Sounding distinctly Spanish but serving the food of Morocco, La Paella is a Brunswick stalwart that's been serving up food for more than 20 years. Billed originally as a Spanish restaurant, its current incarnation is the result of owner/chef Abdul's Moroccan heritage and this restaurant is going gangbusters thanks to the energy and enthusiasm that is poured into the food and service every night.
Stepping into La Paella is enough to make you feel as though you're on the streets of Morocco. Ceramics, jewellery and tagines line the walls, complemented by the brightly coloured mats and mosaic-style tabletops that can't help but lend the cheeriest of tones to the small space. Many of these trinkets are available for sale, so bring extra dosh if you're looking to kit your pad out.
Instantly warm and inviting, La Paella is 100 percent halal, which means there's absolutely no alcohol served on the premises. That's right, not a single drop, though judging by the full pages of the reservation book, Melburnians don't seem to have a problem with this.
Food-wise, the traditional Moroccan tagines are among the most flavoursome and tender food going around and if you're lucky enough to snaffle seating in the desert-style kingdom tent outside, you'll consider yourself royalty indeed.
La Paella is a restaurant that is built around solid Moroccan tradition and with its easy hospitality and incredible food, it's well on its way to creating an institution of its own.
Penny Wedesweiler
Open
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Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
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Late
Tue-Sun 6pm-10pm
Moroccan and Spanish
Entree: $3.50-$7.90
Mains: $17.90-$22.50
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and EFTPOS
This venue accepts bookings. Group bookings are supported.
Outside dining area
Wheelchair access
and wheelchair-accessible toilets
What you say about La Paella Spanish and Moroccan Restaurant
All reviews and ratings are the expressed opinions of our users, and in no way reflects the opinions of yourRestaurants, its staff and its affiliates.
Posted by:
ReviewITCafe
|
17 October 2009, 11.06pm
Dissatisfied!
The reviews suggesting that this restaurant was great is what encouraged me to try it out. The standards of those who stated it was a great place are clearly below average. It was a disappointing experience. Service was poor. No friendly greeting or timely delivery in attending to my requests. It took some time before I was attended to. Considering I went with a group of 8 people, you would expect more. I also had the same problems regarding NO water or salt on the tables. The menu wasn't really specific. Moroccan and spanish specialities should be catered for seperately. The food was average, fried cheese was nice but nothing else impressed me. The food did not have the flavour that it should, I was expecting great tasting flavours and spices, but that wasn't what I recieved. It was the service that was most unsatisfactory. For me, this is one of the most imporatnt facctors when deciding on a restaurant to visit on a Saturday night for dinner. If you have good service, your overall experience becomes pleasant, unfortunatly it was far from pleasant. Prices are not too bad, however it is an older looking shop and not a great deal has been spent on the decor, so prices are nothing great bearing this in mind. Really needs improvement on the amount of attention placed on customer service. Chef needs to use more spices and they could certainly update the menu to reflect a better selection of Morrocan or Spanish foods.
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Visit: Sat 17 October 2009
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
jayson213
|
16 October 2009, 3.55pm
Truley Melbourns hidden treasure
After reading the review above i was hesitant to go but i had no choice as the booking was already made, but i was so happy i did, entering the restaurant was breath taking beautifully decorated you would think you were in Morocco.
The waiter greeted us politely and told us that the only table they had available was in the tent i wasn't really keen on the idea of a tent in a restaurant but after viewing it i was really impressed we sat down on a lovely table in the corner of the tent the waiter instantly brought us our tea and menus he even skillfully poured tea in our cups.
We ordered the mixed dips fried cheese and the chicken seafood paella witch takes 45 min to cook but trust me its worth the wait the food is simply a ten out of ten.
the waiters were great very friendly and all have a great seance of humor and deserved the tip i left them. The food is surprisingly cheap considering the quality of the food.
i absolutely recommend visiting this little hidden pearl.
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Visit: Fri 16 October 2009
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Posted by:
stephna
|
22 May 2009, 11.44am
Such wonderful food and flavours!
I went here last night with partner having read both above reviews and it was amazing! The place didn't look as you would expect it to, being very small and cultural.
After ordering the food didn't take too long to arrive. I ordered the ifran chicken and my partner got 2 entrees, the beef raif..and the chicken kebab and we shared a chic pea salad. The flavours were absolutely amazing in the ifran chicken, the pineapple, banana and mash went so well together! And the entrees and salads were light and very healthy!
We got the pastry coated in honey for dessert with ice cream, and one again it was light and extremely delicious! we are excited to go back and sit in the back tent which the owner gladly showed us as we were paying. the prices were just as good!
We will definitely be coming back with friends and highly recommend this cultural place with fabulous flavourous food!
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Visit: Thu 21 May 2009
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
jmurkins
|
4 February 2009, 11.42am
First Night in Melbourne
Wow - this restaurant was incredible!!!
Having moved to Melbourne in Dec, some friends & I walked Syd Rd looking for my first dinning experience. The front part of the restaurant was packed - clearly a good sign. Asked how long it would be before we can get a table & was told there was space out the back.
Upon walking through the back door, we were surprised to see a gorgeous Moroccan tent!! Lots of cushions, lanterns, carpets - very Moroccan!
Quickly served tea & spent about 15mins trying to decide on what to eat - too many tasty choices.
Spent the evening laughing & catching up with friends & getting to know new ones. Our meals arrived quite quickly & the lamb shanks I had were the best I've ever eaten. The meat just fell off the bone & the flavours...wow!! Each of my friends were just as delighted with their meals.
And cheap! Was very surprised when it came to paying the bill. So we gave a thankful tip!
My first evening in Melbourne was one of the best & have taken visiting friends & family back to my little favourite Moroccan tent on many occasions since.
Heading there again tonight for my birthday - simply one of Melbourne's little secrets!
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Visit: Sat 6 December 2008
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
djjasons
|
15 January 2009, 10.53pm
Won't be returning...
After reading the review above we were keen to drop in here for a spot of dinner as it is local and we are fans of Middle Eastern, Moroccan and Lebanese foods. Unfortunately we left very disappointed, the food was below par and the service matched it. After sitting at our table and being given the menu, we were given complimentary mint tea. No water in sight...? We quickly decided on entrees, the warm eggplant and tomato dip, also the garlic mushrooms. Both were extremely oily and had no sign of seasoning at all. When the entrees arrived we ordered our mains, the beef tagine, " sorry we have none ", ok the lamb tagine, " sorry we have none ". This left me with only 1 more tagine on the menu available, the vegetable tagine :( so I ordered the vegetable tagine. My partner ordered the chicken main which sounded a little bit strange on the menu, chicken with caramelised banana, almonds and mashed potato...? We also ordered a cous cous. Whilst eating entrees I thought I would order the chickpea salad and the entree meatballs to go with our mains. We let the waiter know. Before long the chickpea salad arrived, at which point I figured they were sending dishes out as they made them, maybe there was a miscommunication regarding the mains, then the meatballs arrived. We had to ask for salt now as there was none on the table and everything was pretty oily and starting to taste the same. The mains arrived but no cous cous, it never arrived. We then asked the waiter for 2 diet cokes, these never arrived either. Once again the the food had little or no seasoning, the vegetable tagine was full of second rate produce and the chicken dish was an absolute disaster, over cooked mismatched ingredients and just plain wrong. When we went to pay I was left at the desk wondering if anybody even knew we were there. Finally someone came out front but then there was trouble finding the order pad. We were so so disappointed with this meal and service.
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Visit: Thu 15 January 2009
Mealtime: dinner
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