Tavlin

The Verdict

Step inside Tavlin’s new location and it’s not hard to see why it’s already buzzing. The easy-going vibe is welcoming and the fit out, by none other than Studio Y, is elite.

Owners Rochelle and Adi opened the first Tavlin six years ago in Caulfield South and had been on the hunt for a Carlisle Street shop front for a while. They landed on the site upon returning from their trip around Israel in April.

With the dream of bringing authentic Isreali street food to Melbourne, we think the guys at Tavlin have nailed it. Take a seat at the bar, or the communal table, and enjoy some sensational flavours and unique dishes.

Co-owner Rochelle says the inspiration for the menu came from their recent trip back to Israel, “we knew we’d be coming back to build this second shop, so we took our time and went all around Israel, finding the best street food. The trip really helped us decide on the menu and make sure we had all the popular flavours covered.”

Everything at Tavlin is made on the day, fresh to order, so you know you’re getting the best of the best, and everything is available to eat in or take away.

The menu is simple but jam-packed with incredible flavours. The hero dish is the Shawarma, which Rochelle describes as “a kebab type meat”. You can have either chicken, lamb or both and can choose to have it in a pita or a bowl, with hummus, tahini, Israeli salad and pickles.

If you’re not feeling the Shawarma, you’ve got a lot of other top-notch options; house-made falafel, fried eggplant, chicken schnitzel and fried cauliflower. Sign us up.

Now let’s deep dive that house-made hummus, “at the Caulfield shop we make about 80kg of hummus a week, and at Carlise Street it's about 100kg,” says Rochelle.

Also worth noting is the loaded fries, which come topped with your choice of chicken or lamb shawarma, or both.

Tavlin also has a great drinks list, featuring some amazing Israeli beers and Rochelle’s favourite, the cold pressed pomegranate juice.

There is one dessert on the menu, and it’s delectable enough to stand alone. Malabi, a traditional rose water dessert, is the perfect way to finish off your meal.  

Sit at the bar, have a chat with the chef, and take in the vibes. With a courtyard opening this summer you can expect Tavlin to be buzzing all week long. 

Image credit: Mel Desa