Meeka Restaurant

On Wednesday night I caught up with some of the running girls for a mid-week dinner. I always find it hard to get out mid-week for dinner due to my full-time job, casual job, extra study and running. I’m up most days prior to 6 so by 9 I am often tucked up in bed which doesn’t help the situation. So anyway suffice to say I was looking forward to a change of the ‘norm’ and a catch up with the girls. Meeka Restaurant was chosen by one of the girls- a Middle Eastern Restaurant on Rokerby Road in Subiaco. The restaurant is in a perfect location, up (or should i say down? it is further south) the quieter side of Rokerby Road, so no parking tickets required. Yay. Now not being a regular diner during the week I was somewhat surprised by how busy the restaurant was. I guess I just seem to assume most people do eat at home during the week- wrong assumption clearly as Meeka was buzzing. The restaurant has a lovely feel to it, I can imagine it being a lovely place for a date night especially considering most items on the menu would be suitable to order and share.

They have their regular menu plus a blackboard full of specials of the night. There were so many dishes on the menu which sound beautiful. They also have a glossary for the less well-known items. I ended up deciding to go with the 7 Vegetable Tajine which included Ras El Hanout (hot spice blend) Saffron, Spiced Chickpeas, Sweet and Sour Eggplant Relish, Cacik (yoghurt sauce with herbs and cucumber; $28). With the Tajines you can have a choice of Israeli Couscous or Quinoa; I adore Quinoa so went with that. The presentation of this dish in a Tajine was gorgeous and the waiter removed the lid when everyone’s meals arrived. The Quinoa was served in a bowl on the side.The aroma made me eager to dig in. This dish was light and delicious. My only complaint was that it was a little more soup-like and as such I was careful to slurp some of the liquid before I added my Quinoa so I didn’t lose it in the dish. I would also have like some more eggplant and chickpeas in the dish- but that’s jut because I love both. Despite this, I felt wholesome and content eating this dish.

7 Vegetable Tajine

Quinoa

Now as a side to my Tajine I ordered the Fried Cauliflower, Coriander Salt, Almond Tarator, Spiced Roasted Almonds ($12). All I can say is WOW. This dish was incredible. I have never had fried cauliflower before but will definitely be having it again after this. The whole almonds added a lovely crunch and the cauliflower was seasoned with I do not know what but I want to know. The Almond Tarator (I had to look this up in the glossary apparently Tarator is s Honey Nut Based Mayonnaise) just capped off an amazing dish. I love it when you order a dish that just blows your mind, and it stays with you. This was one of them for me.

Fried Cauliflower, Coriander Salt, Almond Tarator, Spiced Roasted Almonds

Two of the other girls ordered the Dorper Lamb Tajine. This Tajine also had Chickpeas, Prunes, Zucchini, Ras El Hanout, Red Pepper Sauce, Harissa Almonds, Hommus Yoghurt. I don’t even eat lamb yet still thought this dish looked stunning. It was full of almonds and the Hummus Yoghurt that was served on the side was a nice touch. The girls both loved this dish.

Droper Lamb Tajine

My always-swaps-food-happily-with-hubby friend ordered one of the main meals- Lebanese Nut Pilaf, Olive Salsa, House Cheese Brik Cigars, Beetroot Spread, Pickled Vegetables ($28). This looked the most stunning of all the mains. Mrs Swapper appeared to love it and of course lived up to her name by happily sharing.

Lebanese Nut Pilaf, Olive Salsa, House Cheese Brik Cigars, Beetroot Spread, Pickled Vegetables

By this stage I was done and dusted. A few of the girls however were keen for dessert; in fact Mrs Swapper was positively jumping out of her seat for dessert from the start (if I was honest I would say ever since she read the menu online prior to dinner). She and two others ordered the Turkish Delight Stuffed Doughnuts, Cardamom Sugar, Spiced Chocolate Sauce, Pistachio Ice Cream, Persian Pistachio Fairy Floss ($15). Although they did appear to enjoy this dessert the general consensus was that the Turkish Delight flavour in the Doughnuts wasn’t strong enough.

Turkish Delight Stuffed Doughnuts, Cardamom Sugar, Spiced Chocolate Sauce, Pistachio Ice Cream, Persian Pistachio Fairy Floss

The other dessert ordered was the Medjool Date Fig Chestnut Pudding. This was served with Salted Caramel, Turkish Coffee Ice Cream and Candied Walnuts ($16). The salted caramel was a big big hit as was the dish.

Medjool Date Fig Chestnut Pudding, Salted Caramel, Turkish Coffee Ice Cream, Candied Walnuts

I loved this restaurant. The food, the service (which included the lovely Italian waiter) and the atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back and try the Sweet Potato Falafel and everything else!