Henrietta

The Verdict

Henrietta, a cherished Sydney favourite and Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant that opened back in 2020 is expanding to Melbourne, in the hub of Windsor. Nestled in Melbourne’s Chapel Street, Henrietta is making its mark with a more diverse and elevated menu. 

“We are pushing the boundaries a little bit more with items on Melbourne’s menu,” says co-owner Ibrahim Moubadder (ESCA group).

With Melbourne offering nostalgic childhood memories for Ibrahim and Chapel Street mirroring the essence of Surry Hills, Ibrahim saw an opportunity for Henrietta to flourish interstate.

“People are really friendly and it's a cool street. There's a lot of really good restaurants, a lot of bars, and a lot of really cool clothing and artsy shops. I love the uniqueness of the street,” says Ibrahim.

Spearheaded by two hospitality veterans, Ibrahim and Jorge Farah (Aalia and Nour), Henrietta’s menu is inspired by the owner’s Middle Eastern heritage. While Melbourne’s menu may differ from Sydney's you can still expect to see staple dishes including, smokey charcoal chicken, hummus with cuttlefish Maghmour and falafel with tahini and pickles. 

“You shouldn't mess with falafel. If you wanna make falafel, it should be the best falafel. The same goes for hummus and charcoal chicken, we've focused on ensuring that the classics are really well done and worked refining them,” says Ibrahim.

While Henrietta specialises in everything charcoal from Lebanese-style chicken, served with garlic toum and Lebanese bread, to octopus and veggies, its menu has some Aussie charm. This is reflected in dishes such as Fatteh-style prawn rolls — a take on crowd-favourite lobster rolls, Barramundi fillet accompanied by saffron Marqa and caviar as well as duck koftas.

Henrietta is putting a spin on the traditional Tiramisu, with its dessert Tiramisfouf. Inspired by Ibrahim’s mother’s favourite sweet, Sfouf— a Lebanese turmeric cake, Henrietta’s version sees sponge cake soaked in Arabic coffee paired with a silky Ashta cream.

The drinks menu which has been meticulously curated by ESCA Group Bar Manager, Mark Anderson, also honours the owner’s Middle Eastern roots with Henrietta’s signature cocktail that stars Arak, a Middle Eastern liquor paired with Four Pillars Gin, cucumber and pear, making for a refreshing aperitif. While Henrietta’s wine list is concise, it mirrors its menu, offering Australian and Middle Eastern wines from the Yarra Valley to the Levantine coast. 

Ibrahim and Jorge have collaborated with agency, Russel and George (Yakimono and Society)  to design the distinctive 80-seat diner that was influenced by the colours of the Middle East—deep blues and rich terracottas representing the sunsets, making for an enticing dining atmosphere.

To celebrate the opening the team are slinging out 100 free pitas and for whose miss out can cash in on a 50% discount for the entire takeaway menu. Find out more of the details here. 

Image credit: Henrietta (supplied)