Tom Sarafian at Cumulus Inc v.2

Overview

Few things can pull Melbourne diners quite like a kitchen manned by much-loved chef Tom Sarafian. The former Bar Saracen Head Chef has achieved cult status, lending his prowess with modern Middle Eastern flavours to countless sell-out guest chef series and kitchen residencies. And now, after a popular stint back in March, it's Cumulus Inc's turn to host once again.

Sarafian returns to the Flinders Lane restaurant from Wednesday, August 3–Sunday, August 14, serving up a special dinner menu (Wednesday to Saturday), plus a barbecued Sunday lunch offering.

By night, you'll enjoy a shared feast for $85 per person, starring dishes like kibbeh, Murray cod shish kebabs cooked over charcoal, barbecued lamb fatteh with tomato-braised chickpeas and tahini yoghurt, and a lemon, saffron and yoghurt cake. Add-ons might include Sarafian's famed hummus elevated with spanner crab and king prawns. Bookings are encouraged, though there'll be limited spots for walk-ins from 5pm each night.

Then, on Sunday, August 7 and 14, lunch takes centre stage, with a sumptuous seafood spread clocking in at $120. Book a table to enjoy bites like anchovy tabbouleh, scallops with toum and sumac, seafood fougasse (a Provencal-style bread) and a sayadiyeh (a Lebanese fish and rice dish) done with Murray cod.

The Cumulus Inc team will be heading up the matching drinks list, pouring wines from Armenia and Georgia, plus cocktails and an arak service.

Images: Ben Moynihan