Bekka Is the Inner Northwest's New Modern Lebanese Destination

The inner northwest has welcomed a new Middle Eastern hotspot, and it's claiming to have Melbourne's best falafel.

Bekka is run by the original minds behind the famed Brunswick Foodstore, Richard and Suzanna Pavlov, who were keen to give Moonee Ponds locals a fun, authentic taste of Lebanese fare.

Pulling inspiration from the their recent travels through Lebanon's Beqaa Valley and their own Australian-Lebanese heritage, the pair is now offering a mezza-style dining experience, with Richard stepping back into the kitchen to deliver a menu of lively flavours, with a modern edge.

Here, you'll find yourself tucking into vibrant dishes like fried cauliflower with house-made tahini, garlic prawn skewers, char-grilled barramundi served with fattoush, and falafel worth writing home about. Classic kibbeh are filled with minced lamb, pinenuts and spices, and teamed with a creamy labneh, and the humble baklava is reimagined with a filling of vanilla bean ice cream. And, of course, lots of felafel.

The space itself takes cues from the Lebanese landscape, the fitout mixing pops of green with warm tan hues and Arabesque tiling. With a handful of industrial elements and some subtle cultural references, it's a meeting point of Melbourne and Lebanon that's sure to charm.

Find Bekka at 22 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds.

Images: Michelle Broadhurst