Cafe Chagall

Ph: (03) 9528 1692; 326 Glen Eira Rd, Elsternwick 3185

Australian Modern, $$ -
Open Tues-Sun 4-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-10.30pm; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $4 bottle; AE, BC, DC, MC, V, Seats inside 85, Outside seats 30, Private room 30

Mietta's Review
The quintessentially cosmopolitan Cafe Chagall is a very family-friendly restaurant. With decorative Chagall posters adorning the plainly painted walls, Chagall's menu doesn't appear particularly Jewish, but there are some allusions to both Eastern Europe and the Middle East and it's as close to kosher as an almost kosher restaurant can get. The menu looks structured to avoid non-kosher foods. Pork and shellfish are absent and there is a heavy accent on lamb and chicken, as shashlik or chargrilled and in a range of combinations. There are choices of linguini, vegetarian and chicken, along with the ubiquitous felafel and felafel sandwiches. Although there is no separation of cooking utensils as required under kashruth rules, milk is not used in any of the meat dishes.

Other published opinions

The Sunday Age, 19.03.00 (eatstreets), Jane Faulkner "Basically its a carnivores' paradise. The decor is of the no-frills variety, a few plants the obligatory chagall prints laminated tables and laid back service. However what was sampled on the food frontier ranged from good to very good - in the later category a superbly tender eye fillet wighing in at 300 grams and cooked as requested medium rare. not cheap at $21.90 and we'd prefer half the size at a lower price."

The Sunday Age, 30.01.99, author unknown "You'll find everything here from kebabs, shashilks and falafel to pastas, risottos, steaks and fancy salads...This is hearty, unpretentious food."