Cinnamon Gate - Narre Warren

Cinnamon Gate does genuine Sri Lankan cooking in the Vesper Drive business park in Narre Warren, from string hoppers and kottu roti to rice and curry spreads and late-running buffets. Dogs are permitted in the outdoor seating areas at the front of the complex, which makes it one of the few dinner options in the area where the dog can come along.

The dog setup

Dog seating is the outdoor area on the pedestrian frontage of the shopping complex. It is a footpath-style setup rather than a garden courtyard, so it works best with a dog that settles under the table while you eat. Keep your dog on lead, bring a water bowl from the car, and staff will usually top it up on request. Indoor dining and the buffet run are people only.

Worth knowing

The draw is the all-you-can-eat buffet with a Sri Lankan corner of rice and curries, hot butter dishes and dessert, with kottu roti, hoppers and vegetarian plates on the a la carte side. Portion sizes get consistent praise, and the kitchen trades late: from midday on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, from 4:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and through to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Weekday evenings are quiet around the business park, so a pre-dinner lap of the precinct settles a restless dog before you sit.

Getting there and parking

The restaurant is at 2/43-45 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren, with free parking across the complex lot and easy access off the Princes Highway and the M1. Narre Warren station is a short walk if you are coming by train.

Close by with the dogs

For an off-lead run before dinner, Ryelands Drive Reserve Dog Park in Berwick is the closest fenced option, and the Akoonah Park Dog Off Leash Area is a few minutes further for a bigger stretch of grass. Pioneers Park is an on-lead alternative with paths for a short walk. The City of Casey publishes the on-lead rules that apply across its reserves, so check signage before unclipping. More local picks are on the Narre Warren guide and the VIC restaurants list.