Med Lounge and Garden — Restaurant in Bay of Plenty

We wandered into this simple, stylish family-owned restaurant on our first day in Tauranga while visiting from San Francisco for a music festival. Chosen last-minute for its proximity and good reviews, it appears we got quite lucky getting a reservation on a quieter day on the block as the cuisine and atmosphere both exceeded my expectations. Simple in design choices and the brevity of the menu, every item served a purpose to delight the senses - from the playlist to the travel and art photographs framed on the walls to the homestyle cooking of some of the staples of Mediterranean kitchen. And the senses were indeed delighted by the perfectly prepared, beautifully plated food choices - a wonderfully seasoned experience of a homecooked meal far away from home, and in an atmosphere that created ample room for connection and conversation across cultures. Would highly recommend to all visiting the area, and would absolutely love to return some day!

P.S. the aubergine mezze was to die for. I know I will be dreaming of it for years to come… Thank you for such a...

Reading all the good reviews and looking for a good dinner, I went to Malka with high expectations (which is always a challenge). However, spoiler alert 🚨, it was beyond my expectations. The place is so lovely from outside and inside, with very welcoming hosts. Since I could not decorate what to order, I asked for a recommendation by the chef. I got the best composition of what the cuisine offers. The hummus was better than any I had before and believe me, I tried lots of variations before. The self made pitas were the perfect match and the chili 🌶️, the cherry 🍒 on the pie! Since I can’t drink n drive, I couldn’t go for a wine, but the variety looked impressive. However, the hosts made the whole experience complete. A lovely family running this place where you can feel the joy and love to detail they put in anything. A hidden treasure. Go and try yourself!

תודה על...

So good to see this smiling family of positivity serving up Falafel + more delicious additions! (IYKYK)

Hidden in the Historic Village in a cosy setting, the food is made with the freshest ingredients with true authentic flavours.

The hosts were welcoming from the minute we arrived and looked after us at every step of the evening, offering top ups, menu recommendations and the dessert we were sadly too full to try (a good reason to return)

We wanted to try everything/couldn’t choose so the waitress recommended the Chef serve up a selection for our table of 3. We weren’t disappointed, the flavours were authentic, fresh, seasoned well from the tangy slaw, hummus and chicken shawarma. Complimentary condiments were provided, making the meal even more special.

Well done team, fresh and authentic food,...