109 Elgin Street, Carlton
Phone 03 9347 0006
Abla’s is practically an institution in Melbourne, satisfying hungry patrons with homestyle Lebanese fare for thirty years. I guess, due to it’s reputation, I was expecting a restaurant that had all the boxes ticked. But expectation can be a nasty thing, because I must confess I felt…er…somewhat dissapointed. I’m trying to put my finger on why I felt that way – was it the lack of a greeting area (..and a greeting?) that made us feel a little unwelcome? Was it the lack of patrons in the empty green-walled ground floor dining area? As we hovered uncomfortably by the door, we were finally noticed by a waitress and pointed upstairs. Yes – the service can be a little abrupt and not as welcoming as I would have expected (yes…there goes that E work again). Perhaps I should have parked my expectation by the door?
Despite that, the food was good. Not mind-blowing by any means, but good, honest, homestyle, hearty fare that makes you want to undo a belt notch after eating (especially after choosing the $50 banquet).
We started with some dips, pickles and pita bread – above, a wonderfully tart labnee (home made thickened yoghurt) that had been glugged with olive oil and sprinkled with dry herbs.
One of my favourite dips is hummous bi tahini – chickpeas blended with tahini, garlic and lemon juice. A sprinkle of sweet paprika speckled the surface, and it was textbook in its consistency and flavour.
The other classic, baba ghannooj, is a smoky eggplant dip blended also with tahini, garlic and lemon juice (I think those three items could be the holy trinity of Lebanese cuisine). The dip was incredibly (…and I mean INCREDIBLY) smoky.
I don’t think you can go too wrong when you wrap something in pastry. Ladies’ fingers are filo pastry cigars filled with minced lamb, pine nuts and spices. The sheets of filo were obviously well brushed with butter.
The kibbee too were also good; a casing made of minced lamb and cracked wheat (deep-fried), stuffed with spiced meat and pine nuts. I enjoyed cracking open these egg-shaped meat balls to reveal their steaming interiors.
To go with the kibbee, a Lebanese salad of parsley, tomato, mint, spring onion and cracked wheat. It was nice and lemony.
And loubyeh – green beans cooked in a tangy olive-oil tomato sauce.
Classic falafel – patties of chick peas, broad bean, parsley, coriander and spices served with tahini tarator.
Makaneek – grilled home-made spiced lamb and beef sausages, that were perhaps a little on the dry side.
And yes…the food is still coming! Chicken wings baked with garlic and lemon juice. Very homestyle.
Lahem Mishwee – marinated tender lamb fillets grilled on the skewer, topped with a tart (sumac?) onion salad.
Finally, the simply titled ‘Chicken and Rice’ – a fantastically flavoured pilaf with minced lamb, chicken and buttered flaked almonds. I loved this dish – the chicken was super tender and the buttered almonds added a nutty aroma, not just through the nuts, but the browning of the butter. Yum!
To finish, a strong hit of Lebanese coffee..
And home made baklawa and Turkish Delight. I almost couldn’t fit these in, but certainly tried very hard to!
New blog post: Abla’s http://tummyrumbles.com/2009/04/ablas.html
Ohhhh I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Ablas! They seemed to be full all the time! So, other than the service, would you recommend me to go or is there some other Lebanese place which is better?
Hey Piggy Eatalot – I was a little perplexed about writing this post (expecially in that instead of dissing a place, I’d more often just not write about it). That being said, the food was very good, which is why I think I decided to write about it! The place is always full – so maybe I went on an off night? Either way…I think you should definitely go. Just make sure you have any empty stomach – there is *lots* of food!
I’ve always loved going to Abla’s. So much food in the banquet, you really have to pace yourself. Especially love the chicken and rice but i’m usually too full to enjoy it by that stage.
i have heard a few people say that it isnt as good as the hype. have tried to book a couple of times and never got in. the food looks like very simple arabic food which i mostly cook at home (not kibbeh or the chicken dish) so my enthusiasm has waned a little. i have heard that if u r lucky you can ask for kibbeh neeya (which is raw kibbeh) and i havent had that since i was a kid and would love to try it again.
sounds a bit like christmas with the relos in terms of amount of food!
Ran – I want to come to your family bashes!
Mellie – I agree wholeheartedly that it’s hard to go wrong with wrapping things in pastry. I’ve never been, but it sounds as though you need to work up to a visit. Go into training, perhaps!
Your photos make the food look fantastic! As Ran says, whenever I’ve tried to book there I’m told they are full for a week or more, so to hear they had empty tables is surprising. I’ll get there one day…
Hey Nick – I concur. The chicken and rice was probably the last thing I actually managed to eat. I *just* fit in a bite of baklava before pleading mercy.
Hi Ran – can I come to your house for dinner?!?
We went off the banquet menu, which I assume is rather safe for the masses. They don’t have the kibbeh neeya on the a la carte – but as you said, I’m sure if you ask nicely, you might get it.
Hi there Lucy – I heartily recommend some rigorous training beforehand – well, at least the day before. I recommend fasting for a day before you have this banquet.
Hiya Fitzy – ohh..I think I’ve made the wrong impression. It was only empty when we walked in (which was right on opening). The place was packed by the time we left!