When you want to go somewhere to celebrate an occasions, Bar Saracen is the perfect venue. My hubby brought me here just before ISO and the experience was mesmerizing! Cannot recommend highly enough!
We have been buying takeaway around town during ISO, and this was hands down my fav so far! Here’s a pic of our takeaway meal at home... The fresh fluffy pita bread, chicken, hummus were delicious... will definitely be back! One thing- I couldn’t tell from the website they were doing takeaway so hoping they make it really obvious as I almost didn’t call. (And wouldn’t have had such a great dinner!)
Ordered the takeaway HSP from here the other night and it was UNREAL! If you're looking for a quality dining experience at home - the boys from Bar Saracen sure now how to do it! Do yourself a favour an grab a ma'mool too
Pre/Post C19 and Current C19 if you are looking for a quality feed in the CBD, Bar Saracen is your spot. Get the Hummus and visit more than once, you will need multiple visits to try everything!
Such a great spot! Food was fantastic, staff were friendly and knowledgeable. A fine dining experience that didn't hurt the account. Highly recommend, one of the best spots in Melbourne. Take your loved one and enjoy a quality feast.
A Chronicle Of Gastronomy
+5
4.5/5 Opened by chef and restaurateur Joseph Abboud (Rumi and Moor’s Head) and Ari Vlassopoulos (ex-Pei Modern, Rosa’s Kitchen, Hellenic Republic), Bar Saracen is Rumi’s more modern sister restaurant. They’ve brought along Rumi chef Tom Sarafian to head the kitchen and showcase Middle Eastern cuisine with a contemporary spin.
Hidden gem in Melbourne's CBD. Went there on Tuesday night and the place was full of life and energy, just like their staff. Service was impeccable and will definitely be back to try more from their menu! Would highly recommend Bar Saracen!
Great feel to the venue. The hummus is great and the bread that is made in house is outstanding. Overall it was a great experience.
After seeing some great content online, I had to make my way through to Bar Saracen. Great cocktails, desserts and vibes.
My husband brought me here for dessert after seeing a show in the city and we loved the whole vibe and atmosphere of the place.
The cheese mamool dessert was so unique and delicious. Loved the flavour of the fig and even though it's a small serve, it's rich and tasty enough as is.
My husband had the rhubarb dessert which we really enjoyed the flavours of too.
Hands down the best hummus I’ve ever tried was here at Bar Saracen. Hidden in quiet punch lane just off little Bourke street, it’s the perfect place for city drinks and nibbles. Love the atmosphere and food is delicious!
Really enjoyed this place. Something different from the usual, full of flavour and really good service! Thanks for a great night.
Great delicious food! The meals got better and better as the night went on. Standouts were the hummus with crab, fish fatteh and the yoghurt cake. Will definitely be back for more.
Yes yes yes. This is the place. The first thing that strikes you is the warm welcome. The service remains consistent consistently excellent. The staff are personable and warm without ever being condescending or familiar. The food is The Bomb. Lamb grilled to perfection. Fish to die for. Fried okra is the next level. It’s a small menu but it’s done perfectly. Go. Go now.
This week has been a week of random deliciousness and Bar Saracen topped it off like the Luxardo in your cocktail.
Randomly looking for something different to try we decided (well I did) to venture up Lt Bourke in search of an okra dish that was mentioned and it didn’t disappoint.
We sat at the bar and made our way through a handful of share plates, each as fresh and delicious as the one before. First time having a Turkish red (Okuzgozu), being described as somewhere between a Pinot and Merlot was spot on. (I shall be adding one to the home bar.)
Superb service, as often comes with staff who have years of hospo experience.
Really looking forward to returning.
Great service and smart interesting Mediterranean food. Lovely team. Going back lots. As this review need to be 140 characters. It is really really good. What more to say.
A very tasty meal indeed, juicy koftas and tender grilled octopus a relatively small menu but enjoyable. Venue is slightly small and quite stuffy on a hot day as air conditioning not strong enough but the great food makes up for it.
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Fantastic hidden gem on Punch Lane.
I stumbled across Bar Saracen doing some research for a dinner with friends, and decided to drag them along to indulge my craving for Middle Eastern food. and boy, did Bar Saracen deliver! We had the famous okra and the borek for entree; the fish fatteh, kofte, jewelled rice and the bean and broad bean special for mains; and the cheese mamool for dessert. The okra is well deserving of its reputation, turning a pretty unlikable vegetable into the star of the night. The fish fatteh was also a real standout, with a delicate yet powerful mixture of flavour and textures. While the cheese mamool wasn't quite for me, my other diners found it fantastic - on the plus side, it gives me the opportunity to try some of the other delicious looking desserts on the menu next time!
Finally, the staff were fantastic - our waiter was phenomenal, despite an error I made with our booking, he was able to quickly and professionally sort it out, and gave some great recommendations for food, all with a healthy side of banter. This fun and professional attitude was evident across all the staff we encountered at the place, which was so great and made me want to come back even more. See you guys soon!
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Bar Saracen is a small, intimate Middle Eastern restaurant in a quiet lane way in Melbourne. A small food and wine menu. A group of four or more can enjoy a $70 set menu or otherwise, order a la carte and be guided by the well informed staff. Ideal to share dishes. We had the Fish fatten, a superb, delicate dish. It went well with the Jewelled Rice Pilaf.We also had the Eggplant, kasha, turmeric and mint and had with the chef’s special that night, beans and broad beans. Being a small place, the chef has the time to personally explain to each table , the method and origin of each dish. The chef’s aim is to bring out the intensity of flavours, with very fresh produce.
The wine list has interesting small producers from Tasmania, Victoria, WA as well as Italy, Spain and Turkey. We had the Henty Farm Pinot Meunier 2014 from Henty Victoria. A superb lighter and unusual red from the cool climate Henty area. It accompanied the delicate food flavours perfectly.
For dessert, we had the Moro’s yoghurt cake which was passion fruit flavoured, generous and light. My partner had coffee ice cream, dates and barazek. Outstanding flavours and yet a lighter desert. A beautifully balanced meal and left feeling neither wanting any more nor did we over indulge. We’ll definitely be back to try a range of other dishes and soak up the experience and learn more about interesting Middle Eastern dishes.
Exceptional, one of the best nights out I've had in a long time.We went there as a group of four, celebrating two birthdays. We tried a bit of everything and every dish was delicious and unique in some way. Loved it all but stand outs were fried okra, borek, fish fatteh and the mussels.Ari and his team are so welcoming and entertaining, 10/10 from all of us, can't wait to come back.
Ari is a suberb host. Lunch Time Counter Meal a steal. Salt grass lamb, saffron pilaf and hummus with prawns all outstanding! Never heard of most of the wines but the four different reds i’ve had were all beautiful. The few times i’ve been here during lunch it’s been quiet which is bananas! Definitely head over especially as it moves into summer when the industrial fit out will provide respite from the heat!
Wow, what an experience. We came as a group of six and we weren’t really sure of what to get in terms of sharing sizes. So we trusted our wonderful waiter to decide our fate and everything was just absolutely delicious. Starting from the fried okra, to the delightful fish that I still dream about to this day and the dessert. My goodness the dessert. I didn’t think I could do dessert but something in me told me that I needed to try the cheese mamool and WOW. That is all.
Wow. One of my favourite spots for this year. Having loved Joseph Abbouds other venues, we very keen to check this place out. Flavours that take you to the Middle East... bit of Turkish, Armenia, Lebanese. Yes please and plenty more please. Go with mates... You'll need then to check the whole menu.
Fabulous middle eastern restaurant in the cbd. Decor is relatively simple but the food is exceptional and the staff are lovely and professional. Between three we shared the wagyu lettuce cup special, the hummus with prawns and paprika, the octopus with harissa, the lamb with babaganoush and the broccolini with labne. Everything was fantastic but the stand out for me was the wagyu lettuce cup special and the hummus.
Had come to this place for a birthday, and the waiter was super friendly and helped us with how to browse the menu. We ordered a few meals from each course to share and everything was absolutely delicious!
Definitely coming back again!
We celebrated a friends birthday here. A wonderful restrained yet tastefully decorated restaurant with equally amazing food. Ari was one of the most experienced restaurant owners I have met in a long time with an incredible passion for the food and equally the diners.
Warm inviting staff made us feel at home when we entered. We found the room to be a bit too bright for us but that’s just our take.
Wine list small but well thought out, food was delicious - loved the borek, hummus, okra, peppers & the Murray cod.
Leave room for the must try cheese mamool - what a delight!
Brilliant ! We dined here tonight and can’t wait to return. Food was delicious - interesting clever and meticulously devised. We adored the everything we ate but particularly recommend the hummous with calamari, the okra, the leek, the eggplant, the pilaf and the simple but superb fennel salad. Service warm efficient and enthusuastic.
Dig this joint. Honest, humble and tasty. Tried most of the menu and enjoyed every dish. Highlights were the Okra, Borek and Cod with a side of Pilaf. Staff are enthusiastic and welcoming. Feel like I’ve been there before but haven’t. Ari was awesome and made the night special. Prices are reasonable enough to make it regular. Would love to see the wine list expanded but otherwise great.
Dined here tonight and was not disappointed. The whole experience was faultless. Staff were warm and very welcoming. Ambience was great- music not too loud, lighting not too bright or dull.
After dining at Rumi for many years, the food was what I was expecting- everything was full of flavour!! When you look around the room and diners are nodding their heads and pointing to their food then you know your on to a good thing! The prawn borek was a highlight and the eggplant was so silky and smooth. Everything was perfectly seasoned. A nice addition to the menu would be some sprouts with caraway seeds ( still a favourite of mine from Rumi many years ago!).
There are 3 red wines and 3 white wines by the glass. All were reasonably priced. We tried 2 of the reds which were both very nice.
Last night I dined at Maha and was underwhelmed. The food was average and expensive (for what you got). Tonight I couldn’t fault a thing!
A great find in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. We loved the cosy atmosphere and the delicious and unique Middle Eastern dishes. We feasted on hommus with calamari (the best I’ve ever eaten!), the fish taratoor with pickled grapes, the fried okra and pineapple ice cream with arak and basil. Everything tasted delicious and fresh. Reasonably priced, with great, friendly service. We will be returning.
Amazing food! My boyfriend found this place as it was close to a comedy festival show we were seeing and it was excellent! The hummus was delicious, best I’ve had. The flavour of the red peppers was amazing! The eggplant was so tender and just feel apart and had an amazing smoky flavour which was great paired with the Labna. Loved the beetroot dish too. Can’t fault anything, will be back for sure! We actually preferred the vegetarian food here more than maha. The owner is a lovely guy too!
Food.....amazingly good! The borek was a highlight!
Wine.....well suggested and spot on.
Staff......just lovely and so helpful.
Do yourself a favour and dine there!
This is now one of my favourite Melbourne restaurants. It has a lovely atmosphere and the staff are so sweet and friendly and happy to take the time to chat to you. We got the lamb heart iskender, the fried okra, borek, lots of serves of hummus with squid and some of the best baklava i have had which came with sheep's yoghurt icecream. I'm looking forward to going back and trying the rest of the menu.
so delicious! the hommus & calamari was excellent, such a great combo. the staff were great, and the music was really good. will definitely be coming back!
Bar Saracen is one of those places that make you feel at home. When you enter the staff are so kind and welcoming and the ambience of the space is perfect for the delicious degustation that is about to ensue. Head chef Tom Sarafian has nailed every single course here with great attention to detail. The spanner crab hummus is in the top 5 dishes of melbourne for me which is a big call because lots of the food on this menu deserves to be up there. Perfectly crispy skin Murray cod, flavourful toum chicken skewers, soft and succulent. The most perfect blushing red lamb with an amazing harissa sauce. We had some vegans with us who were catered to as well with a range of substitute dishes. The bar tenders are always helpful and happy to recommend drinks to match to the good. There are some absolute pearlers in the wine menu that are left of centre and different to what you would normally have.
Get down here ASAP. It’s a big vibe. You will leave super full and of course super happy.
I had the okra, Persian rice and Chicken. Truly the most tasty chicken skewers I’ve ever had. Really, do try the chicken. It is unusually better than normal chicken!
Okra was tasty if you are familiar with Okra’s texture. It should though be served with some sort of accompaniment. Persian rice was delicious.
Highly recommend!
Been there a couple of times and the service and food are spot on. Hummus is probably the best I’ve tried so far and they now add the crab to make it even better. Fish Fatteh is a must try dish. This time I’ve tried chicken kebab and the Kashk-e-Bademjam and im just looking forward to eating there again, awesome.
Looking forward to seeing this place with a well deserved Hat!
Step up the lane and middle eastern awesomeness the Wait staff Ben Yossi and sensational... Take the advice of Yossi and have a bit of everything. Yossi has special chef dishes not on menu that are incredibly special. For couples or with a mate (I was with a mate but sent pics to my wife who will be down next visit) we had a great Croation wine bit like a dry shiraz on steroids followed by a serious tasty soft tones of a perfectly ripe cabernet savignon from Turkey. What a great experience. Come here before the theatre or just wander up from the local hotels. Easy to find. And trust me you will be pleased you found Bar Saracen up a lane way from the corner of Exhitbition and Lomdsdale. Google maps will help you get here
Menu is very understated - no fancy adjectives. We loved every single dish - so much flavour and variety. Can recommend the prawn borek, eggplant and beef. The home made pitas are addictive be careful!
We had our New Years Eve meal here and it was absolutely phenomenal! The Egyptian seafood set menu was to die for and paired with the most incredible wine. Authentic, modern and inventive all in one. The staff were great! By the end I felt like an expert in the different wines and flavours that were Cleopatra inspired.
I would highly recommend Bar Saracen to anyone looking for something a little different and exciting. Some of the best food I’ve eaten in a long time.
Thank you for such a great night guys!
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