deserves repeat visiting. Value for money was excellent.
@KAMMA BAR Neutral Bay I agree quick service is not a strongpoint, but the friendliness and the welcoming nature of the staff when you get their attention is worth the wait. The food is above average in relation to any other I have tried over the years, personally I have eaten here several times and have not been disappointed with any of my food choices, but do think that the portions sometimes leave a little to be desired.
For ambience Kamma Bar is up there with the competition and the Live Music is a treat, perhaps, could do with the above average Jazz performers, actually playing some relatively new music and not just bashing out old standards over 2 sets before getting fed and then slipping off to their next gig?
As far as the Kamma Bar and their selection of Imported Beers goes, on a pricing and well conditioned basis they are second to none in Sydney! My friends and I get along regularly to enjoy a few drinks and we love the Live Music. Cannot wait for the summer to come along so we can enjoy the ambience offered for all in their outside area.
Great value Indian restaurant. I go here every week with my mate and we eat masala dosai and egg hoppers. Not the kind of place you go on a date, but a good value and interesting place to eat.
We returned here to eat after tossing up with another Indian in the area. We had been here on a few prior occasions and the food was ok, reasonable value. After ordering the usual chicken tikka for our daughter, we orderd some curries. I had the goat curry. It was inedible. It was all gristle. As I paid the bill I said the goat curry was inedible. I was informed the chef would be told. It was really a bit disappointing. Definitely will not be going back.