Monday, May 26, 2008

Lebanese/Egyptian Food

Last Friday Frankie and I were deciding on a place to go for dinner, when I suggested Morris's Egyptian restaurant. If you had been watching the series called "the chopping block" then this restaurant would seem familiar to you. It looked alright from the show, and it was nearby, so we thought we'd try it out. I looked at the eatability website comments on it too and it was quite a mixed bag, so i thought it would be interesting.

Morris's claims to be the only eqyptian restaurant in sydney, but i think Egyptian food is the same as lebanese food. Correct me if I am wrong here.

So we walked in and sat down. There weren't too many other people in the restaurant. The restaurant itself looked very different from what it looked like on tv. The place was small, dark and poorly decorated. There was no atmosphere in the place at all, nothing to make you want to stay there for a while, just eat and get out.

I had read that the banquet wasn't very good value, but we decided to go with it anyway to see what it was like. It was $35 a head and started off with a selection of dips - Hommus, Baba Ghanouj, Tahina, and Lebna (pretty much your standard tzatiki). See if you can pick the dip!

Dip 1

Dip 2

Dip 3

Dip 4

I think, could be wrong cause i don't know for sure, that these were all store bought dips. There was nothing special about any of them. I think they were just there to fill you up, so you didn't realise how much you were getting ripped off.

Next we each got a plate of meat

This included a chicken kebab, lamb kebab, kofta, Waraaq Enub (dolmade), Taamiyeh (falafel). All the meats were good, nothing special though.

The thing that was the best though was the tabouli

This was really good. I could have eaten heaps of this.

Also in the banquet came dessert and coffee or tea. We decided to take home the dessert (baklava and "eqyptian delight" (turkish delight)) as we didn't want to stay there any longer as it was depressing.

On the Sunday we went out for a late lunch to Lakemba. Frankie said he used to go to this place there all the time called La Roche. The restaurant was very small and we got there just in time cause all these people started coming in after us and leaving cause there were no tables. We both ordered a mixed platter each (which included a soft drink). The total of our meal there came to $26 (13 each) which is less than paying for one of us at morris's and the food was 10 times better!

First came out some bread, and some pickles, tomatoes, onion, olives and a garlic dip. This was so good i could have just eaten that.

Next we got our mixed platter.

How good does that look! Everything was so good and fresh. I wanted to eat it all, but there was no way i could eat all of that. I tried though!

So much better value and a much better atmosphere.

I don't know if anyone else has been to Morris's, but i wouldn't recommend it!

Morris' Eqyptian Restaurant
445 New Canterbury Road
Dulwich Hill
Ph: 9560 1346
Open Tues - Sat 6pm - Midnight

La Roche
Shop 5, 61 - 65 Haldon Street
Lakemba
Ph: 9759 9257
Open 7 days 8am - 9pm
No alcohol, No cards

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's really interesting about Morris's. We saw The Chopping Block story and contemplated going. Now, I don't think I'll bother as there are so many other places to go.

susan said...

No I wouldn't bother if I were you. It was a real disappointment. Always good to try these things out though.

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan

I stumbled on to your blog and really enjoyed reading it. You have a great writing style and incorporate some excellent photos.

I thought I would invite you write on mytaste.com.au. This would be a great way to gain exposure for your blog as you are welcome to link back to it from myTaste.

My personal name on mytaste is Brent C. - if you have a look around you will see me there. Drop by and say hi.

Thanks for the great dining tips. If you do end up registering on mytaste i will add myself as a fan of you and therefore be notified whenever you do a review.

Cheers. Brent

susan said...

Hi Brent - Thanks so much for the positive feedback. It's always nice to know that new people are reading and enjoying my blog.

That website sounds interesting. I will be sure to drop by and say hi!

london girl said...

Just came across your page, and thought I would comment on this blog. Egyptian food is very different from Lebanese food, however, looks like you were eating Lebanese food!! Typical Egyptian dishes would be things like Koushari, Fool Mdammas, and other things. The spelling is probably wrong but I'm going by what it sounds like in Arabic. (I'm Arab). I will post a few recipes for you on my blog in the next few days.
Londonkitchen.blogspot.com

susan said...

Hi London Girl
Thanks for the clarification. I thought it would be different...I guess Sydney's only Egyptian restaurant isn't Egyptian at all! Cool, I will check out your blog! Thanks