Med’s menu is a fabulous fusion of Greek, Lebanese and Turkish cuisine. Does life get any better than that, asks dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON.
Med’s the newest kid on the block at the Realm Precinct in Barton and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine is the name of the game.
A tremendous amount of thought has gone into the décor to make diners feel they’re in an exotic place such as Istanbul. Check out the impressive line-up of authentic terracotta pots in whites, blacks, greys, earth tones, and sensational sea blues. The light fixtures are as impressive.
We sat in a prime spot, gathering around a huge circular table, making sharing super easy.
We bypassed the pide and dips (“been there, done that”), but we’re certain the quality of options such as hummus ($12), baba ganoush ($12) and muhammara ($14) would be top-notch.
Med specialises in dishes that pack a punch on flavours, including an amazing barbecued octopus with harissa dressing ($25). The octopus was super tender and absorbed the spicy, smoky, peppery dressing.
An equally tasty start, also from the Meze section, were the sardines ($18). Last but not least was the Saganaki. We’re big halloumi fans and adored the basic, sensible combo of lemon and oregano. The halloumi was a perfect texture ($18).
Intriguing is the Josper Charcoal Oven and Grill part of Med’s menu. I’m not up on the techie parts of these revolutionary grills, but know they produce sensational results.
The charcoal-roasted chicken with Turkish chili was divine – moist and succulent. Also divine was the snapper baked on the Josper and featuring chermoula and fennel ($32). To capture the moisture, the fish was wrapped in dark vine leaves. While this didn’t make for the most attractive-looking dish, the soft flesh of the fish and flavours made up for the appearance.
Our third Josper creation was a whole head of cauliflower with tangy preserved lemon and refreshing yoghurt ($26)… such a wonderful way to celebrate this humble vegetable.
Rounding out the savory part of our meal was the fresh, summery Shepherd salad ($12), testament to how quality ingredients pulled together simply make for memorable moments.
The grand finale was the decadent Malabi custard, with mango, lemon sorbet and yogurt mousse ($14). It. Was. To. Die. For.
Many Med dishes are vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free. Regular and vegetarian banquets are available ($75).
Med has a large outdoor dining area and a private dining room (up to 16 guests). The restaurant is regularly booked out, so best to reserve. Sadly, Med isn’t open for lunch on weekends.
We agreed the music was far too loud for comfortable conversation. While we enjoy a lively atmosphere, one of our party remarked: “We’re not exactly in Ibiza, are we?”
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