Abla's

Always wanted to try this place out as I read somewhere that it's a hidden gem and I did not get disappointed. Food was absolutely delicious and price was reasonable, we still had some to take home. Staff were lovely and super love the place and the ambiance - quiet and relaxed. Perfect place for an intimate date night. Don't forget to order their tea and desserts!

ORDERED:
🦕 Mixed dips: combination of
labnee (home-made naturally thickened yogurt),
hummous (Chickpeas blended with tahini, garlic and lemon juice) and
baba gannouj (smoked eggplant blended with tahini, garlic and lemon juice) ($20.00)
🥔 Lebanese Potatoes/Batata Harra: Potatoes fried with garlic, coriander, chilli and salt ($15.00)
🥗 Fattoush: A green salad with radish, tomato, cucumber, capsicum and Lebanese fried bread ($18.00)
🍢 Lahem Mishwee: Two skewers of lamb fillets, marinated and grilled, served with tabouleh ($32.00)
🏺 Jug of limonda: Home-made lemonade with rose water ($14.00)

It was $40.60 for my portion!

REVIEW:
The food was fantastic. It was filling and flavourful. A couple of my favourite F words 🥰.
Shoutouts are for the mixed dips with its refreshing olive oil and its generous pita servings which you can request for more once it runs out! Then, the crispy lebanese potatoes which isn't shy with its spices, and the fattoush with its crispy fried bread.
I think fried food has a soft spot in my stomach 🤣.

💓 It's great food to share between friends, with a jug of limonda refreshing to have with our food.
The food in general gives home cooked food vibes without compromising on the restaurant quality!

Abla's has tight steep steps and I'm unsure if there's accessibility access.
The area is well decorated with a bathroom upstairs as well.
When you go, it's worthwhile booking at Abla's because they get PACKED out! 📕

Visited Abla’s with a large group for my birthday and I couldn’t recommend it more! The staff were all so lovely and accommodating and the food was insanely good! If you haven’t been to Ablas yet you are missing out!! Thanks again for the lovely meal, we will definitely be back :)

Must have been 25 to 30 years since I last went there, and the food offerings are still wonderful. Really enjoyed our meal and must go back more regularly.
My only request is that they put on a Zero% beer (Please Rae).

Was finally able to attend this gorgeous restaurant after receiving so many recommendations and it did not disappoint! Food was sensational, portion sizes generous and service was amazing. Food made with love! Can’t wait to return :)

Fairly unassuming place from outside. Food was flavoursome and authentic flavours. Drinks and dishes arrived timely and service was great. Atmosphere is bland however, if you’re going there for food & enjoy the company of you are with, (you can talk easily and hear each other without background noise) great place and you will not be disappointed.

Ablas is warm, cosy and feels like home. It was perfect for date night. The food reminded me of my grandmothers home cooked meals, so nostalgic. Even walking to the bathroom I was able to peak into the kitchen and see the ladies cooking our food with love. Super authentic. Staff were very friendly and made us feel very comfortable, even bringing us a chair to leave our things on to save space since it is quite small and cosy. Will definitely be returning with my family!

Food was delicious, fresh, truly a "home cooked meal" experience (but way nicer 😋), the portions very generous and the service super friendly!
I must say, though we ate A LOT, neither of us complained about stomach issues (we usually do) not even our gluten intolerant party member.
Recommend!

One of my favourite places in Melbourne. Had my first proper experience of Lebanese food there about 3 years ago and I have loved it ever since. Ablas is truely one of a kind. Can be very busy but it’s lovely to see a small family business running for so long. I recommend it to everyone I know.
Definitely must order the Lebanese Potatoes or Fattoush they are outstanding. The Almaza beer is also so delicious, or the homemade lemonade, sweet yet tart at the same time.
Staff are always welcoming and happy to accommodate, they’ve even squeezed me in on a table for a quick dinner before another booking bc I was silly and forgot to book a Friday night!

I love their chicken and rice dish - such intricate beautiful flavors! Every dish was great and baklava and halawa desserts too. Highly recommend for a dinner. The prices were good too and the service was friendly and quick.

Absolutely amazing food! We'll definitely be coming back for more. We've found our favourite Lebanese restaurant in Melbourne ☺ the service was great and not too over the top or pushy like some restaurants these days. Everything tasted like home-made food. The Makaneek were some of the best ones I've had. All the meat was very tender and juicy. And price point was very good too.

I once took a date here and as he ate a hefty forkful of the smoothest labneh, the crispiest garlicky most out of this world potato, crunchy fresh fattoush and succulent shish ta wouk.. He actually shed a tear. I have been to Abla’s many times - come rain, come shine - come jam packed bustling excited atmosphere, come calm blissful afternoon.. It is ALWAYS absolutely delicious. The staff are a powerhouse team of women who are always kind, welcoming and at the ready to go above and beyond for you even when the restaurant is jammed to the rafters. It’s a classic for a reason, there is no better Lebanese in Melbourne!

Best and most authentic Lebanese restaurant in Melbourne. Family run and filled with love, Ablas makes everyone feel right at home!!

A fantastic culinary experience. Each dish was a standout in it's own right. I would highly recommend this place if you want to experience something special.

The BEST Lebanese food in Melbourne by far!!! Had such an amazing experience here- the staff are so lovely and accomodating, will definitely be coming back 🙌

Had an absolute delicious meal! Couldn’t fault a dish! Will definitely return

We'd been craving great Lebanese food ever since we visited Lebanon three years ago, and we finally found it at Abla's. There was plenty to choose from and a lot of variety. I can highly recommend the mixed dips, the fattoush salad and the baked cauliflower entree. With the addition of Arak and Lebanese wine, I was very satisfied. It's a little on the pricey side for us, so it was a treat.

Great food and cozy atmosphere, excellent service and vibe from the staff, Archie was especially great!

I hadnt been out for Lebanese cuisine for a long time. This was so good. Great variety of dishes. Also I ask for the aircon to be put on and they sorted it out right away. Really lovely staff and great atmosphere. Also the dry Prosecco is excellent.

Went to Abla’s tonight and the food and service was amazing. We sat upstairs and two of the waitresses we had we very attentive and super helpful. It was so lovely to see such good customer service again! Food was also delicious and great value. We ordered the banquet and literally rolled out of the restaurant!