Avi’s Kantini

Steering well clear of traditional pub grub, Avi’s Kantini is bringing the pide, pita, and pints combo to your Newtown night out.

Come hungry with a group of mates and work your way through meze treats like Turkish lamb flatbread with hot pepper paste and baba ganoush; oozing baked saganaki cheese with honey, pistachio, and rose; and crispy chickpea falafel with muhammara and pomegranate. And of course, endless flavours of hummus, olives, garlic toum, and za’atar aplenty.

Next comes a dedicated pide menu where you’ll choose from fennel and tomato, potato and feta, or spicy merguez sausage with pumpkin, goat’s cheese and molasses. Finally, for sharing or just for your ravenous self, you’ll find mains like fish güvec with couscous, fennel, tomato, capsicum, and chilli; charred lamb shish with yoghurt, pickled hot chillies and sumac onion salad; or pita stuffed with sesame fried chicken, tabouli, pickles, cabbage, garlic toum, and Turkish peppers.

If you’re struggling to decide or you’re after a feast of every flavour, we recommend opting for the banquet ($45pp), which can also be done 100% plant-based. And don’t worry if you’re still looking to watch the footy in the front bar or some live music upstairs; you can order from the new menu anywhere in the three-storey venue.

But what good would a brand-new food menu be without some cocktails to match? Curated by Ed Loveday (ACME, Bar Brosé), keep the Eastern Mediterranean flavours flowing and try the “Nar” with vodka, pomegranate, sumac, falernum and lime; or the “Rezene” with Arak, elderflower liqueur, fennel, and Prosecco.

Image credit: Avi's Kantini