Zahr Mezze Cafe Bar is the located on the trendy King William Road cafe precinct amongst other popular eateries. As their title suggests, the focus of their food is on mezze, a Lebanese version of tapas. Their menu offerings are mainly traditional, however, there are few simple dishes with a middle eastern twist. Using the freshest produce, the menu changes seasonally and is based on ingredient availability.

The decor is modern and well presented with good use of dark colours and timber furnishings. Some of the features of this place are the exposed brickwork and the low hanging light fittings, as well as the spacious outdoor area. With natural light flowing in from two frontages, the place is light and airy with a casual relaxed vibe.

For lunch, I ordered the Duck Mana’eesh which consists of braised duck leg, spring onion, chilli, Iranian lime jam, pickled okra and coriander. The mana’eesh came out 15 minutes after ordering and were nicely presented on wooden chopping boards. The first thing that I noticed was the inconsistency in pizza bases. My mana’eesh had a thin classic style base, while my friend’s pizza was thicker with more of a pan style crust.

The duck was well marinated, tender and succulent, and provided in generous proportions. This really worked well with the contrasting flavours from all the other toppings. The spring onions provided a nice sharp bite, you had the heat from the chilli, the sweetness from the jam and the herby flavour of the coriander. The okra also had it’s own distinctive taste and it’s something you either like or hate. I personally wasn’t a fan and didn’t think it belonged on the mana’eesh.

My friend ordered the Chicken Mana’eesh which had 7 spice chicken tenderloins, rocket, tomato and relish. The chicken morsels reminded me of a chopped chicken schnitzel. The actual chicken was tender and succulent, while it’s crunchy coating complemented the fresh crispy rocket. The tomato was visible but it’s taste seemed to be overpowered by the sweet relish.

The staff were friendly and the service was very good. Drinks arrived promptly and plates were cleared as we finished. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing is average to higher than average depending on what you get. The Duck Mana’eesh was $19.90, while the Chicken Mana’eesh was $18.90. These were reasonable considering the size and quality of the ingredients. Other items such as the burger and salads did seem a bit more expensive than what you would pay elsewhere, but it’s no surprise considering the location.

The use of Lebanese produce in their dishes brings out the Middle Eastern flavours that are all presented with a modern twist. Combine that with great service and splendid ambience and you’re set for a special experience.

WHERE: 1/179 King William Rd, Hyde Park