Ah, mid-winter. The time you notice the dint in your couch has significantly sunk into a much deeper shape of you, you’re completely netflix dry and comfort food has been your most important guest for the past however long. But now, you’re over slothing about and you’ve realised – hot weather or cold – you’re not getting any warmer, or younger. So let’s all get on up and start eating out again, and this time not just for pho, curry or spaghetti, but for the delectable freshness of Middle Eastern cuisine. Tahina just up from the Northcote Town Hall on High Street is one of my favourite restaurants in our entire city, and I don’t throw that around lightly. They exist within a calming royal blue interior and an open kitchen so guests can see their falafels being fried prior to consumption. They offer shaksuka platters, salads, vegetables, smoothies, and deserts all to which share the same Tahina taste tweaked in a distinctly different Tahina way. However, their pita pockets to me shine brightest on their menu. Their most popular? The falafel pockets, either green or red, with hummus , Israeli salad, pickled cabbage and tahini. Yet I adore the Yarakoht which is quite similar but with sauteed mushrooms and pumpkin.
Judging by the name, these falafel are set to be very good – and very good they very well are! Very Good Falafel is another small eatery cooking big flavours located down Sydney Road in Brunswick. Almost always, they are rushing to serve the number of guest that flood through their doors, yet somehow keep the feels of a relaxing family run restaurant where you can find comfort for hours. At first welcome, guests are presented with plates of Middle Eastern salads, and bowls of various pickled goods ready for selection to what you prefer. Could that be a mixed falafel plate? Or a mixed salad plate? With a Lebanese coffee? Or perhaps a home-made lemonade? Whatever you choose, you will leave with an utmost happiness only made possible from tasting something which has shocked your taste buds to a state of utter fulfilment.
Then, just a few doors up, lives A1 Bakery. An institution if you may, and quite different to the two eateries mentioned above, A1 exists in a much larger space and caters up to four times as many guests while also offering a bakery, restaurant and Middle Eastern grocer – which is where I purchased gigantic tins of stuffed vine leaves, six home-made dips and stacks of pita just last weekend. Walking past the space, you are sure to see tables full of younger, older and mostly regular guests sharing A1’s Falafel Platter of pita bread, falafel balls, pickled cucumbers, pickled turnips, lettuce, tomato and tahini dipping sauce, for just $7. Perhaps with sides of halloumi pies for $3.50 and coffees steaming next to all. A1 bakery is the absolute realest of authenticity here in our cultural food focused city of Melbourne, and it’s a sin if you are yet to experience it.
