Moroccan Soup Bar

After weeks of maneuvering catch-ups around nap times and hot cups of coffee around two little inquisitive hands, my bestie and I felt a fabulous, child-free catch-up was in order.

She's vego, so it was decided we'd go to the Moroccan Soup Bar in Fitzroy. Their food is unique - fresh, hearty Middle Eastern - and some of the best vego fare in town, in my opinion. As in, men dine there. Really.

Hot mint tea to start, then an antipasto-style platter of dips and vegetables, served with warm flatbread. Then out come a variety of hot dishes that they change up regularly - we had a chickpea dish with crispy pita and natural yoghurt, a spicy vegetable dish and something lentil-y. To finish; a tiny shot of strong coffee and some little deserts I don't know how to describe. Biscuity nutty bites with pistachios. That'll do. At $20 a head and with food to spare at the end, it's a bit of a bargain.

So sure, I recommend going there, but be warned: it's Trendy. One of those places that has its own culture, a potential minefield of awkwardness if you're not a native inhabitant of these kinds of venues, (in which case, you're probably already a regular). If you're just a standard person like me, and aren't with someone in The Know, here are the don'ts:

Warning #1: Don't ask for a menu. There are no menus. You should Know this. The waitress comes up and says, "What are we having tonight?". Asking for the banquet seems to be the easiest answer.

Warning #2: Don't expect soup. Just because it's called the Moroccan Soup Bar, doesn't mean there's lots of soup, and just because the name has bar in it doesn't mean they serve alcohol. I have never actually seen soup there, let alone eaten it, and they don't serve alcohol at all and so help me if I'm going to inquire about this strange and possibly fashionable discrepancy. 

Warning #3: Don't call to book unless you're with a group of six or more, because they don't do it. Because it's the popular kid, it's pretty much always packed, so all you can do if you're in a small group is either arrive prior to 6pm or put down your name, find a coffee shop and come back. Or you could just wait around with the nerds on the footpath outside. Apparently that's acceptable. (The Tin Pot Cafe, just a short walk up to the corner of Scotchmer Street, is a gorgeous little nook. This time we were pouring our water from what looked like a ginormous perfume bottle while sitting on a cane love seat. It would have been quite romantic if... yeah).

Warning #4: Do not dare to pull out plastic to pay. I'd only been once and it was almost two years ago, so this faux pas was all mine. If you present a card, prepare to be told bluntly that it's cash only. If you politely suggest you must have missed the sign at the register that says 'cash only' (there is no sign) you will be promptly told that people who eat here just Know, and if they don't they should ask before they sit down. Oops, thought I was in 21st century Melbourne for a moment there, silly me.

Basically, they have a large, loyal following who know how they work, so they can make up their own rules and let the masses clamour over each other to hand over their money for chickpeas.  It's pure genius!

Luckily, they're really good chickpeas.

Moroccan Soup Bar

Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cuisine

183 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy

Ph. 9482 4240

 $20 for three-course banquet