Mankoushe — Restaurant in Melbourne

Mankoushe has always been a beacon of Middle Eastern cuisine in Brunswick, where the vibrant colours and enticing aromas promise a memorable dining experience. On our recent visit, however, the charm was somewhat overshadowed by service issues. The restaurant’s usually inviting atmosphere felt disrupted, particularly when the staff, instead of enhancing the experience, inadvertently pushed us towards the exit. It was a stark contrast to the warm, welcoming vibe we’ve grown accustomed to in the past.

The food at Mankoushe remained as outstanding as ever. The za’atar and labneh, alongside a variety of dips, were vibrant and packed with flavour. The beetroot was exceptionally tasty, offering a unique and delightful taste that complemented the other dishes perfectly. The lamb and rice meatballs were divine, juicy and full of robust flavours, while the artichoke was a surprisingly delicious treat. The baked kibbe was simply stellar, and the chicken dish delivered a powerful umami punch that was both satisfying and memorable. Fresh-baked bread continued to be a highlight, enhancing every dish with its warm, fluffy texture. The beans were a tremendous, stunningly delicious and a testament to the kitchen’s skill.

On the contrary. the service during our latest visit was a significant letdown. We’ve always admired Mankoushe for its attentive and friendly staff, but this time the experience was jarring. A particularly off-putting moment came when the server, seemingly in a hurry to clear up, began stacking chairs on tables while diners were still enjoying their meals. This action not only disrupted the ambiance but also made us feel as though we were being rushed out. The contrast between the quality of the food and the service was glaring, leaving us with a sense of dissatisfaction that was difficult to overlook.

Overall, the disparity between the superb food and the underwhelming service was noticeable and impacted our overall enjoyment. We hope that this feedback will be taken on board, as Mankoushe has the potential to reclaim its spot as a must-visit gem in Brunswick with more...

What a drag each time we try to give this place a go. Always end up regretting it and hating our lives. Funny thing is, we’ve tried giving them another go and another and another etc etc for over 10 years now. Today was a takeaway order. The ultra try hard hipster wannabe girl who picked up the phone was extremely irritating. Deliberately being s….l….o…..w.. on the phone because you know, she’s sahhhh coool ending the order taking with “gorgeous!”. What exactly is “gorgeous” about a simple takeaway order? Knock the fakery nicecy nicey slow mo off and just be normal is it too hard to ask? Yes I know, you’re so Brunswick. eyerolls Got there, order was wrong. An experience that should have taken 5 minutes ended up taking more than 20. When explaining to the bearded man who I assume was the owner, he looked and sounded like he was about to jump the counter and stab his customers in the face. Is professional business etiquette that hard? No wonder the owner is always grumpy and on the defensive. If the service was more efficient, half decent, and communication friendlier, I’d bet they’d do much better and he won’t be so grumpy and angry all the time. The food is not bad, the experience actually makes you lose your...

Banquet was a big miss, poorly cooked meat that was essentially charcoal. Two small dishes of each course between 7 people. A table of 2 near us had a whole serve. You do the math... $350 for maybe half a plate of really average food each. The best bit was the tiny piece of bread and dips we got at the start. Really disappointed. Could have cooked that ammount food at home for under $80. Banquet was an absolute rip off. I Usually give benefit of the doubt but this was just too bad of an experience.

*edit we didnt recieve any pizza, last dish was chickpeas Theres no 2 ways about it, the servings were small. There should have been 3 serves of each instead of 2 so we disnt have to cut everything into small qarters. would have been happy to pay a little more. We all left hungry. Sorry. Staff were nice and good atmosphere but really let down by the banquet. Perhaps if we ordered our own things it could have been better. A banquet is a banquet, not a taster menu. For $55 a head you should be full...