Scheherezade

Ph: (03) 9534 2722; 99 Acland St, St Kilda 3182

eastern european, $$ -
Open 7 days 9am-late; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $6 bottle; AE, BC, DC, MC, V

Mietta's Review
In the mornings the old folks come here to meet, have a coffee and talk Yiddish. Lunch and dinner are for hearty eaters and lovers of traditional Jewish food. Writers like to sit in a corner, soak up the atmosphere and get inspiration. Some even bring their portable computers and set up office. This is not strictly encouraged by the owners who prefer to sell cheesecake (huge slabs of mother's original recipe), schnitzels (the biggest and best in town, they say) chopped liver and borscht. Paul Grabowksky loves the schnitzels from (dieticians') hell, fried in chicken fat and the menu which never changes. Scheherezade was the first restaurant in Acland Street and it's still there, "it remains a rock in this ever-changing sea" says one regular. The decor has been preserved from the 50's and the sketches which a local artitst did of the clientele (some from paper napkins) are now framed for posterity and hang on the walls. But history in this special St Kilda place is not a dead thing, it is celebrated by a continuing tradition. Each new generation celebrates here and enjoys the comfort food of tradition, Rhonda Galbally's mother used to bring her to eat cake and Rhonda, in her turn, brings Megan, her grown up daughter (now graduated as a doctor). BF says "we grew up on schnitzels and the home style kitchen of this restaurant makes it perfect for small children. Lots of simply cooked vegetables, schnitzels, boiled chicken and meat, cholent (casseroles) and potato latkes (with jam or icecream for dessert). It's more likely to produce a little vegie or chicken puree for an infant than any other kitchen I can think of."

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "Scheherazade is like visiting a cantankerous old aunt. She's grouchy, but after the first spoonful of her chicken soup with kreplach (dumplings), you know she loves you"

The Age,Epicure,8/6/04,Kirsty Manning-Wilcox,'The servings are large,though fresh continental rye bread can be requested for dunking.This is soul food at its best.'

Cheap eats 2000, 2.5.00, Epicure, 'the cheap short list'. "Best place that defies foods fashion and ignores food snobs, for chicken soup, schnitzels and the rest of the European comfort repertoire. Some things never change, thank heavens."