Moroccan Soup Bar

Ph: (03) 9482 4240; 183 St Georges Rd, FITZROY NORTH 3068

vegetarian-moroccan, $
Open Tue-sun 6-10pm, Closed Xmas Day; Unlicensed; No Cards

Mietta's Review
The decor is straight from the souks, saffron, strawberry and acqua paint on the walls, and a charming array of North African artefacts scattered haphazardly around the room. Service is by women, and proud of it. After greeting and seating her customers, owner/manager Hana Assafiri runs through the simple vegetarian menu and offers a glass of hot and sweetly fragrant mint tea. Cooked by Arabic women, the food is homely, wholesome and, it must be said, variable.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "You know business is good when a restaurant can get away with no menu, no booze, no meat and no bookings for groups of less than six"

The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "Moroccan Soup Bar has a cult status among vegetarians. Dishes like the creamy and crunchy chickpea bake, plump eggplant turnover, and Moroccan-style dips and bread (accompanied by cleansing mint tea) have become vegie-legendary."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 This booze-free place is the darling of the vegetarian set - it offers excellent Moroccan food and a serious dash of attitude in one cheap package.

Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide Best Cheap Eats "Moroccan Soup Bar is as much fun as you can have with no booze, menu or meat."

The Age melbourne magazine June 05 John Lethlean "With its riot of Moroccan-ish primary colours, mish-mash furnishings, a table plan that makes the ergonomic sense of a Marrakech souk and Arabic hip-hop that sounds like Dr Dre meets Casablancan street music, this is no time, or place, to discuss the chain of communication thus far. It's simply: grab the table on offer and be thankful because, even at this tender hour, you can feel the pressure building."

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 Restaurant of the Year "PRAY for a table at this, one of the north's best-loved eateries. If lucky, squeeze into the convivial room festooned with drums and robes, and prepare to be amused (or bemused) by the brazen verbal menu."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004 "WITH its sunset-stained walls and purple divans, the alcohol-free Moroccan Soup Bar provides you with a brief glimpse of North Africa, minus the expensive airfare. Their all-vegetarian menu takes texture and taste to a higher level."

Age A2 Thomas Hunter 7/8/04 "This increasingly popular diner is all about attitude. Specifically, the owner Hana Assaflri's attitude. It's about serving quality food her way rather than following a formula. It's about having a restaurant with a dash of Northern African exotica mingling with north of the river chutzpa. And all this has earned the Moroccan Soup Bar plenty of praise."

The Foodies' Guide 2004, Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'With a strict no-meat philosophy,this is not only a great spot for vegetarians,but also a real cheap place to eat.Try the banquet at around $17 for three courses.'

The Age Cheap Eats 2004,'Vegetarian Dish of the Year,It's silky,it's crunchy and it's so moreish that you'll find any excuse to be in Fitzroy North at dinnertime.'

The Age, Agenda, 4/4/04, Roslyn Grundy,'service at this sunset-hued vegetarian eater may be firey or informal but never dull.Complimentary mint tea will help you digest the spoken-word menu.'

Herald Sun, citystyle, 27/1/04, Flip Shelton,'This is a magic carpet ride of spices and sauces...You won't find a vegie burger or a menu...The waiting staff tell you what the day's offering is'

The Age, Sunday Life, 19/10/03, Roslyn Grundy

The Age, A2, Food & Wine, 9/8/03 Jane Faulkner