Take a trip into the Middle East (well, the eastern side of Manuka) and enter the world of Mecca Bah – a Southside favourite that has been entertaining groups large-and-small for over 10 years. If you’re looking to discover the delights of Middle Eastern hospitality, along with all the exotic flavours this ancient culture brings, then there is simply no better place.
With the launch of a brand new menu, Mecca Bah is producing the most exciting food since opening. The new feel for the food takes a fresh look at the most-loved dishes over the years, and brings a fresh aspect to some old favourites under the watchful eye of Head Chef Zahangir Alam. This approach is particularly evident in the tagines with a focus on enhancing the key spices to really enhance their flavour profile.
In true Middle Eastern tradition, the focus is on sharing, where meals are placed on the table within arms-reach of everyone. Be mindful of this when ordering, and enjoy the surprise of seeing what fellow diners order as part of the communal experience.
Start off with some Mezze (entrées). It’s best to fill the table with snacks and share among friends. Moroccan Potato Cakes filled with goat’s cheese and pine nuts are a great way to start, and make a nice contrast with the crispy pastry surrounding the Lamb Sihfa with tomato, mint and lemon.
The Baked Haloumi (with pomegranate and mint salad) is a taste sensation. If the golden rule of eating is ‘everything is better with cheese’, then these golden slices are absolute proof. Thank goodness though for the salad, which eases the guilt factor by a couple of points.
The Beef Shish is a wonderfully fun experience, allowing diners to essentially ‘cook their own’ over a small grill set on the table. Medium rare or charcoaled – the choice is yours (just don’t get too distracted by the other dishes that seem to constantly land on the table!). Matched with accompanying salad (featuring Lebanese bread, tomato, cucumber and red onion) the ingredients of a typical backyard barbeque have suddenly hit a whole different level. It’s an odd kind of ‘exotic familiarity’ that makes much more sense than it sounds!
The Middle East has a deep love of desserts, and at Mecca Bah they are throughout. One not to be missed is the Orange Blossom Cheesecake with pomegranate, raspberry and honey syrup. With an accompanying Strawberry and Boysenberry homemade ice-cream that is artificial flavour and preservative free. It’s creamy beyond compare and a fantastic way to finish off a meal.
If you’re not ready to leave, grab yourself a glass of another age-old Arabian flavour – Muscat – and take in the Arabesque details that populate the magnificent dining space. It’s a place with food and service that is as honest as that ice-cream – so there’s nothing artificial about the Mecca Bah experience at all.
It’s a concept that’s very much worth sharing.
