Tahini is best described as a lively, vibrant restaurant serving up authentic Lebanese cuisine and encompassing a modern approach to dining. As well as the standard lunch and dinner, it’s open for breakfast too, so you can now replace your regular eggs on toast with hummus and falafel. Yes Melbourne holds an undeniable number of top Lebanese restaurants, with the majority down Sydney Road and Lygon Street Brunswick way, but it’s about time the CBD welcomed Tahini to the party. The eatery is thanks to the owners of Code Black Coffee, so you know their dishes will be nothing short of a Lebanese cuisine dream. As well as the usual menu suspects like dips, falafel, and tabouleh salad, Tahini widens our expectations with such surprises as beef croquettes, haloumi fries and Lebanese rice. A perfect spot for a wholesome breakfast, a huge step up from your boring sandwich for lunch, and a colourful, fun venue for dinner.
Real talk now readers – the Espy is making a comeback, and it’s not just simply rising from the dead, shaking off the dust and continuing on – it’s been on a two year retreat returning healed, rested and ready to rock. Previous owners Vince Sofo and Paul Adamo owned the Espy for 16 years and share a keen desire with their new owners to see the 139-year-old venue restored to its former glory. There’s not much else to share at this early stage, however I simply couldn’t contain my excitement. I do have one hint though; there will be coal-fire cooking designed around Melbourne’s biggest internal beer garden. Stay tuned.
I don’t know about you, but fancy pubs just don’t make sense to me. What’s a good pub without dark lighting, low ceilings, a crackling fire and old books, boardgames and eclectic frames lining the walls? That’s exactly why the good old Town Hall Hotel holds true on Errol Street, North Melbourne. Not only is this pub my hidden secret – I’m contemplating whether I should share it – but every time I head on down for the usual eggplant parmigiana or Sunday roast, I find something strange I love about it. The haphazardly curated artwork, how some of the dining tables sit on a sightly raised stage, and how most are unaware of their loved red backroom where you can sink jugs and feel the comfort of Nanna’s lounge room. I better talk about their amazing food now, which is most definitely not in short. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, Vegie Lasagne, Bangers and Mash and Eggplant Parmigiana are just a few of their glories. Oh The Towny, you’re far from a lifeless fancy pub and it’s been working for a long time now.
