The banquet played out into four courses, each consisting of dishes that danced between heartier or richer comfort laden dishes, and lighter, refreshing flavours. It’s all about striking a fine balance in tastes, and they nail this on the head from first course through to last. Taking the first course for example, the crispy fried school prawns with a highly moreish seasoning and the punchy cheesy cigars encased in delicate pastry were a stark but gorgeous contrast to the fresher, down to earth flavours of the crudites, dips and pickles. Even something as simple sounding as the cabbage salad left a tasty impression thanks to its flavour balance; the zesty dressing a match made in heaven with the sweet bursts from the raisins.
Fattoush salad and meatballs were absolutely delicious. Also ordered the cheese cigars and quail skewers which were really nice additions!
Amazing private function to celebrate a birthday celebration. Eddy and the team were fabulous and the food was just beautiful. Our guests keep raving about it. Highly recommend Rumi and thank you again Eddy for all your calls to ensure our function was perfect, which it was.
We had a lovely Saturday night banquet service with Eddy and the team, and can sing nothing but the highest of praises. Booking the semi-private space throughout the week was a breeze, with Eddy making special adjustments to allow for ample seating time and accommodating our dietary requests. The staff were super attentive and very patient with the two children in our party. The food was also obviously superb. Will definitely be coming back again!
This was place beyond my expectations! I cannot believe I haven't been here sooner when I lived a block from this restaurant for 3 years. Spectacular food which will explode in your mouth as you'll be experiencing so many different sensations from the combination of flavours. We had the Persian meatballs (10/10), Trout Skewers (9/10), Eggplant & Pilaf.
Highly recommended to visit more than once.
They informed us that they are also halal certified, which is another plus!
Rumi is a middle eastern restaurant designed for sharing. Large open, clean restaurant. Friendly vibe.
Food: loved the amount of vegetarian options on the menu. Middle eastern cuisine beautifully executed.
Dinner for 3 and we ordered the following dishes:
• Sigara
• Labne
• Almond taratoor
• Chicken wings
• Quail kebab
• Chicken shish
• Fried Cauliflower
• Lamb shoulder
Everything we had was absolutely delicious, the fried cauliflower is a must! We will be coming back.
Melbourne Lifestyle Blog
+4
It had been years since I had been to this restaurant. I remembered it as being tiny, and noisy, with good shared plates and a lively atmosphere. It has changed from these memories. Now with a bigger, open, cleaner space, substantial banquets and man vegetarian options, we were in for a real treat. The occasion was a friend’s birthday and like all celebrations, you want fun, atmosphere, but enough space to talk. Rumi turned out to be
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A beautiful mothers day spent at a warm, welcoming and overall, a gem of a find restaurant that delivered on all fronts. Having searched for a restaurant that took bookings for Mother's Day, we couldn't go past Rumi which located in Brunswick off Lygon Street. Serving up a delicious and perfectly portioned 13 dish degustation for $59.0 pp, we couldn't have asked for anything better.
Approaching the restaurant from the opposite side of the road, we could already see that Rumi had a street presence that invited you to go in. The large windows out front that let some much needed light in on an overcast day couple with a warm welcome at the door by the maitre'd and seated in the cozy corner to the right of the front door made for a feast we would not forget.
The meals were served in a timely flow and kindly described as they were placed on the table by the wait staff. We were at no point waiting for food to come out, nor were we wanting them to stop at any point - it was well timed. The dishes themselves we could not fault as they were perfectly light or as heavy as they needed to be as well as being well coupled with other dishes that we hadn't finished from earlier.
We also had our little man with us in which he had a high chair made available for him. We hadn't opted for the children's meal $30.0 as were worried he wouldn't eat any of it but we did give him portions of ours and he seemed to love it. There was more than enough for all of us and then some so we weren't left short.
Parking: we didn't find it too difficult to find parking as there was ample options available on the main street as well as the side residential streets. Your general seating time would be around 1-2hrs or maybe 3 depending on what you're there for but either way, plenty of parking options, even during a special day/event (ofcourse, its always best to go early just in case)
Loving the this place a lot and will be back to try and standard menu which we no doubt will expect to be just as amazingly as our experience on Mother's day. Till next time, this is Our Foodie Find.
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4.5
Rumi has always been high up on my to try list, and as fate would have it, One Piece Left suggested Rumi for our catch up dinner. For our group of 6, we decided to go with the banquet menu. Getting fed without having to make any decisions is pure bliss.
The Classic Banquet comprised of 12 different shared plates, and we started off with a variety of small dishes. I thoroughly enjoyed the crispy fried school prawns with tahini sauce. Bite-sized, crunchy and salty, they were super addictive. The tangy tahini sauce added a depth of flavour, and also a touch of creaminess. The cheese cigars were amazing too - so much flakiness, and so much cheesiness!
Next up were the entrees. The Persian meatballs in tomato and saffron sauce was rich and flavourful; a very comforting dish that is homely yet refined at the same time. I really enjoyed the smoky fried cauliflower too, which had a tinge of sweetness from the currants.
The men in the group really enjoyed the lamb shoulder, and it was not hard to understand why. Slow roasted of the bone, it was meaty, tender and boasted a deep beautiful flavour. The chicken wings were enjoyable too - aromatic from the spices, and juicy as.
The only thing that didn't really excite me were the salads. The cabbage salad was a great palate cleanser, but the freekah salad and the cos and herb salad were nothing extraordinary.
We wrapped up with desserts, and because we were all gluttons, we decided to add 3 serves of baklava ice cream sandwich to our meal. Lucky we did because it was incredible! The light flaky pastry layer went exceptionally well with the creaminess of the ice cream, and the flavours were sensational! The desserts included with the banquet were left in the dust, no doubt about it.
As with recent banquet menus that I have tried, this one was also one that was great value for money, and even more better value if you have the Entertainment Book.
Went last night, nice and clean location, with good customer service.
First things i have to say , was my first experience in Middle East restaurant so i can’t be sure if what they selling is a original dishes but i can say if was fresh and good. So for our first time we had one option from the banquet menu.
All food was taste great, some dish was really simply so I can’t describe as something unique, but barramundi, quail and Veal was really taste tender and cook in perfect way.
Price of banquet is very competitive for the dishes we had .
I feel still missing something to arrive to have five stars, not sure what maybe a some dishes need to impressed me a bit more specially for my first time. But absolutely It's worth the effort !
I can see why Rumi is so popular! I had the banquet with fish and all the dishes were delicious. My only feedback was that the banquet felt slightly incomplete since all the dishes were quite light and there wasn’t anything super hearty, but perhaps if we got the meat banquet, this wouldn’t have been an issue. Will be returning to try other dishes soon!
We enjoyed a lovely meal at Rumi!! We had the ‘classic banquet’ and it was MORE then enough food (you know how some banquets can be) the food was tasty and fresh. The fried cauliflower and roasted lamb dishes stood out for me, as well as the lovey fresh salad specked with herbs. Service was great- absolutely no complaints- will be back!
this review is based on their food delivery service via deliveroo. Amazing flavours and creativity with the menu, one of my faves for home delivery in the area, will be coming in soon for a full in house sesh
Have been to Rumi twice now. On both occasions , the food has been delicious. However, the service could be improved as it always seems a tad disorganised and rushed (dishes forgotten and plates taken before finishing the meal) !
Friday evening dinner at this wonderful Lebanese restaurant. We were a group of seven so ordered variety of dishes.
Started with Almond taratoor and Lebanese tea. This was followed by Sigara Boregi aka cheese spring roll. Well cooked but abit too hot.
Also, ordered Quail Joojeh kebab, king prawns, Persian meatballs and chicken shish kebabs.
The star of the evening was definitely the Advieh marinated lamb shoulder. Tender meat and so well cooked. Went well with Pita bread.
Ordered Cherry mocktail which was ok and the dessert was macadamia ice cream between crisp pastry.
If in the neighborhood, must visit !
Dined at Rumi mid week. Booked on line without any issue.
Fairly nondescript from outside. Casual dining, no real ambience.
Warm welcome, friendly efficient service.
Staff explained the menu made some suggestions and left us to it.
Food was delicious, portions sufficient and tasty.
If you want middle eastern food with a low key approach- this is it. Not kitch or gimmicky- just good food and service.
Highly recommend and we will be back.
Booking was easy. Dishes were quickly prepared - they were fresh and full of flavour! I highly recommend the chicken shish & quail skewers. Another highlight was the dessert baklava! Will definitely come here again!
A friend and I ate here last night and we were really pleased with our choice of restaurant. We got the banquet which was great, the lamb was the highlight for me, sooo good. Portion sizes were fine we finished the banquet with desert and felt good, not too full, just right. Service was great, friendly and attentive. Will be coming back here with my husband!
I absolutely love this place!! The ambiance is so nice. The food tasted amazing especially the cigars, chicken wings, salad, baklava ice cream and the list just goes on...I would definitely come back here again!!
Another popular date night is Rumi! Known for their middle eastern cuisine this place did not disappoint! We loved their Persian meatballs with tomato and saffron sauce and the BBQ whole rainbow trout with Caspian olive and walnut sauce was simply delicious! The absolute must try is the Quail kebab with pickled grapes and dill! And although this was a little sweet for us we enjoyed the ice cream sandwich, a take on baklava.
This place is another one of my absolute favourites in Melbourne. In my favourite part of Brunswick lies this beautiful, big, welcoming middle eastern restaurant with a fancy flair.
The food is always on point here. I almost always opt for the banquet because it has a big array of different meals and comes with the Sigara, the meatballs and the slow cooked lamb which are my all time favourites.
A Melbourne must! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Such an amazing experience! The food here is surrealist! The fish of the day was beautiful cook, moist and full of delicate flavors, the rice pilaf is addictive! the service is okey and the price are good for the quality of the food
We frequently get the snack pack delivered, it’s so good. Finally decided to dine in for a special occasion. Well worth it! We had the seasonal banquet, so got to enjoy a variety of dishes. The Turkish delight martini was interesting, very tasty. Thoroughly enjoyed the night - great food, service and atmosphere.
Service and food were terrific. Favourite was the grain salad and hummus. Went with a group of 5 and had the classic banquet. Very flavourful dishes.
The food is perfection and the ambience is very fitting of the cuisine. Simply cannot fault as the dishes served were delicious, attractive and plentiful. The cauliflower and chicken were the stand out dishes in the 12 dish banquet.
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Ever read a rumi poem or quote and felt at bliss after, well, a food experience at the Rumi Restaurant surpasses this blissness.
I had easily booked a table via opentable and confirmed it via SMS on the day.
I arrived 5 minutes to 6pm (my booking time) and was only let in at 6pm (there seemed to be a waitstaff briefing).
As soon as my friend and I walked in, we were asked if we were celebrating an occasion - I told them it was my birthday.
When we sat down, we were poured water from a beautiful Middle Eastern looking jug. I asked for hot water due to feeling under the weather, and the waitress quickly obliged by giving us two turkish glasses with a steaming teapot of water. I felt at home right away. The dim lighting was quite calming.
We were given the drinks menu, the banquet menu (Starting at 45-50 per person each) and the a la carte menu. We were told that between us, we should get two mains, and one medium and one starter.
I had previously read awful reviews about the portion sizes being too small, or lamb being too tough, but I must disagree as my experience was quite the contrary.
we started off with the sigara borek, which were delicately crispy but soft filo pastries in the shape of cigars/spring rolls encasing warm melted haloumi with a touch of oil on top.
The persian meatballs (four of them) arrived with some labne(?) yoghurt on top with a side of pita bread for two. Again delicious and quite satisfying.
for our main, we had the lamb shoulder, which literally fell of the bone. It arrived with some mint consomme sauce which was a tad sweet but the lamb was so good that we forgot everything. It was brilliantly black (charcoal) and a sizeable portion for both of us.
The fatooush salad with cripsy pita, chickpeas, rocket, and pomegranate was quite refreshing and satisfying too. We thought the portion sizes were great and 4 dishes plus a cocktail came up to 72 dollars with our bellies super full.
the waitstaff were quite lovely and came to inquire about our meals multiple times. through the stencils on the wall, we could see the kitchen staff hard at work.
And at the end, our bill arrived in a pretty tin with a helping of four most scrumptious turkish delights - a birthday treat from the restaurant.
I am going back and adding it to my top dining list. Rumi - is definitely a secret treasure of Brunswick - hidden amongst the Italian establishments.
A lovely restaurant with a nice relaxed atmosphere, we had a table of four in for dinner and loved all the different middle eastern foods that came out. We will certainly be back.
One of my favourite middle eastern restaurants! Beautiful food and ambiance!!! The staff are so friendly and they are very accommodating to dietary requirements
One of my favorite restaurants to eat at and probably one of the tastiest and best value set menus in Melbourne. The almond taratoor is delicious and I love the cheesy filo cigars. The fried cauliflower and meatballs are sensational. And wait till you try the roast lamb shoulder. It falls right off the bone. All the salads are so tasty. And help break up some of the rich flavors. You will not be disappointed with the food at Rumi.
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Well deserved rating! We really enjoyed every single dish, the flavours and choice of dishes included in the banquet menu.
The only feedback I would give is the portion on the main dish..if it’s banquet,I think it’s good to make shared dishes for cold and hot entrees,but when it comes to the main dish,I would make it one serve for each person ,not one piece of lamb to share...Considering that half of the piece is a bone...
After giving the feedback to the waiter,it was quickly fixed and they served us one extra serve of lamb...We were really impressed of the high quality of customer service,very caring waiters and waitresses and during the dinner no empty dishes were left too long on the table..the wait staff took care of everything.
Big respect and appreciation for the great customer service!
The recipes were amazing for all dishes,the flavours were amazing!All salads had a beautiful taste because of nice dressing and seasoning!!Mint in simple salad made the salad very fresh and delicious!
I would highly recommend this place to those who haven’t been there yet.
Next time will come to try more of this beautiful place👍🏼
Excellent decor, amazing food, the lamb was cooked very well. The eggplant dish, the roasted cauliflowers were all flavourful. The service was great and quick. Will definitely go back to this place.
Had an excellent meal here this weekend. I had been planning to go for a number of years and finally got there. We did the 12-plate banquet between two, it was the perfect amount of food and I can't fault any of the dishes. If I was to pick some favourite dishes I'd say the almond & tahini dip, fried cauliflower, lamb and freekeh salad. The wine matches were also lovely and everything was super affordable - $170 total bill for banquet with dessert and 4x matching drinks per course for 2 people.
Can't wait to go back.
Came here with a group of friends (10 people) . The restaurant is great for large groups and the offer 2 types of banquet. The classic (12 dishes) $50 and the chefs menu (14 dishes) $60 . We went for the $50 and it was more than enough food.
Beware the menu is deceiving as it looks like dessert is included but there’s a line at the bottom saying it’s $5 extra. Also for an extra $30 you can get wine pairing which is pretty good value if you plan to drink more than 2 glasses of wine.
The classic banquet came with a range of meats and salads as well as starters (FYI Extra pita bread was on the house) the highlight of the night was the fried cauliflower and marinated lamb shoulder! Both were so tender and tasty.
The banquet with the lamb shoulder and matching wines.... do it. The high rating is well deserved. Great staff, high end Middle Eastern food. Will return.
Classy vegan-friendly food. We had the Valentine’s Day 4-course vegan banquet ($69 pp) and were blown away by each course. Tapas-sized, each dish had great flavours, beautifully plated and though the servings looked small, I was satisfyingly full at the end.
Standouts in an impressive selection were 2 eggplant dishes - one in its own skin hardened to a shell. The flesh was mouthwateringly tender, with caramelised onion and exquisite flavours. The hummus dip was the best I’ve ever had. Also the grilled white eggplant which was subtly but superbly flavored. The almond pudding dessert was to die for. Do order some tea, which tastes much like any other tea but it’s presented to you with ceremony in a gorgeous Arabic tray - a wonderful and very classy touch.
The decor is lovely. Carved out Arabic writing on wooden panels (Kahlil Gibran’s poetry) and a large spacious room. I recommend you get a cushioned seat along the wall as the hard wooden chairs were the only disappointment of the night.
Vallia Dahdouh Meseiha
+4
This was date night dinner for us and we enjoyed the food. The sigara cheese rolls were really nice, wrapped in a very light pastry. We ordered the quail and chicken and both were succulent and tasty. Good atmosphere with good food. Smaller portions on the food so order several plates if you are hungry.
Great Lebanese Restaurant for Valentines Day Dinner. We loved the service, waiting staff, the presentation of food. The manager was very accomodative with our dietary requirements. We opted for the 69 per person banquet menu and there was plenty of food. I would say it's a Must try restaurant if u enjoy Lebanese food
George David Michaelides
+5
As good as it was when it first opened some 6 odd years ago! When a venue maintains its presence in the Melbourne food scene you know they that must be doing something right! Tried the feed me option and for $55 it is the best value tastiest and most flavoursome meal you can get in town in my opinion
Finally got in after much anticipation, as it’s usually full when we walk by. The interior is nice and service was good so no complaints there. We enjoyed our meal however the food didn’t stand out to make us want to return. The potato dish was delicious but the meatballs just lacked a little flavour and the eggplant was overpriced for what it was. I think there are better middle eastern restaurants nearby that are also BYO which is an added advantage.
Loved the food here! Great vegetarian options that were satisfying and very enjoyable. The eggplant and the fattoush salad were both amazing. Didn’t expect there to be so much grilled zucchini under the salad which was a delicious surprise! The cauliflower was the best cauli dish I’ve had. Awesome flavour. The sour cherry mock tail was very yummy too. Nice mix of tart and sweet :) Good service, too! Thanks.
I have to say Rumi is my favourite middle eastern restaurant in Melbourne. I come here whenever I need to satisfy my cravings!! Always leave with a belly full of satisfaction !! The flavours are just on point ! Especially the hommus !!
Updated: If I can rate this place over and over again I would. Only the best 10/10. Updated menu still amazing :)
We dined on a busy Friday with it being so close to Christmas. The restaurant felt quite squashed with tables positioned closely and being very small for share dish arrangements.
Food was delicious but as sharing is recommended the tables need to be bigger so that we are not juggling to put dishes on the table let alone our drinks.
Our only disappointment that night was that all our 7 dishes pretty much came out one after the other, where we were ecpecting the share appetizers first - a gap and then the next 4 dishes for our mains. Our food was over within one hour and we were celebrating a birthday with the birthday girl feeling rushed to eat. It sort of didn't work for our occasion yet they knew it was a birthday as they bought out a surprise lokum treat.
Finally food was great but probably wouldn't return again as it was noisy.
Pure artistry. Fine dining. I love bringing family here and sharing a feast of dishes. Every dish perfectly balanced, unique and rich in flavour. The vegetarian dishes are excellent. Food is cooked over hot coals and even the pickled veg are made in-house. Excellent service in dark, cool ambience.
3 of us shared the classic banquet of 12 dishes. Everything was super delicious. Best were the meatballs and the sardines. Atmosphere was elegant. Service was friendly but a little strange (eg filled one glass of water only when requested instead of all at the table). We felt we got good value at $50 pp. Dessert was an extra $5 pp but we were too full for it.
Just got back from there not too long ago (22nd October 2017) and can honestly say that it was an absolutely fantastic experience. Staff were very friendly and accommodating and were always a step ahead of things.
On to the food. I went for the banquet. At first I thought it was kinda small and not enough but as I continued in the food wouldn’t stop coming. Absolutely delicious food. From the perfectly cooked cheese fingers to the perfectly slow roasted lamb shoulder.
Overall I definitely will be going back.
The food here is very nice, and all the plates we ordered were very well done, with my favourite being the popular sigara boregi. The other dishes were slightly less memorable and perhaps on the drier side, especially as I like my sauces and marinades. The restaurant is dimly lit at night, which does add to the ambience though I do prefer a tad more light to see my food.
Recommended to us by the owners cousin who wouldn't stop going on about this place so we decided to give it a shot.have been back time and time again it's absolutely fantastic !
Very friendly staff and great sevice. The menu was quite short but everything tasted really good.It was nice and cosy. The drinks are really good too.
Welcomed with a smile by our waiter.
Food came out in order wich didn't take long either. The Lamb shoulder is my favourite! It was cooked to perfection and so tender. Service is top notch. Nice cosy environment! Will be back for more.
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Been wanting to try Rumi for awhile now soy boyfriend and I went last week. Boy were we amazed! We did abit of research on what to order before we got there. We got the famous cigar pastry (how could we not!), Persian meatballs (they melt in your mouth), and the hummus chickpeas as our entree. It was all so amazing. Then for the mains we ordered the lamb shoulder. Now this..is something else!! Meat was so tender it fell off the bone! The sweet mint sauce that came with it went so well with the lamb. Aside from the lamb, we also got the fried cauliflower. So crunchy yet so soft. Went beautifully with the lamb. After our pretty heavy main, came dessert. Now my boyfriend loves his baklava so we just had to order that and omg it was really good. Spiced, not toooo sweet and the pastry was crisp.
I ordered us Lebanese coffee as I was curious what it tastes like. It was a perfect way to wash down our beautiful meal.
Overall our dinner experience at Rumi was FABULOUS. The food was mind blowing and the service was impeccable. We absolutely LOVED it. It's been almost a week and we still talk about it. That's how amazing it was. Can't wait to visit Rumi again soon :)
It was amazing! Every dish has it its own different palette and they were all enjoyable! I can't wait to come back here again. Customer service was impeccable. I initially thought the lamb shoulder was burnt but it wasn't, went so well with the sauce condiment. I also loved the salad, potato and the hummus dip, the chick pea was so crunchy and delicious to me, especially for a person who doesn't enjoy chick peas on its own. I also loved the aesthetic and layout of the store. I cant wait to come back to try more.
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Booked in for an early Saturday night dinner at Rumi this week. Rumi is plentiful in staff and welcoming atmosphere. The a la carte menu was already available on the table and we needed to ask for the available banquets menu. Our waiter brought this to us promptly and we ordered the Classic Banquet which seemed to be an excellent value option.
We certainly weren't disappointed with delicious and refreshing starters of bread with labne and hummus, seasoned cucumber sticks, various pickled vegetables and giant green olives. Quickly following these were a selection of small plates. This consisted of their famous Sigara boregi, simple yummy pastry wrapped mozzarella sticks, crispy fried school prawns in tahini sauce (highlight for me as I love a good crispy school prawn, especially when accompanied with an amazing dipping sauce like this!), fantastic fried cauliflower with sweet onions, currants and pine nuts; and moist Persian meatballs with tomato & saffron sauce and labne...beautiful!
Last course was a well rounded combination of Freekeh Salad with almonds, feta & pomegranate dressing, Shaved Cabbage Salad with onions, raisins, almonds under an lemon dressing, accompanying the chicken wings and one of the softest, rich lamb shoulder I have eaten.
An absolutely lovely evening with great tasting food, service and atmosphere. Recommended for family gatherings or friendly catch ups. Love the food here.
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After a haitus of four and a half years away from Melbourne, my old favourite Rumi was top of the list to dine at. And Rumi did not disappoint. Apart from the makeover, the menu still had the fabulous Arak, Wines from the Middle East, those great small and large plates, exquisite salads and of course desserts.
Having travelled to a few Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and North African countries whilst away, I was most intrigued as to how I may react to the way it is made and served here in Melbourne. Over the years, we have come to like, savour and cook this cuisine ourselves -this was the unknown quantity ! Very soon it all worked out - despite having experienced the cuisine whilst away, Rumi had its own inimitable style and consistently delivered and repeated those experiences of previous visits.
If there was a critical comment to this review, it is that the outstanding Lamb Shoulder didn't do it for me and the reason isn't of Rumi's doing - its just that I cook an extraordinary Middle Eastern Lamb Shoulder myself !
What I'd like to see on the menu - maybe something similar to a Mansaf to take the experience to an all new level. And why not some Oysters and a rare beef dish like the Turkish Cig Kofte !! That would bring all of Australia's outstanding produce to the menu :)
The service - as always Outstanding ! The young french lady was a standout among their very friendly serving staff !
Hello chickpeas..... you've got a goat in you ? This tasty food was just the thing I needed on my Birthday !!!!! Don't forget to stick a meatball in ya mouth .
Had the cheese cigars, bbq chicken wings, cabbage salad and slow cooked lamb. The food was more than enough for the two of us. Highly recommend the cheese and the lamb, but the bbq wings were quite average. Really nice ambience and great service!
Food was overall real good. Service was good as well. She, being the waitress, thought I ate lots. I thought the chefs seasonal banquet was 14 courses but really it was 14 dishes :( I could've eaten more. Also lots of yoghurt, could've been less yoghurt. 3.5 love andrew xoxo
Came for dinner on Thursday night. Was greeted warmly when arrived, order then a quest to make things easy. Food was all good but the best was the lamb shoulder. We left very full.
I was treated to a lush birthday dinner at Rumi the other week and I loved every minute of the experience.
I already love Middle Eastern food - hence the choice - but Rumi took it to a whole other level! We ordered the goat, fish of the day, and fried cauliflower to share & all of it was absolutely rich and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Wash it down with a watermelon mocktail and some Persian fairy floss (which may be my favourite thing in the world), add some good conversation with your favourite person(s), and you have a perfect evening.
Amazing food. Had a beautiful vegetarian spread, which included fresh breads and dips, and the various veggie plates they had to offer- all of which were super flavourful! Staff were also very pleasant and helpful.
Can't go on enough about this place! Celebrated my birthday here and absolutely loved it! We had the 4 course banquet, each and every dish was superb and filled with flavour. My favourites were the cigara boregi... which just melts in your your mouth, the spiced lamb shoulder - this was amazing.. the meat was falling off the bone and it was paired with with a sweet sauce. Delicious!!! I have had banquets and feed me options at other restaurants and sometimes restaurants get stingy with the food but this wasn't the case at Rumi. Each course had a generous portion size and by the end of it I was super full. Just as we were about to leave, the staff surprised me with a little baklava and ice-cream birthday treat with a candle... this is was just the cherry on top. Staff was lovely and attentive! Will definitely be back. Thanks for the amazing food and experience Rumi!
The food, ambiance, service was fantastic. The menu is designed to be shared so make sure to grab a couple of friends and try and order as much variety as you can. I'd recommend the haloumi cigars, the freekah salad and the lamb shanks, then make sure to leave some space for the baklava ice-cream sandwich.
There is a very good reason Rumi has a 4.7 rating, it is simply delicious.
The menu is designed to share with dishes to satisfy meat seafood and vegetable lovers alike! We opted for a range of seafood and vegetable dishes starting with hummus (yum) and cheese filled pasty (yum yum yum).
We then had some rainbow trout, mushrooms cooked with a red pepper sauce and the freekeh salad. Seriously top notch, all of it. We could not say a negative thing about anything we ate.
The service was also very friendly and attentive. I saw the floor staff taking group photos for tables several times and regularly checking up on not only us, but everyone in the restaurant.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and would not hesitate to return again !
My favorite place , have been here few times already and it's absolutely the best food ! Order the set menu and you will love it ! Anything you order will be good !
Surely a hidden gem in Brunswick. I tasted the BBQ King Prawn, and it is so tasty, especially the avocado sauce. Also ordered the Lebanese Mountain Blend - Herbal Tea. One of the best tea I have ever had.
Beautiful middle eastern food! We started with the haloumi cigars, the pastry was crispy and the filling was salty deliciousness.
Next the mussels, accompanied with charred spring onion, super tasty.
Persian meatballs melt in your mouth, topped with flavoursome tomato sugo and labne.
My favourite was the trout! Cooked to perfection, with nuts and herbs.
The lamb..... oh my you must order the lamb. Fall of the bone full of flavour and the syrup is just devine!
We had the fennel, grape and mint salad with the lamb, refreshing!
Lastly the dessert.... macadamia baklava. The ice cream was smooth and cold in between flaky pastry with nuts and honey, the perfect ending!
Service was fast and friendly, we'll be back.
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This is my favourite place to enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine because every visit has been consistently awesome on so many levels.
Tonight I am amongst vegetarians / pescatarians so there was no meat for the evening. We opened the night with the much loved Sigara Boregi - 3-cheese haloumi, feta and kasseri - wrapped in cigar-shaped pastry.
Next the charcoal barbecued king prawns arrived on a bed of avocado sauce and chilli oil, giving this dish a little kick. In rapid succession came the steamed trout, mushroom Iskander and the freekeh salad. Every dish was a gleeful adventure for the taste buds. Deserving special mention is the mushroom Iskander, a creation of labne, giant mushrooms, tomato based puree on toast served in the pan - amazing!
We capped off the night with pistachio halva and dates stuffed with labne. The rose petal and mint teas smoothly complemented the desserts.
The friendly, helpful service starts from the moment we enter and remains attentive until the door is opened to see us out. Even in the past when there were two sittings, the food and beverages were delivered incredibly fast. The dimmed lighting and moderately quiet setting is great for conversations on a night out with family and friends or a date night. Personally I love the little touches that complete the environment, including the beautiful water jugs and tea glasses.
Absolute favourite middle eastern joint! The quality never ceases to amaze me and I'm always on the look out for new seasonal items on the menu! Love it!
Luciano Marcuzzi Kaltenbach
+5
Seriously try everything, it's all delicious. I've taken my Lebanese partner here about 5 times, and she raves about it. Keeps me in the good books
Amazing service! Especially Roby, who marked on the menu all of the options we each had, as one of us is vegetarian and one is anaphylactic. The food is always delicious and a good price for a night out. We love this place!
Food and service was amazing! Service was a bit rushed but staff were very nice and helpful. Recommend the lamb shoulder, with a tangy salad
A third visit here and the food was outstanding once again. Every dish is a beautiful combination of flavours that balance perfectly and leave you wanting more (of the flavours – not quantity). The slow cooked lamb is perfect, and the freekah salad has been a 'go to' dish on every visit. My mother is a coeliac and the staff and kitchen accommodate her gluten free needs with good awareness and friendliness. Can be a bit noisy for a group, but that's par for the course. The noise comes from the patrons rather than overbearing music. We had the early sitting and service was a bit casual at the beginning as the staff warmed up, but the warmness we are used to soon returned.
Not the cheapest option in Brunswick but good value nonetheless. A quality restaurant.
Checked out Rumi last night with friends, I was able to book a table online so I was off to a good start! We started with the cigar pastries with haloumi, feta and kasseri cheese, delicious way to have haloumi! We also had the Persian meatballs, the bell peppers from grill, the slow roasted lamb shoulder, this came with a yummy syrup that you pour over the lamb. For sides we had the rice Pilaf and fried cauliflower. The cauliflower was particularly nice, it came with currants and pine nuts.
Absolutely the best Middle Eastern food in town. Must try Persian meatballs, rice pilaf, freekeh salad & spiced lamb shoulder. Yummo! 10/10.
Rumi has done classics that are always in the menu and then seasonal updates. It keeps new customers coming and regulars satisfied.
Roasted lamb with a sticky sweet sauce is tender.
Grilled quail has great flavour.
Fried cauliflower is amazing.
Ask for flat bread to mop up all the wonderful sauces.
Sometimes service can be a bit hit and miss, so have to be patient.
-2007-
Get one of the banquets if you are indecisive. Excellent dishes, and a lot food so make sure you are hungry. Cheese cigars and the smokey eggplant were highlights. Excellent selection of mocktails.
What an lovely dining experience. When we arrived we were greeted and seated at our table, our lovely waitress came over and asked if we had dined at Rumi before and explained a bit about the menu to us. We opted for the banquet option based on her recommendation as we wanted to try everything. I don't usually go for banquets but at $45 per head with almost every menu option included how could I refuse. All of the food was delicious, generous portions and amazing flavors. My favourite dish was the quail and the fried cauliflower. I also really appreciated the staff explaining what all of the plates were as they were bringing them out. Infact everything about the service was excellent! This is such a gem of a place and I am really looking forward to returning.
Ate here again recently and for some reason had forgotten how this place is such a consistent performer. Great wine, crowded but you can still hear each other and really attentive and knowledgeable service. Had the school prawns for entree and the pastry cigars stuffed with haloumi ( I could seriously live on these). Salad and the roast lamb shoulder capped off a sensational meal only made better by great service. This time I'll remember how every time I come here it's grouse.
DAMMIT JANET I LOVE FOOD
+4.5
Modern Middle Eastern fare at its best. The food was fantastic as was the quick friendly service. We had no idea what to order and our waitress was extremely helpful with her recommendations. I am certainly returning and am also looking forward to visiting the owners’ other restaurant The Moor’s Head.
Others have raved about the lamb shoulder, and that certainly seems to be the stand-out dish. The baclava ice cream sandwich is also wonderful. Rumi's influences come from all over the Middle East and Western Asia
I reserved a table next to a window. We did sit next to window. However, the window was too high, impossible to see out with the blinds half shut. The place is dimly lit.
The food... Sigara boregi was great even though I come from a place where they do the best borek. Dips were humus and garlic yogurt. The blend of both were just right with having housing for olive oil.
Salad was excellent and fresh.
We had quail shish. Just perfect. I will definitely go there again for just that. I cannot say the same thing about their seafood dish with mussels and fish. My wife didn't like it.
We have seen a lamb shanks arrive on next table. So we said we need to try it.
Lamp shanks were excellent. The bone just stripped off at one soft touch to the meat.
I will be there again.
Staff were very helpful with smiles on there faces all the time.
Food here is amazing. The lamb is very tender and fell off the bone, the mint sauce was also wonderful. The dips, breads and cheeses also are very good. I didn't try the duck on this occasion, but definitely next time as I have heard it is highly recommended. The food came out in quick succession, with almost no wait in between. Definitely very satisfied
Lovely service and food. Ordered Sigara boregi, which were the perfect combination of salty and flakey, lamb shoulder, fish of the day (trout) and the batata harra (potatoes). Each dish was faultless, can't wait to return to try more of the smaller items.
Amazing amazing amazing!!!!! Service to food was top quality! We enjoyed the grilled prawn and whiting, the lamb shoulder for mains with the cabbage salad and frikkah was a delight.
You absolutelY HAVE TO order the Baclava and icecream dessert, we wanted to do seconds it was that good. Great ambience and again, service was top notch
Had a great dinner here with my group and the foods were amazing!
Booked a table for 12 with Eddy and he greeted us when we arrived.
We had a banquet menu and the nice foods kept coming to our table.
Lamb shoulder and the chicken wings were my favourites and I don't normally like chicken wings!
The cauliflower and the almond rice salad were really good too.
Definitely need to check out this place if you like Middle Eastern foods or if you are around the area. Highly recommended!
Had a wonderful evening here. We had the set menu with paired drinks. Loved the atmosphere and the team where very helpful, cheery and attentive. I found the food to be very satisfying, simple but very tasty and exciting. Was here for my partner for my birthday and I have a fantastic time.
One of the best Middle Eastern Restaurant north of the Yarra. Super tasty food made everything in-house served in a rustic fashion. The food is to share so a bigger group is better to try more items on the menu.
We were a group of 11 and had their banquet which had small sharing plates with enough food to fill everyone including the teenagers up. The wine and drinks list is also great to cater for all.
A must try.
This is a nice place to visit for big groups as they gave decent sharing serves. I ordered the Vegetarian banquet menu and the quality of the food was exceptional. All salads were so well balanced. My fav were the pita salad and the roasted cauliflower. Thank you for an awesome meal.
Those place has stood the test of time from when they had there fist restaurant to were they are now. The arabesque style food starting with the home made dips to the meats which are grilled and a assortment of other dishes in between, also the dessert we had must be tried even if you think you have eaten to much.
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The food was great. The flavours were fresh and unique. The service was kind and prompt. We had the $55 banquet but it felt a little rushed in the 90minute time allotment. Was good value for money. Would definitely go back
Delicious middle eastern food with a modern twist. Fresh and full of flavour. Good portion sizes. Excellent service. Very nice vibe. Can’t wait to go back!! Oh, and order the arak! You won’t regret it!
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