May 28, 2023
Michael's main birthday event was a netball game a day early, so for his birthday dinner he chose a low-key meal at our long-time favourite, Mankoushe. We had no problems securing an early dinner reservation a few days in advance, though the restaurant gradually filled up as we ate.
The Mankoushe menu is consistently variable, inspired by the produce available at that time. There's a range of breads and pizzas prepared in their wood-fired oven, thoughtfully prepared vegetables and dips, as well as a few meats and house-made desserts. About half of the menu is vegan and labelled as such, but gluten-free veg*ns might feel like restricted to grazing on side dishes.
It's been a while since we've eaten beetroot, and this simple dish of roasted beetroot with harissa and parsley ($10) was a reminder to have it more often.
We also shared a tender wedge of fried eggplant ($22), which was smothered in a tangy tomato paste dressing with chickpeas and tamarind.
The rich centrepiece of our meal was a 3 Ajben pizza ($25), layered with haloumi, kasseri and Turkish feta cheeses, dotted with sweet chewy figs and streaked with oregano oil.
It's a privilege to visit Mankoushe regularly across more than a decade - while a couple of staple bakery items are evergreen, it's exciting to see different produce and new configurations each season.
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You can also read about one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine of our previous visits to Mankoushe. Since our last post, it's also been covered by Sweet and Sour Fork.
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Mankoushe
323 Lygon St, Brunswick East
9078 9223
Accessibility: There is a small step up through a narrow entry. Tables are regular height, chairs have backs, and furniture is medium-spaced across the floor. We ordered at our table and paid at a low counter. We didn't visit the toilets.
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