Fandango Café

The cosy North Melbourne café Fandango is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of Sanjay Parasher, who immigrated to Melbourne from India in 2009 so that his son could be treated for a rare eye condition.

“For the first two years, I lived here on my own, without my wife or children. Then two years later, my wife came, and then two years after that, my children followed. It’s been a hard journey - but worth it for the improved life for my family.”

After working in the restaurant trade for more than a decade, Sanjay took a giant leap out on his own when the opportunity came up to have his own business.

“I was working in an Italian restaurant in Lygon Street, and I wanted to progress,” Sanjay explains.

“So I made the decision to purchase Fandango in 2020, and then two weeks after starting, we went into lockdown. We kept it open during that time, and with some support, we’ve gotten through.”

Since taking over Fandango, Sanjay has retained some well-loved dishes as well as introducing international flavours to the menu.

“The Indian curries are traditional family recipes, and the pastas are from the skills I learnt from my time working in Lygon Street.”

You can also find coffee by Proud Mary, a selection of T2 teas, smoothies and all-day breakfast options such as bircher muesli, French toast, pancakes, eggs (or pulled pork) benedict and cheesy chilli eggs. Their range of sandwiches and wraps for lunch are also popular grab-and-go options. To cater for dietary requirements, the menu offers multiple vegan and gluten free items.

While the ubiquitous avocado smash is a bestseller on the menu (and one of Sanjay’s favourite dishes), it’s the rich flavours of Sanjay’s warming curries that are a crowd favourite amongst patrons, especially in winter.

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio