People probably think Third Eye is just a function centre. They’d be half right – it is, but the building’s rooftop also houses one of Sydney’s best Nepalese restaurants.

Shishir Thapaliya and Prabin KC started Third Eye in 2015 turning what was at the time a two-bedroom apartment into an open-air restaurant. Then they transformed the downstairs area into a function hall for Nepalese birthday parties, christenings, wedding receptions and other celebrations.

Despite everything that goes on downstairs and its audible proximity to a highway, the restaurant space is serene. On some weekend nights the sunny courtyard is empty; on others it has just a few families eating dhal, rice and pickles, and a couple Nepalese students eating dumplings and sipping Nepalese beers made using glacial water.

The dumplings, known as momo in Nepal, are the restaurant’s speciality. Most Nepalese joints in Sydney stick to steamed versions of the crescent-shaped parcels stuffed with cabbage, potato and beans or spiced chicken. Here they have the whole gamut: momos stuffed with buffalo; part fried and part steamed momos; momos covered in a tomatoe-y chilli relish; momos sitting a nutty and tangy soup; and the best of them all, the smoky tandoor-baked momos served with a gravy of blended roast tomatoes, sesame and spices.

To experience what Nepalese people eat at home, order some rice, a vegetable curry, a mixed plate of pickles, a bowl of daal and a selection of achar (South Asian pickles).

Third Eye Rooftop Restaurant & Function Center
370 Princes Highway, Banksia
(02) 9567 5704 Hours:
Daily 5pm–9pm http://www.thirdeyebar.com.au/