Yallah! It is the equivalent in Arabic of 'come on, let’s go. Frequently used by all nationalities in the Middle East, meaning that you would like it to happen and to keep it moving along!
The ESCA Group is keeping things moving along with the latest addition of Henrietta Chicken opening in Melbourne, making it their first Henrietta outside of Sydney. Inspired by the Middle East, built on a dream and ignited by fire, this exciting new Middle Eastern restaurant has opened its doors.
Drawing inspiration from the diverse flavours of the Middle East, Henrietta combines modern Aussie flair with this unique cuisine and brings the heat with fire at the heart of every dish. While the menu will be different for Melburnians, all those iconic things you love about Henrietta (think: the falafel, the charcoal chicken and the garlic toum) will now be available in their newest 80-seater dining space in the heart of Windsor.
"We knew the next step for ESCA would be to expand to Melbourne and become a part of its vibrant dining scene; it only made sense that Henrietta was the first venue to do so. This new Henrietta is slightly different from the one Sydney-siders know and love and leans more into the refined palates of Melbourne’s elaborate food scene. We found there was a lack of charcoal chicken and we wanted to share the love, but this time in a more elevated way.”, says Ibrahim Moubadder, Co-founder of ESCA Group.
On the menu are Henrietta's famous grain-fed charcoal chicken and classic house condiments. However, Henrietta Melbourne is stepping outside the barriers of simply chicken and adding options like delicate kingfish with baharat and rhubarb or a mouth-watering barramundi fillet alongside saffron marqa and caviar. Sprinkle in some spiced cauliflower with cashew tarator and sultanas, or a classic fattoush salad and finish your meal with ever-so-creamy tiramisfouf, because there’s always room for dessert.
The unique space has been meticulously designed by renowned Melbourne architects, Russel and George, who were inspired by the richly layered cultural and literal landscapes of Lebanese tradition. From the ancient to the modern, the design draws upon abstracted traditional and gothic motifs and entwines them into a reflective atmosphere that transports the customer into a simple sunset of deep, bold blues and rich golden oranges, paired with the Middle Eastern dishes on their tables.
The ESCA group is no stranger to Middle Eastern cooking with its AGFG Chef-hatted restaurants, Aalia (14) and Nour (13), both fine examples of bold Middle Eastern cuisine.
To visit either Melbourne or Sydney Henrietta’s, click here.
