Kamel - Albert Park

For a Thursday evening during the middle of winter I was surprised at the numbers, and they just kept walking in. Tables were occupied under the awnings, street side. The front dining section of the restaurant was full with several tables cleared, re-set and filled again. The back room had a large group making the most of the fire. I cannot comment on upstairs as I did not venture there.

What I enjoyed about the space was that it was busy but not too busy; noisy but not too noisy. The tables in the front room are in close proximity however I could not decipher what was being said at the table to my left and just as well because the topics of conversation on my table were fast and furious!

Kamel is run by Mindy and Nigel Dunn and they provide a dining experience that is approachable to many and enjoyable for all who attend. They offer breakfast and lunch from Friday to Sunday and dinner 7 nights a week. A take-away option is also available.

The cuisine is Middle Eastern and North African inspired mezze dishes offering the diner to choose any number of combinations from a long selection of dishes. Fresh seasonal cuisine is offered alongside Kamel’s signature dishes, enhanced weekly by a specials board using the best produce Melbourne suppliers have to offer.

Kamel’s wine list supports Australia’s fantastic independent winemakers, which is how I came across the venue in the first place. For those of you who are wondering we do supply wine to Kamel, so the Hastwell & Lightfoot Cabernet Sauvignon by the glass is highly recommended!

My companion and I left the ordering to Nigel and Mindy who selected a number of mezze dishes including the following:

• Pistacchio crumbed goats cheese with fig paste & Turkish bread
• Pastilla - shredded duck confit, prunes & chickpeas in a pastry twist
• Green beans with African mint, harissa & feta
• Slow cooked beef & molokhia with parsnip mash

Our food was accompanied with two glasses of red: Tar & Roses Tempranillo 2008 (Heathcote) and Penley ‘Hyland’ Shiraz 2007. I even managed to share a dessert, which for me is quite a feat as my savoury taste buds rule my palate. My companion selected the chocolate mousse, which by all accounts can often be run of the mill. This dessert however was served with shavings of citrus peel and made such a contribution to the dish that I ate at least half of the dessert, if not a little more. It always surprises me how one ingredient can change a food experience, in and this case it was for the better.

For those of you who have seen and experienced the recent ‘tapas’ revival whereby ‘sharing plates’ are the norm, price is high and generally portions are lacking, you will not be disappointed. The general price per mezze is between $10 and $18 and the portions are very generous, so don’t have a late lunch if you are going there for dinner. I would highly recommend booking for dinner and for anytime over the weekend.

Should this review tempt your taste buds then check out the wine dinner booked next month with Hastwell & Lightfoot. I will be in attendance and very much look forward to a repeat visit. Bookings for this event are to be made directly with Kamel (phone number at the top of this review) with more details about the wine dinner on both our website and theirs. Hope to see you there for a fun night out!