Kamel - Melbourne

What a delightful surprise! Tucked away in a nondescript spot along a quiet road, this restaurant turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Despite appearing busy from the outside, the staff warmly welcomed us and led us to cozy seating in one of the many intimate rooms at the back. The menu featured a variety of intriguing Middle Eastern dishes, but as first-time visitors, we opted for the buffet menu. Every dish we tried was delicious, staying true to the original flavors but with a creative twist that made them even more unique. We will definitely be returning to sample more dishes in the future!

Kamel is the perfect restaurant to visit with a group of friends as the food here really is designed to share. You can pick a number of mezze dishes (roughly 1.5 dishes per person is the best guide to go by) or simply choose one of the banquet menus (min 4 people) and let the chef choose for you. The cuisine is Middle Eastern and North African inspired, cherry picking the best from both regions. Dishes such as grilled peppered watermelon with pomegranate molasses, feta dill feature a complex and exotic combination of flavours. Other highlights include the the duck pastilla shredded duck confit, prunes chickpeas in a pastry twist and the zucchini, corn, feta chickpea flour fritters with yoghurt. The space is intimate and softly lit, with cute wooden tables nestled side by side. If you're planning on heading in with a bigger group, there is an upstairs dining area that allows you to escape the bustle of the rest of the restaurant. With Kamel being a Cheap Eats Guide regular, the prices are always reasonable and the food always delicious.

I absolutely loved this place. I visited with my family during our trip to Melbourne and we were looking for a restaurant that could cater to a variety of dietary needs, including vegan options. Kamel exceeded our expectations! They had menus for all kinds of dietary requirements, such as vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options. The food was amazing and they had a great wine selection as well. The restaurant itself was surprisingly spacious, with rooms tucked away in different corners. I definitely plan on returning the next time I'm in the area because there were so many other dishes I wanted to try but didn't have room for. Thank you to the Kamel staff for a wonderful experience.

I have visited this restaurant before and absolutely enjoyed it. I decided to bring my parents who were visiting from New Zealand, but unfortunately, we were quite disappointed. The food was good, but the service was very poor, which significantly impacted our overall experience. However, the owner was as lovely as always.

Whether you need breakfast, lunch or dinner Kamel is spot on for all 3. Every meal I have had a Kamel has been original, full of flavour and great value. I highly recommend the lunch and dinner banquets for dining with larger groups or even if you are a hungry twosome looking to feast on a weekend between 12 and 3. If you want a cosy dinner by the fire be sure to book ahead for the room behind the bar. Groups of up to 30 people can be accommodated over 3 tables on the upper level, albeit one table is slightly partitioned from the other 2. Kamel is benefitted by being on the sunny side of the street making outdoor dining perfect. When the weather turns bad as it is known to do in Melbourne, there is a handy awning that can be rolled down for protection. There is also a courtyard at the back of the restaurant. If you are not hungry enough for a banquet you can't go wrong with any of the daily specials the tagines and salads are always a winner. Service is casual and at times you may have to flag someone down but the food and sun is what shines at Kamel and will keep you coming back.