Melbourne Dining Review – Rumi, Brunswick East

If I told you I went to a Middle Eastern restaurant on Lygon Street Brunswick, my guess is that your first question would be ‘which one?’ There are quite a few of Middle Eastern restaurants along Lygon Street Brunswick, but in my opinion, what makes Rumi a stand out was the sophisticated, clean and modern set up, attentive service and wonderfully rich yet homely meals, (also there were no belly dancers or sequinned draped fabrics in sight).

From the eye-catching signage highlighting the restaurant’s name “Rumi’ to the sleek, modern interior of this restaurant, Rumi was impressive, and I am happy to say this feeling remained for the rest of my visit on a Wednesday night. I could not fault the attentive service from our waiter Rose, she was very knowledgeable about the dishes, asked if we had any dietary requirements or intolerences and made very helpful recommendations on how the chefs would alter the dishes to work around this. She was friendly and accommodating, she provided good recommendations on which dishes and wines to order and frequently came over to ensure we were looked after and our water cups were kept full! She was fantastic.

We ordered Sigara, cigar shaped pastries filled with three cheeses (haloumi, feta and kasseri), these were very creamy, rich and salty encased in a crisp and light pastry.

Sigara-at-Rumi

Sigara at Rumi

The meatballs were a little more fatty than ideal but were covered in a delicious, rich tomato based sauce. The chicken kebab was a little dry and bland, however once again helped by the spices and nuts added.

Chicken Kebabs and Meatballs at Rumi

Chicken Kebabs and Meatballs at Rumi

The fried cauliflower was  sweet and tastefully seasoned with spices and nuts. The spiced lamb shoulder was the standout, don’t let the dark, charred appearance fool you, one stroke of a fork reveals incredibly soft and tender, fall-of-the-bone deliciousness!

Fried Cauliflower and Spiced Lamb Shoulder at Rumi

Fried Cauliflower and Spiced Lamb Shoulder at Rumi

The pricing was reasonable but I found the larger meals (like the lamb shoulder) of much greater value and good pricing in comparison to the prices charged for the smaller dishes (like the sigara) which were a little pricey for the small servings. We ended the night with a serving of Turkish Delight which was very nice also, the rosewater flavour was not too overpowering and they were not overly sweet to the point of being sickening.

Turkish-Delight-at-Rumi

A wonderful dining experience overall, where an outstanding variety of dishes on offer, impeccable service and a lovely atmosphere make Rumi the Middle Eastern restaurant in Lygon Street, Brunswick with the most flair.

Rumi on Urbanspoon

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Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano movie review Melbourne

If you only thought of Lygon Street Carlton as the place to get a plate of pasta and cannoli, then you need to head to Cinema Nova to watch the next screening of  the movie ‘Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano’.

Lygon Street - Si Parla Italiano Movie. Image Via.

Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano Movie. Image Via.

The wonderful movie ‘Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano’ restored my hope in Melbourne’s beloved Italian precinct. Just as I started to believe Melbourne’s Little Italy had begun sacrificing its vibrant offering of cultural dynamism in exchange of heading towards a gaudy tourist trap,  this fascinating documentary reminded me to see past the few annoying spruikers and handful of over priced pizzerias. Instead it encouraged me to recall the classic Italian delis and food stores, the number of restaurants still serving traditional Italian dishes, the old buildings and the fond memories I have walking past each of the changing shop fronts through the years.

From the arrival of the first Italian immigrants to the arrival of the Australia’s first espresso machine, this charming documentary narrated by Anthony LaPaglia uncovers a truly rich history that may have otherwise been lost through the generations of families, shop owners and development changes that have occurred in the area. The intimate and detailed interviews, stories and personal photos provide the audience with a highly engaging and insightful trip through time. Sharing stories of hardship and success, of assimilation and inspiration, this movie will provide you with a fresh perceptive of this iconic cultural and social hub.

Even if you were not there to experience the sentimental stories first hand, there is much to take away from this enjoyable viewing.  This movie provided me with a newfound appreciation of what has become a great deal more than just a popular Melbourne street. ‘Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano’ not only allows you to relive the moments when Italian people migrated to Melbourne, but the moments when Lygon Street migrated to become a solid and special place in the heart of our city of Melbourne. ‘Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano’ is now showing at Cinema Nova on Lygon Street, Carlton.

 

Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano

Movie sessions now screening at Cinema Nova

380 Lygon St Carlton

Click here for session times

Click here for official movie trailer

Click here for official movie website

Official movie Facebook page

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