Manze

I’ve been coming to Manzé for several years, ever since Melbourne’s dining scene re-emerged after the long COVID lockdowns. It’s a restaurant I’ve consistently enjoyed, so I was genuinely excited to bring a close friend for their 40th birthday celebration. I’d been singing Manzé’s praises for quite some time and was thrilled to return. We were delighted to find that our section of the share table was being looked after by owner-chef Nagesh Seethiah - well known across Melbourne’s food and wine scene and from Adam Liaw’s The Cook Up. He recognised that this wasn’t my first Manzé rodeo and thanked me for my continued support - a small but genuine gesture that speaks volumes about the care shown to loyal guests. I’d decided weeks earlier that the best way to experience the kitchen was through the rotating seasonal menu - in this case, the January 2026 offering - which reflects nostalgic Mauritian flavours through exceptional Victorian produce. Snacks set the tone: cucumber with mango and chilli vinegar; Portarlington confit mussels; and Meredith ex-dairy goat with Manzé masala and orchard lemon - carefully crafted, exciting, distinctive and deeply flavourful. Entrees followed with Port Lincoln sardines and tomato-ginger rompaille, sallini coco and pima cari, alongside Dog Creek Growers shishito peppers with wholemeal pari. As a pescatarian, I opted for the Daintree barramundi with plums (a $19 supplement, and well worth it). The dish was balanced and precise. Orange and rosé-leaning natural wines accompanied the meal - another hallmark of this confident and contemporary venture - chosen thoughtfully and pairing beautifully with the layered spice and acidity of the food. Dessert rounded out the experience with peaches and parfait, accented by basil seed - fresh, textural and an elegant close to a generous meal. As ever, Manzé remains trendy yet warm, innovative yet grounded, local yet transportive. It’s a restaurant that feels both exciting and deeply personal. See you again soon!

Manze had been on my hit list for a while as it is a Mauritian style dining experience, which I thought was pretty unique to explore within Melbourne. Inside, it gave me more wine bar style vibes with cool decor and a more laid back rather than formal dining experience. It is small plates to share and a set menu, which I assume helps keep consistency and kitchen production steady. The food took a while to prepare, which I wished was a bit faster, but it was worth the wait for the flavour. We added the taro fritter balls, which reminded me of mini croquettes but much cleaner and more flavour packed. The skewers, which I think were goat, were cooked to a T and tender with a good amount of sauce and flavour that left you wanting more. The cucumber style dish was fresh and had a good punch of flavour. The mussels were standard, with fresh fruit or produce mixed in giving them a nice flavour hit, but there were only about two to three pieces each. There were six of us and on the set menu we had a pork dish to share between two, served with rice and salad. I have previously had bad experiences with Otway pork, but the chefs here charcoaled it beautifully and created a very tender piece of meat. It was not dry at all and paired very nicely with the rice and salads. It felt like the type of food you would eat overlooking water or at a beach. The dessert was pretty standard, fruit over ice cream dressed up with fancy ingredients. The produce was good but overall it was just okay. I really enjoyed Manze, but I was still left a bit hungry afterwards. The wait times at moments were longer than we would have liked, but overall it was an enjoyable experience. I am giving it a 5 because the food did taste good and put a smile on my face, but it was close to a 4 based on the serving sizes and the value I felt I got in return.

We had lunch at Manze during our trip to Melbourne. It was our first time trying Mauritian food and it was absolutely an amazing experience. It was very interesting to see a lot of preserved and fermented jars of condiments around the restaurant thinking which one had been used in each dish that we tasted. We will definitely be back and highly recommend Manze.

An interesting take on Mauritian food. I found the serving sizes quite small. The tamarind soda was so yummy. Nice to try but wouldn’t go again.

The best negroni I’ve ever had in my life! Food so beautiful, felt I was sat by the sea. The ambiance transported me from north Melbourne to a coastal fruit orchid where the fish dishes were served with summer fruits - passion fruit and mango. Would highly recommend! Brought out a birthcake in the form of beach shells in a terracotta dish - mermaid birthday.

Beautiful Mauritian food in a communal setting that still feels very intimate. The goat dish was the standout, but every dish was filled with unique flavours (especially the dessert)

We tried the set menu (short) with a couple of entree add ons. Each dish was unique in presentation and taste with the majority of dishes having some sort of spice and kick! The main event was the “bouillon poisson”, perfectly cooked fish and prawns in a tangy broth. It was delightful 😊 Music blaring through the speakers were Atlanta rap which was a nice surprise (for me at least).

Had an amazing time at Manzé in North Melbourne! The venue is chilled and inviting, perfect venue for a relaxing meal with friends. The Mauritian-inspired cuisine is delicious, with a lunch set menu that offers great value. The service was excellent—friendly, attentive, and made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a unique and satisfying dining experience!