Tahini - CLOSED

Overview

The team behind Code Black Coffee have expanded their repertoire with the launch of a Lebanese diner smack bang in the middle of town. Named after that most essential of Middle-Eastern ingredients, Tahini is the long-gestating brainchild of Code Black founder and Beirut native Joseph Haddad and his long-time employee Bridie Manson. Working closely with Melbourne's Lebanese community, the pair has crafted a menu full of traditional Lebanese dishes including wraps, grilled meats and salads. Although, let's face it — you know you're going to be ordering the falafel.

Located on Williams Street in the CBD, the 90-seat venue will be open from 7am to 4pm Monday through Wednesday and 7am to 9pm Thursday through Friday. Their breakfast menu puts a Lebanese spin on Melbourne favourites, such as house-made granola with sweet labneh and rosewater, avocado on toast with labneh and dukkah spices, and eggs Benedict with sujuk sausage, baby spinach and sweet hummus.

The lunch and dinner menu is similarly enticing. Hot and cold plates come laden with everything from chargrilled eggplant to marinated lamb and 'Lebo-style' fries served with crumbed shanklish (a Lebanese cheese) and zaatar. Wraps include the shish taouk (lemon-marinated chicken, garlic toum, pickles and tomato, and the kraides (grilled prawns with lettuce, pickled cucumber, coriander, chilli, garlic and lemon), and can be ordered as a tablieh with chips and matching dip.

Images: Tim Grey.