Attentive service, a sexy fit out and rounds of exotic food - Sezar sure knows a thing or two about showing its guests a good time. From the moment we stepped in to the moment we got the bill, the staff made sure we were well taken care of and checked in every now and then to make sure we were satisfied. Hidden in an obscure alleyway off Collins St, this tapas restaurant has the mysterious quality of the kohl-rimmed eyes of a Middle Eastern woman.
From the outside, nothing would suggest that there lies an eatery nearby; but step in past the door, and you'll find yourself amongst others, ready for a night of mouth-watering Armenian cuisine. We didn't quite know what to order, so we allowed the staff to guide us and ordered based on their recommendations.
From the outside, nothing would suggest that there lies an eatery nearby; but step in past the door, and you'll find yourself amongst others, ready for a night of mouth-watering Armenian cuisine. We didn't quite know what to order, so we allowed the staff to guide us and ordered based on their recommendations.
We had the Bastourma spiced beef cheek (AUD$29) that came with eggplant and a side of aromatic steamed rice. The beef cheek was perfectly seasoned, tender and bursting with flavour. For those who have a low tolerance for spice, this is wonderful. It's spicy without being too spicy, and so don't worry, you won't be sweating buckets eating this.
Next, the triple-cooked chips (AUD$9, as seen above) were STELLAR. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do chips!
Three rounds of deep frying is apparently the magical number for extra-crispy potato nibbles (or so says Heston). Here, the crew at Sezar dust their thick-cut fries in aleppo pepper, which is a unique Mediterranean spice that has a slightly punchy, almost cumin-like taste. We had two servings of this, and even though we were struggling to finish the food at the end, we couldn't resist eating all of the chips. It was far too good to leave behind :-)
The chicken wings with pomegranate glaze and crushed pistachios (AUD$17) were even better. It was as sweet as it was savoury. Imagine pulling the juicy meat off the bone and licking the sticky glaze off your fingers. What a dish!
Next, the triple-cooked chips (AUD$9, as seen above) were STELLAR. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do chips!
Three rounds of deep frying is apparently the magical number for extra-crispy potato nibbles (or so says Heston). Here, the crew at Sezar dust their thick-cut fries in aleppo pepper, which is a unique Mediterranean spice that has a slightly punchy, almost cumin-like taste. We had two servings of this, and even though we were struggling to finish the food at the end, we couldn't resist eating all of the chips. It was far too good to leave behind :-)
The chicken wings with pomegranate glaze and crushed pistachios (AUD$17) were even better. It was as sweet as it was savoury. Imagine pulling the juicy meat off the bone and licking the sticky glaze off your fingers. What a dish!
The pulled lamb neck (AUD$16) was yummy. It came with a small dish of tabbouleh, some tahini to dip and a few buns to wrap the meat in. The few buns provided were buttery soft and thoughtfully warmed before being served, but it was not sufficient and we had to order extra bread to have the meat with.
We also ordered the cured ocean trout (AUD$17) which was a small starter-sized dish that came with a zingy apple and fennel salad, creme fraiche and fish roe. It was fresh and light on the palate, and set the stage for stronger, more intense flavours to follow. I'd say it was good, but not fantastic, so you can give this one a miss! Same goes for the seared Hervey Bay scallops (AUD$11). The creamy sauce and light drizzle of chilli oil was decent enough, but not worth trying.
We also ordered the cured ocean trout (AUD$17) which was a small starter-sized dish that came with a zingy apple and fennel salad, creme fraiche and fish roe. It was fresh and light on the palate, and set the stage for stronger, more intense flavours to follow. I'd say it was good, but not fantastic, so you can give this one a miss! Same goes for the seared Hervey Bay scallops (AUD$11). The creamy sauce and light drizzle of chilli oil was decent enough, but not worth trying.
Two small starters aside, the dishes we had at Sezar was simple and delicious. Price-point-wise, it's typical of that of most mid-range tapas restaurants in Melbourne; so while I wouldn't exactly call it dirt cheap, it isn't shockingly expensive, either. If you're willing to shell out a bit more for dinner, Sezar is definitely a nice place to take your date, before getting your groove on at bars that are just a hop away on Flinders Lane. Un-fussy food with great vibes -- lovely evening indeed.
Sezar
6 Melbourne Place
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Tel: 03 9663 9882
Sezar
6 Melbourne Place
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Tel: 03 9663 9882