Rumi

Came to Rumi for the first time to celebrate my 21st birthday with some friends. The Persian meatballs, the Labne and Macdous yoghurt dip, the Sigara Boregi, the lamb shoulder and Freekeh salad are some of my top picks. Oh and the Macadamia Baklava Ice Cream Sandwich. I’d try ordering à la carte but the dishes on the menu tasted as good as they sound. I’d be so undecided or I would’ve ordered the whole menu. For first timers like I was, I suggest the banquet (set) menu. We ordered ‘The Rumi Feast’ and every course was an experience. Shoutout to the one who attended our table also. Great service. He recommended some of the specials, and was very attentive with table upkeep as we got through each course. And we had water for the table, standard at most restaurants of course, but it was about the pour. Highest pours (with such skill) I’ve ever seen, done from a pretty unconventional, though unique piece of glassware with really good laminar flow (reminds of that one teapot comparison video where they compare pots with different price points by pouring water you’d know what I mean). We also had this drink called ‘Arak Fakra’ which contained 55% alcohol. It’s pretty high but when we ordered, we were informed how we should drink it (hint: *not* straight up and it’s not wine, but more so spirits). It was not all to our tastes, but it added to the experience. I was designated driver in my group so I had the Rumi Mocktail. Nicely presented, sugar coated rim, sweet and tasty. Overall ambience was good, the decor is very nice, not over the top, clean throughout, and not at all generic. Would love to come back someday.

Beautiful evening, I let them know we were running late, the team moved our time so it was no issue,. Service was warm , friendly , efficient and fast! We took advice on whether we ordered enough dishes.. spot on! Our dips, olives, meatballs,cauliflower, salads, lamb , chicken and of course the potatoes … was just delicious the desserts too. It was pretty perfect! thank you Rumi

Beautiful Middle Eastern food with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We ordered individual dishes like the sigara boregi, Persian meatballs, and advieh-marinated lamb shoulder — all were full of flavor and cooked perfectly. The service was friendly and attentive. Next time, we’re definitely keen to try the set menu to experience even more of what Rumi has to offer. Highly recommend for a delicious and memorable meal!

The quail barbecue is world-renowned, as highlighted by Anthony Bourdain in CNN documentaries. You must start with the quail kebab barbecue and order the Persian rice accompanied by walnuts and raisins; it’s divine. After that, you can try the rest of the menu, which is also amazing. Later, we went back for a second visit. This time, we just ordered the quail kebab — it was phenomenal. The same unforgettable taste: rich, tender, and unlike anything we’ve tried before. It’s a lovely spot for a date or a special night out. We also ordered a hummus-type starter made with Almond, which was absolutely amazing — smooth, flavorful, and the perfect complement to the meal.

Top tier service and even greater food! Came here for an intimate family dinner, booked a private room and they were so accomodating and the food was extraordinary. The vibe of the restaurant, the music, the decor, all perfect

Absolutely love the new location. It’s large and sleek and has all the soul of the original, plus many of the signature dishes. It’s great seeing Lebanon and surrounding area represented on the wine list. The Lebanese lemonade is great too. As for food, there are no bad choices but the meatballs and the quail skewers are two favourites. There are plenty of solid veg options too including the fried cauliflower, freekeh salad and cheese cigars. Everyone working when we visited were lovely too.

Rumi · the iconic Melbourne Lebanese-Middle Eastern restaurant still living up to its reputation 19 years after opening. We ordered the Rumi Classic Banquet for two, a Rumi Mocktail, and a Turkish Delight Cocktail. The standouts of the meal included the Almond Taratoor Dip (delightfully smooth and flavourful), the Persian Meatballs (perfectly seasoned, in a delicious sauce), the fried cauliflower (sheet melt in your mouth goodness), and the BBQ chicken skewers (the perfect blend of sumac zing and harissa kick). Some variation will be seen in our photos due to a mint allergy (leaves and sauces on the side).

Regular customer, as this restaurant never dissapoints. A very impressive wine list, with an array of European selections. The food is always fresh, delicious and memorable. The banquet is a great choice for those wanting to taste key dishes on their menu... and dessert is a must! The Baklava icecream is divine!