Visited Sezar based upon excellent Yelp and TripAdvisor ratings and it did not disappoint. Food is excellent and service is average, hence the 4-Star rating. Overall a great dining experience...be sure to order a variety of plates and share. Restaurant is quite funky and is found at the end of a little alley in the city. Be sure to make a reservation and don't be surprised if they insist (which they tell you ahead of time) within two hours. We ordered cocktails, and they were good, though the server spilled both of them (as well as our water). The waiter provided good suggestions and helped us (as a party of 5 with kids) to order a variety of dishes...we sampled about six dishes in total and were very pleased with all of them. Each dish was bursting with flavor, and in particular we enjoyed: smoked ocean trout with a fennel salad, fresh oysters, Pomegranate chicken wings, lamb meatballs, and lamb shoulder (amazing). Waiter did not return after we ordered our dishes and seemed to rush us out quite a bit (in advance of our 2 hour allowable window). So, food quality great, service average. But worth a try! read more

As you enter this place, this place doesn't look like what I imagined it to be. But the staff was friendly and greeted us appropriately. We had: - Bastourma & egg (armenian air dried beef, quail egg, toasted brioche & garlic jam). This dish taste so much better than it looked - Seared hervey bay scallops (spiced pumpkin,pomegranate molasses & sujuk) - Armenian BBQ Chicken (pickles, tabouleh, flat bread & tahini) - Grain salad (toasted pumpkin seeds, almonds, sour cherries & labne) - Lule kebab (spiced lamb kofte, sumac pickled onions & hommus) - Slow cooked lamb shoulder The food was much nicer and tastier than I expected. I really enjoyed the food here. I have to say the entrée was nicer than the mains. So go as many entrées as you can. read more

Sezar Restaurant - Very happy with Armenian - Middle Eastern Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This was probably my best choice of my trip. Was staying at a hotel nearby with my business associates and had to find something on the night of arrival. LUCKILY they had a table for 4 and this was truly amazing. We did the 3 course and every single dish was outstanding! Choice of meat and spices is on point. Every bite was a conversation at the table. The vines in this place is nevertheless as surprising as I felt after my first bite. A fairly small list, but the variety was incredible, world list. I had the Bosnian red, and would recommend that to everything on the menu. This place is a must visit in Melbourne. The staff and service level is top! read more

Sezar Restaurant - Bosnian red - Middle Eastern Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I'd been aware of this place for a while and found myself here one Saturday night because I was dining with a friend needing halal food. Upon arrival we were not greeted. The staff were busy and clearly a hello or smile put undue pressure on them. There's no waiting area so we just stood cramped by the door, blocking access. We were shown to a table right next to the open kitchen. The noise was incredible, on top of the noise of diners. We ordered drinks and looked at the menu. The options didn't take my fancy personally...but that's not their fault. The prices are very high (esp. comparative to portion size). That is on them. After sitting there a while longer waiting for someone to return and struggling to hear each other over the noise we decided to leave. I was worried the drinks would be prepared. I needn't have. Even a 10minute delay between order and cancellation was much too short to expect a drink to show up at your table. The waitress was polite enough but the service isn't the drawcard here. I'd definitely give this place a miss. read more

This is my second time I've been to Sezar and it was pretty much exactly like my first. The service was good but wasn't amazing and it's quite dark inside which I don't really like since I like to see what I'm eating. The food, some dishes were outstanding like the cured ocean trout and the baklava and others were pretty much so-so like the lamb kofti. It was an interesting experience to try out Armenian food but it didn't tickle my fancy. read more

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Seize the moment. Armenian cuisine is mild on spice, but full of unique flavours that are gorgeous, fresh and delicious. Sezar delivers the food to share in a cosy, ambient environment that sets the tone for a fantastic night. The staff are brilliant, attentive and know the menu inside out. The amazing banquet offers a lot of food, so don't pick this option if you're looking for a snack. The entrees consist of hummus, bastourma and egg with garlic jam on a toasted brioche, spinach and feta boreg with aleppo mayo and kataifi wrapped lamb neck with sesame mayo. A selection of food that's not only delightful, but pack authentic flavours that work in harmony together. The bastourma and egg is one of the best entrees I have had the pleasure of experiencing in a restaurant, don't leave without trying it. The medium sized meals followed with the main that showed Sezar's best. Spanner crab manti with yoghurt soup & paprika butter, twice cooked chicken wings with pomegranate glaze, pistachio & coriander, molasses glaze pork with purslane, pomegranate & walnut salad, triple cooked potatoes with aleppo pepper, thyme & garlic and farro salad that had celery, walnut, nigella & soured cream. There's a wonderful selection of food and flavours to enjoy cooked with perfection and absolutely show off Armenian cuisine and Sezar's ability to deliver fantastic fresh ingredients that celebrate food. The spanner crab manti is unique, fresh and tasty, get it to experience what it's like. The twice cooked chicken wings (no bones) are bite sized marinated with a sauce from dreams and compliments the farro salad (which is brilliant). Don't miss the molasses glaze pork, not only is it tender, but it's fresh. The flavours don't overwhelm you, and if they do, there's an amazing small salad that accompanies it. Lastly, the sweet. The new style baklava with crispy filo, walnut toffee ice cream & salted caramel is one for the ages. This dessert is better than the traditional baklava that doesn't disrespect where it comes from, but adds another dimension bringing the original overzealous sweetness to a halt with flavours that further enhance the baklava experience. One of my favourite desserts I have had. Sezar proudly walks into my best of list because it just gets it right. The staff, the ambience and the amazing food. It's a pleasure to dine at such an establishment and I can't wait to go back! Highest of recommendations, book now, make it your next outing, get the banquet and live a little! read more

Loved the dinner and all the food! We did a $78 detestation option and everything was amazing! Everyone loved it! The staff were super friendly and helpful! read more

The food was good, but many of the dishes were cold, as if they've been sitting around waiting for someone to order. Instead of a regular flow of food, there were long pauses waiting for the next course. Nothing spectacular or memorable enough to warrant a return. read more

This restaurant has a great publicist, really nice waitstaff and a mediocre chef. The food was bland and uninspired, we tried the $78 tasting menu and with every course we wished we had just gone to the closest humus joint. It's a good reminder not to believe everything you read, especially in tourist magazines like Where. read more

I was looking for somewhere different to take my husband to celebrate his birthday in Melbourne, we are from Perth. Each year instead of buying birthday gifts we tantalize our tastebuds with a degustation dinner somewhere in town, but this year I was a little late in organising and booking and considering we would be in Melbourne I opted for a cuisine neither of us have tried before...and we are so happy we did! This funky restaraunt is found at the end of a little alley in the city. We arrived early and were greeted with a warm welcome and accomodated with a table straight away. We had pre-booked and it was such a busy night, both levels, upstairs and downstairs looked and sounded pretty full. Once seated, our drink orders were taken and my husband went for a whiskey based cocktail...the Arabian Knight which was surprisingly refreshing and more-ish. Served in a short crystal whiskey glass was spiced rum, mixed spices and a cinnamon stick as a stirrer this chilled amber coloured cocktail did not disappoint. It is a must try and we didnt stop at 1 . The food is nothing short of amazing. The wait-staff offered a 5 or 6 course banquet or you can simply order from the menu. We went for the 6 course menu at $65 pp, it is not a set menu but each dish is chosen by the chef, so no banquet is the same. Each dish was bursting with flavour, in brief we had the smoked ocean trout with a fennel salad, 2 fresh oysters- 1 each...I wanted both of them they were so good!! Pomegranate chicken wings-holy moly.... this was Ah-Mazing! Lamb meatballs, Beef curry and rice and to top it off a platter of Armenian desserts which served the 4 people next to us....but we had the whole platter between only two of us!!! I'm not a massive dessert fan but the chef's take on the Baklava was spot on. The pastry was light, crispy and just melted in my mouth. It was not thick and overly sweet like other Baklava I have tasted and because the sweetness was just right it didn't leave a lingering overwhelming taste in my mouth. Loved every bite. I didn't get to taste much of the rest of the platter because my husband demolished it!!! I would go back to Sezar in a flash. Our experience there has just opened up a new interest into Armenian cuisine, but the next place is going to have to bring something spectacular!!! Bring Sezar to Perth! Who do I speak to about this!!!?? read more

We were looking forward to dinner after reading so many good reviews. Unfortunately we had such a disappointing experience. We had a 2 hour seating and the waiters rushed and pressured us to order quickly. They kept looking at their watches and were nervous that we won't have enough time to eat our food before we have to give up our table. This was our first time Sezar and staff were not helpful when we asked for recommendations and help with the menu. Despite the rush and pressure on ordering, we waited for some time before the food was served to us. Food was ok and portions were quite small for the price tag. They were also very eager to get us out of the restaurant. They started clearing our plates away while we were still eating. This was the most stressful and uncomfortable dining experience I've ever had. Never felt so rushed and pressured. Definitely won't be coming back to Sezar anytime soon. read more

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Outstanding, welcoming service start to finish. On the cocktail menu - the Bilzerian, my maiden name and smooth as silk; and the Mt Ararat Espresso Martini, iconic. Exquisite Hummus and greens, bastourma & eggs, crab Manti, grain salad , short rib and Mujadarra - all with a fabulous Melbourne flair. Don't miss this... read more

Sezar Restaurant - Hummus, lavash bread, Basturma and egg - Middle Eastern Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Sezar positions itself as modern, and the food features fresh, light local produce. The menu is sharing style - we had the grain salad featuring toasted nuts and labneh, pork glazed with pomegranate molasses, and shepherds salad with radish and herbs, along with a side of Armenian flat bread. This is the sort of restaurant it's safe to go to if you want to feel a little indulgent, but not leave at the end of the night feeling weight down and regretting your decisions. The food was simple in its complexity, reminding you of a long cultural past of living with the land. The ingredients are unassuming but come together beautifully, and everything was flavourful yet somehow fresh. Even the pork with pomegranate molasses, which can be incredibly sweet, was not overbearing. The bread was soft and light, not overly filling, and overall the whole meal felt nourishing and comfortable. Leaving us plenty of room for dessert - when the waiter asked if we'd like anything, our first question was "Does the tasting board have a little of everything?" "Yes" "Ok, then that!". The desserts were probably a little too modern - I'd have liked to see something more traditional since it was a cuisine I was unfamiliar with - the deconstructed baklava for example really didn't resemble baklava at all, despite being delicious. Honey featured, as well as persian fairy floss and flavours of pistachio, berries and other nuts. All chocolate presented was of the dark and rich variety, and overall the board was very enjoyable, although some items are very sweet and should be eaten last so as not to over power the lighter flavours. Another side note was that we accompanied our meal with orange wine - another thing that was new to me, being at the beginning of my wine journey (and not an overly common item on wine lists in Melbourne). I can say that if you haven't tried it, you should. Being a somewhat niche product it's pretty unlikely that it would have been produced by a low quality wine maker, and its flavour profile is really quite interesting. If you're wondering, no, it's not made from oranges - the production process makes the wine orange, just as Rosé is pink. You might think it would be sweet, but it starts with an exceptionally dry mouth feel, before leaving a complex lingering flavour of musk and rosewater. Overall I highly recommend giving Sezar a try, particularly if you're after something a little different, or a fine dining experience that is light and fresh. I'll also definitely be on the look out for more Armenian restaurants. read more

Had the pleasure of celebrating a friend's birthday at Sezar. As we were quite a large group we didn't have the option to eat a la carte we went for the banquet option including the desert tasting plate. All the dishes were really well presented and the timing of food serving provided us a constantly flow of food and drink. I thoroughly enjoyed each dish and the dessert tasting plate was the icing on the cake! For all the Melbourne foodies out there I would recommend trying out Sezar. read more

I love this place. If you are ever stuck for a group booking and need a flavour filled banquet meal this is the spot. They are more than happy to cater for people who have food allergies or intolerances. The eight courses were fab and so was the wine lost. The only thing is I really don't need rose water on my dessert! This is out fourth visit and we will be back. read more

Sezar Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I thought dinner here last night was spectacular. The drinks were perfect, service attentive and food was delicious. We had the hummus with brown butter (omg so good), the Boreg with spinach and feta, the ocean trout and the lamb with sides. This was plenty for 3 people. Small restaurant cozy but not too noisy... perfect for any occasion catching up with friends or family or as a couple. read more

Gosh I love this restaurant. It is no wonder it is rated so highly. Last night was my third time here and what a great night it was. Two couples went and we all had a wonderful evening. The food and wines were absolutely superb. We had the $69 banquet and loved every single mouthful. Hard for me to nominate special dishes because I loved them all. Beautiful food, superbly presented. Bouquets for the waiting staff too. They're wonderful. Efficient, calm and very friendly. Our main waitress was a young woman from Colombia and what a lovely person she is. I struggle to find any faults at all with Sezar. Maybe a small one is that it can get very noisy. But it's a small thing really. Sezar has everything else in near perfect harmony. read more

Sezar Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Ok, when we talk about hidden gems this is one of those places ! Tucked away in a dark laneway u wouldn't even know it was there ! Food is sensational and very tasteful, service beyond exceptional and waiters all friendly! Best part, meat is Halal !!! Will be coming again !!! read more

Sezar Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Sezar has been open for a year now and getting better and better. In the last week or so they've opened the upstairs area. Last night we were seated upstairs. Forgot to mention this lovely restaurant is located at the end of an alley off Russell street. Very Melbourne! confuses and then impresses friends when you turn down this alley and lead them through this doorway. It was a little noisy (and completely packed) so probably not the place for an intimate date. Now to the food. Which was scrumptious as alway. We chose a quote a few dishes and shared between three. My favourite was Spanner crab manti which was Armenian dumplings, sumac yoghurt & chilli oil, oh yum! Seriously this was my stand out along with the grain salad which I always order. We also shared the spreads ( see dips), seared Hervey Bay scallops with a smear of cauliflower purée. I really liked the cauliflower with the scallops but while the whole dish was D-lish, I thought for my tastes the scallops were a touch over done. We also had the Spinach and feta boreg and croquettes. For dessert which we could not have overlooked, we choose the tasting plate and we were not disappointed. We each had our favourites from the tasting plate. Mine was the chocolate ganache, a friend cant go past the baclava for the salted caramel another friend favoured the semolina cake. We all left happy. I thought it was reasonably priced but we did apply an entertainment book card which considerably reduced the price. Oh forgot to mention the oh so scrumptious cocktail I tried The Sezar Express. I would always recommend Sezar but you need to book. On a final note the wait staff and lovely. read more

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Great - but avoid pork ribs Fabulous everything - but avoid the pork ribs which were nothing - nothing - but fat. Maybe it's our American palate needing more meat than fat - so slap me - but we found these ribs to be completely inedible. Wonderful shoulder of lamb, wonderful zuchinni fritters, We had something that was close to spanokapitas - delicious. But avoid the fatty, inedible pork ribs read more

This was an amazing experience. We chose to have the banquet with paired wines. Jess our sommelier was a delight and made amazing choices for the food. We will definitely be back. read more

The manager was rude, refused us moving to a table that was empty, and not interested in making us feel welcome or happy. The food was very average. read more

We did the tasting menu for four. Some dishes were out of this world and some were lack luster. If I was reviewing based on the final dish, the lamb shoulder, this would have been a 5star review. read more

Quite ordinary. Too many patrons seated too close together. Having a vibrant energetic atmosphere is fine but not when it is so loud that you can't hear each other talk from across the table. Food was good but a bit overpriced. Can recommend the beef cheeks and the condiment to the lamb skewers - both excellent. The wine service was terrible. Needed to ask four times for a second glass. It came just as the bill arrived! At least one waiting staff short, also the front of house didn't seem to work well - new arrivals with bookings were waiting at the door for about five minutes. We asked to change tables to a vacant one that would have suited us better - apparently this wasn't possible. read more

This place is excellent. Nice selection from small, medium and large sections that are innovative takes on middle eastern themes. I'll be going again next time I am in Melbourne read more