Zareh

This venue is included in Good Food’s 100 Essential Restaurants list.

If you’re going to build a reputation around a single dish, hummus is a glorious hill to die on. Tom Sarafian’s silken chickpea dip – crowned with spiced king prawn and crab – remains his signature. The space wraps an L-shaped bar and tight wood-fired galley kitchen with keenly sought tables.

Sarafian’s pithy menu evolves gently, comfort staples lifted by seasonal twists: tamarind-bright pickles, an Alexandrian-inspired ful medames that’s as much salad as broad bean stew, and batata harra – deeply tanned potatoes spiced with ras al hanout you’ll want to eat forever.

Another must-order: juicy grill-striped chicken skewers slathered with garlicky toum, balanced by a sharp parsley and pickled chilli salad. With Lebanese wine flowing, Armenian pop on the stereo and charcoal smoke in the air, Zareh feels less like a restaurant and more like an intimate, high-octane dinner party.

Good to know: Keep the party going by taking tubs of hummus, toum and harissa home.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

Last visited: September 2026

More:

• Collingwood
• Zareh
• Melbourne
• Middle Eastern
• Accepts bookings
• Good for groups
• Date night
• Licensed
• Vegetarian-friendly
• Gluten-free options
• Outdoor dining
• Pet-friendly
• Good for a first date
• Restaurant
• Reviews
• Good Food Guide
• 100 Essential Restaurants
• New Restaurant of the Year
• Critics’ Pick