Shiloh restaurant is set to redefine the Kosher dining experience in Melbourne.
Melbourne’s Jewish centre is a small but lively community in the inner south of Caulfield, St Kilda, and the surrounding suburbs – and the community came out to celebrate the opening of Melbourne’s newest and most exciting Kosher restaurant, Shiloh, this week. If opening night buzz is anything to go by, Shiloh is set to become the restaurant of choice for Jewish and non-Kosher foodies alike!
For over 150 years, the Jewish community has thrived in Melbourne, and a post-war immigration boom saw the population grow to become what is now Australia’s largest Jewish community. However, for the discerning kosher diner, options have been limited to take away joints, bakeries, and a handful of smaller restaurants. With a capacity to host 150 diners, and a menu curated by acclaimed Melbourne chef Matthew Butcher, Shiloh hopes to become the venue for l’chaims (engagement parties), bar and bat mitzvahs, as well as just being a great place to eat great food in good company.
Situated in the former Limor’s building in Kooyong Road, the venue is expansive – with two storeys of seating area, high ceilings, gorgeous glass frontage, and stunning marble and brass accents amping up the chic factor.
Butcher is known for creating traditional comfort dishes with a modern twist, and this ingenuity is on display with Shiloh’s inspired menu. Dishes combine traditional Middle Eastern and Eastern European flavours, reimagined for the modern palate. Think lush flakey filo cigars filled with rich smoked hummus and sprinkled with a deliciously umami olive crumb and you’re on the right track!
I got to sample some of the delights on offer at the opening night tasting, and I was blown away by the dishes. Shiloh is redefining the kosher dining experience, and raising the bar for Melbourne’s kosher scene. Crunchy chickpea chips with black sesame mayo and sesame salt were one of the major hits of the night, and the lamb kofta skewers with a honey glaze and puffed wild rice were flying out of the kitchen and into eager mouths! Duck terrine, topped simply with a tart pickled pickled cherry, was a crowd pleaser, as were the delicious little pastry pillows filled with baba ganoush.
My favourite dish of the evening was the beef tartare with smoked mayo, sliced radish, and sorrel – beef tartare, done well, really is a sublime dish, and Butcher’s interpretation for Shiloh is top notch.
On the liquid front, Shiloh doesn’t disappoint, with a wide selection of kosher wines available as well as some truly unique cocktails. Their signature cocktail is gin based with a refreshing cucumber infused juice, rimmed with a salty and spicy zaatar! It’s definitely worth checking out for those who like to explore new flavours!
Shiloh is open for dinner sittings only at the moment, but will be opening up bookings for functions soon, so next time you’re Southside drop in and sample some of the awesome dishes on offer!