“Shuk” is the Israeli word for market,and there is something of the bazaar in the rousing ebb-and-flow energy of this restaurant. There’s live music from time to time,plus candles,challah and blessings to call in the Jewish Sabbath on Friday nights.

Weekend bake sales turn brunch into a crumb-scattered occasion. The sumac-spiced Machneh Yehudah margarita is named after a market in Jerusalem,and comes jazzed up with a pickled pepper. A platter of dips holds hummus studded with chickpeas,smoky baba ghanoush and labne laced with zaatar oil.

Shepherd’s pie with minced lamb and a drizzle of tahini offers multiple layers of comfort,while shaved zucchini with green chilli relish is vibrant and zesty. And the mood? Laidback,welcoming and warm.

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Melbourne’s Southern Suburbs

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