Shakahari

Ph: 9347 3848; 201 Faraday St, CARLTON 3053 www.shakahari.com.au

Vegetarian, $, * for Food & Ambience
Open mon-sat noon-3pm mon-Thu-sun 6-9.30 fri-sat 6-10pm, Closed Major public holidays; Licensed, BYO byo; AE DC MC V EFT
Chef Beh Kim Un & Beh Hang Noe (5-12-08) Owner John Durham, Beh Kim Un & Ma Kim Poay (5-12-08)

Mietta's Review
Long standing vegetarian restaurant with a fairly small, but high quality menu. Not specific to any one cuisine (other than, of course, vegetarian), Shakahari serves everything from Japanese to Italian influenced dishes. A largish and good wine list with many choices by the glass. Options for indoor and outdoor seating. Warm and comforting ambience.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2009 "The secret to a long life? Simplicity, both on and off the plate. Shakahari looks sprightly for its 37 years: rich earth tones, wooden tables and spectacular Indian hangings"

The Age Larissa Dubecki, 6-3-2009 "To be fair to Shakahari, it isn't trying to be fine dining. It isn't even trying to be a birthdays and bar mitzvahs kind of place. These days it's more like a no-frills cafe where you'll certainly walk out feeling healthier for the experience. It is disappointing, however, that the restaurant that can claim to have pioneered the culinary notion of east-west in this town and introduced pan-Asian food concepts to what was still a rather parched little Anglo landscape, apparently decided to put the handbrake on some time in the 1990s. ... It has been relegated to a quirky little time capsule of a restaurant. It's institutionalised rather than innovative, a pale imitation of what it used to represent, or perhaps of what I wanted it to be. Maybe the experience simply proves that you can't go home again."

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 13/20 "It's a step into history at Shakahari, to a style of restaurant that was the backbone of '70s innerMelbourne eating out. And from the homely touches of candles and flourishing plants to the wholesome, all-vegetarian Indian, Italian and South-East-Asian-influenced food, there's good karma here"

The Age Dani Valent, 2-9-2008 "When Shakahari opened in 1974, vegetarians were lumped in with hippies, greenies and other curious alternative lifestylers. When current owner Beh Kim Un took over in 1980, red-blooded blokes still grumbled about rabbit food but vegetarianism had started to move mainstream. Under Kim's stewardship, the restaurant has maintained its peace-love-and-understanding vibe, but the food has evolved. Vegetarian food is treated as a cuisine, rather than a system to get calories into the meat-phobic. Kim reckons just 20 percent of his clientele are strict vegos anyway and I believe him: I only saw one cable-knit jumper in the whole place."

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "All hail the queen of vegetarian restaurants that's been putting the bang in the vego buck since 1977"

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 13/20 "The colours of a spice market draw diners from an unassuming cottage-front entry along a chillired hallway and into the minimalist curry-andturmeric tones of this longstanding vegetarian landmark"

The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "Melbourne's doyen of vegetarian fare is starting to nudge itself out of the Cheap Eats' budget, but it's still the place to convert your carnivorous friends."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 Since 1977, Shakahari has been introducing diners to a craftier, more finessed world of vegetarianism, by combining unusual tastes and textures to often thrilling effect.

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 13/20 "When it opened in 1977, Shakahari was a refuge for vegetarians seeking to feast rather than fast when they went out. But these days it feels somewhat less like a sanctuary. Dining rooms once described as warm-hued now feel obtrusively bright and devoid of atmosphere; staff appear to be merely going through the motions and nobody seems to be having much fun."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 14/20 "THIS warm-hued Carlton sanctuary remains the vegetarian restaurant by which all others are judged. More than 30 years young, it's still crafting refined dishes by combining rarely partnered ingredients and cuisines."

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "INSIDE this discreet Carlton terrace is a temple of vegetable worship. Walls painted tomato and mustard, Asian artefacts and timber fittings instantly relax acolytes but the menu springs some surprises."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004 "MEAT-EATING gourmands start to get shaky if a culinary destination suggests tofu or herbal hotpots, and break out in a cold sweat if the word 'vegan' is uttered. Never fear; they'll be safe within the satay-coloured walls of this full-tote vegetarian temple."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004

Age A2 Thomas Hunter 27/11/04 "For 32 years, this Canton landmark has been serving its committed and creative vegetarian food to Melburnians. In fact, if vegetarian food in Melbourne has a spiritual home, it's here. It has only changed hands once since opening, when current chef Beh Kim Un (also of Madam Fang) bought into the business in 1980."

The Foodies' Guide 2004, Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'For over 20 years,Shakahari has offered amazing vegetarian food with a strong Asian influence,so expect culinary wonders from the masters of the trade.'

AGFG 2004, score 14/20, wide selection of vegetarian dishes, two courses for $25 or less

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, Good vegetarian options,'an elegant and stylish restaurant...the warm, welcoming cottage-style restaurant has a flexible menu dotted with signature dishes...Service is friendly and the wine list offers excellent value.'

Herald Sun, citystyle, 27/1/04, Flip Shelton,'It's the original and the best fine dining veg restaurant. An experience recommended by everyone'

The Age, Food & Wine 18-19/4/2003, Easter Edition, Thomas Hunter

Herald Sun, Weekend, Eat, Bob Hart, 20/7/02