Mecca: "Middle Eastern cuisine ??" Melbourne Restaurant Tip by kenyneo

How good is the restaurant ?

2003 & 2005
AWARDED ONE HAT
THE AGE GOOD FOOD GUIDE

I have been to one of the Mecca Restaurant in Melbourne which is in Southbank , I almost walked into the other Mecca in Docklands a few days before ..as if fate seals it for us ...we booked a table at this restaurant with a catchy name ...

The waiter in the restaurant are very knowledgeable and you can tell that they take pride in their profession ....and also very friendly and helpful ..perhaps that why we ordered like 6 entrees ....that by the time our main arrive ..we were quite full ..lol ( so I would definitely suggest the entree ...especially the scallops )

Favorite Dish: Some of my favourite Entree are as follows ( about AUD 16 each ) -

1) Syrian pickled date and fresh fig salad with toasted walnut and goat's curd

2) Tunisian spiced prawns with artichoke, candied bacon and rocket salad

3) Chickpea battered zucchini flowers filled with scallops and pistachio nuts, frisee salad and saffron dressing

and the Mains are ....

1) Moroccan lamb tagine with baby carrots, golden beets and harissa herb salad (about AUD 32 each )

2) Tunisian seafood stew with crustaceans and fish, rouille, fennel and sumac pita

Dessert

the Rum-soaked savarin with white nectarines, cherries and vanilla ice-cream is wicked and so yummy ...my friend ordered the Chocolate souffle with a soft centre and caramel ice-cream which looks a little out of shape and too huge ( oppss ..ugly ) compared to the souffle that I had when I was in a friend's restaurant in St Etienne , France.

The one I had is a perfectly ( tempted to say 'parfait' ) shape and it it holds itself fo elegantly that the moment you scoop the souffle , teh hot chocolate flow out ...but the one in this restaurant looks more like a chocolate muffin stuff in a bowl ..shame sham ...and looks too big which makes you wanna label it as indecent lol ...( could it be the Australian factor ) .? Thank God I chose the savarin soaked in rum which is decent in size and tantalising in taste

Address: MR3 MIDLEVEL SOUTHGATE
Comparison: more expensive than average
Directions: SOUTHBANK , Melbourne city OR thete is another one in DOCKLANDS
othercontact: F 03 9682 6022
Phone: T 03 9682 2999
Price: US$41 and up
Rating: 4
Theme: Middle Eastern