Shiloh

The Verdict

Shiloh’s goal is pretty simple: to be the best restaurant in town. The fact that it’s 100% kosher is really just a bonus.

Restaurateur Assaf Ben David spotted a gap in Melbourne’s overstuffed food market—you can get almost any cuisine known to mankind, but finding really good kosher is tricky. Glick’s bagels is always a winner, and you’ve got Laffa Bar in Caulfield and Shemesh doing some decent pizzas. But really, where do you go for cutting-edge fine dining kosher? That’s not so easy.

Assaf (and business partner Gabi Yitshaki) were inspired by the classy, high-end kosher restaurants in Manhattan. They wanted to bring a similar concept to Melbourne, and Caulfield was the logical choice. Shiloh takes over the spot of the former Limor, twinking out the split-level space with vertical gardens, marble and brass accents, gorgeous mod furniture and a palette of pastel pink.

The menu is Israeli fusion, headed up by talented chef Matthew Butcher (ex Morris Jones). The best way to start is the smoked hummus cigar, dusted with paprika, and a big wodge of housemade babaganoush, served with warm pita bread. The lamb kofta pops, glazed in honey, are also dangerously good.

For mains you can load up on medium-sized share plates like osso bucco shakshuka risotto (try saying that five times fast), chickpea spaetzle or fresh tuna crudo, spiked with harissa and soy. Or head straight for the meatier mains: big f*uck-off dishes like My Lamb Plate (a full shoulder, kofta skewer, chops and ribs—you might need backup) or an epic 500g Rib Eye with marrow and caper dressing.

Trust us: when the waiter comes over with that disarming smile and drops dessert into the mix, say yes. The chocolate and salted peanut tart with gold leaf and nitro passionfruit crumble is the bomb. People around the restaurant will crane and stare as nitro smoke billows off your plate. 

Wash the meal down with a hand-picked selection of local and international kosher wine. There's also some surprisingly good cocktails: Shiloh's signature mix muddles gin with crisp cucumber, rimming the glass with tongue-tickling zaatar. Not a bad combo, that. 

Like we said: you don’t have to keep kosher to enjoy this food. Anyone’s welcome. That’s one of the best things about Shiloh—no matter what your beliefs, everyone loves good food. 

Image credit: Griffin Simm