Sandiso Ngubane

Food
Mezepoli at Melrose Arch offers a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine with a wide variety of meze delights, seafood, salads and meat dishes. To kick off your dining experience, the selection of olives – calamata, throubes and more – plus cheeses and dips may be a good starting point before you venture into the mouth-watering main course options.

As the name suggests, the menu is built for meze and encourages sharing. From souvlaki skewers – beef or chicken cubes – grilled on an open flame to yiros, which are strips of beef schwarma, and homemade meatballs, the meat options are splendidly mouth-watering. Other meat options include chorizo, prosciutto and soutsoukakia meatballs. The three grilled lamb chops, seasoned with salt and oregano, are a satisfying and flavourful alternative.

If you prefer seafood, the line fish is a menu favourite; while other tasty options include tangy baby octopus with a lemon dressing or mussels sautéed in their shells with fresh tomato, white wine, feta and a bit of chilli. For vegetarians there’s no shortage of options, as Mezepoli offers a wide variety of meze selections that include black beans, piquant cabbage, spanakopita or chickpeas with pasta rice with a hint of chilli, among others. Side offerings include chips, pita (thin or double-layered options) and crispy pita grissini (also available as a whole-wheat option).

The dessert menu is rather limited. The baklava, crushed nuts in a phyllo pastry with lemon zest and cinnamon syrup, comes highly recommended and doesn’t disappoint.

Drinks
The abundant wine list will make any wine-lover happy, with options from vineyards including La Motte, Ataraxia, Badenhorst, Rust En Vrede and Anthonij Rupert in the offering. There’s also a short list of cocktails and local craft beers, in addition to champagne and sparkling wine options like Laurent-Perrier, Moët & Chandon and Taittinger.

Service
From the moment you walk in, the staff at Mezepoli not only make you feel welcome, but also seem able to keep their eyes on the ball, with managers often coming onto the floor to help as and when needed.

Ambience
Vibrant Melrose Arch already provides a vibey atmosphere that filters into the restaurant, which has both indoor and outdoor tables. It’s lively, but quite conducive to family and other large outings. Do make a reservation early, as the establishment is quite popular. It’s upmarket but in no way intimidating.

And…
Mezepoli offers a set-menu service for functions and all types of celebrations.

(2018)

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.