Aalia
25 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Restaurant
•Why you'll love Aalia
- Offers guests with a completely private and memorable dining experience with versatile indoor-outdoor venue.
- Serves diners an Arabian nomadic time-travelling odyssey of dishes and offers flexible event packages.
- Convenient location with nearby attractions and easy access to public transports.
AALIA introduces a new perspective on Middle Eastern cuisine, unlike any other restaurant in the world. Our interior organically emerges from Harry Seidler’s original iconic MLC architecture. Our ambition is realised in a space and experience that fluidly blends the past with the now, the interior with the exterior. Sculptural architectural features, tactile materials and furnishings are used in perfect synergy to create intimate and relaxing spaces. The culinary team led by Executive Chef Paul Farag have spent years exploring dishes and techniques from lesser-known regions and coastlines of the Middle East and North Africa. They discovered forgotten ingredients from millennia ago and uncovered recipes from within the pages of 10th-century Arabic cookbooks. AALIA beautifully combines ingredients from across territories and times, contrasting tradition with modern techniques to offer diners an Arabian nomadic time-travelling odyssey of dishes.
Reviews for Aalia
Jacqueline S
Brought one of my best friends here for a birthday lunch and the premium banquet menu was stunning. Every dish was an explosion of flavours and had very good portions of food. Together with prompt, friendly service in a wonderful atmosphere, this restaurant was a winner for us.
Rachel Wong
Food was interesting, not the typical middle eastern as it has an African twist to it. Uni wrapped in sesame leaves was not worth $18 per piece we reckon as u can’t really taste the uni with the rice and the leave. And the sesame leaves was extremely oily. Pita bread and the dips were not bad, except the bread was quite oily too. Cod was pretty normal and the duck was not bad. We tried chocolate and the date for dessert. Chocolate was normal, my friend who tried the date quite like it. Interesting taste but nothing to wow about. Probably good to try it out but don’t think we would come back again.
Inspired4me2You
Excellent food I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. The food is excellent really worth going here for the food. As you know my ratings are about the whole experience. The service is a bit pushy at the start and once the order is in no interest. The location is convenient CBD and looks out onto the water feature of MLC centre. The decor sophisticated and tables nicely set. The tables are a bit too close for comfort and the music a bit too loud to have an easy conversation. I would go here with friends or family of older children not a date place, it just doesn’t have that feel about it. Sitting at the food bar with your bestie or alone would work too. I also think this would be a good pre- theatre place and I know they do a special for this. Toilets a walk away into the Theatre Royal. Love your local guide- M ❤️ Follow me for more reviews
Monica Jan
Friends and I saw good reviews on this Middle East - French fusion restaurant. We decided to give it a try! The food was good, not WOW. We loved the lamb neck, Quail and the bread. However, the services need to be improved. Felt a bit pushy and asked to order more (we ordered a lot) when they should respect customers’ choice. When paying, we were forced to give tips among four options ~$ 32(8%), $40(10%), $52, $60. I believe that customers are more than happy to give tips for good food and services but it should be up to them to decide the amount.
Ajeng Wijiastuti
We had an amazing lunch here. The staff explained the dishes really well, and we went with his recommendation, which was absolutely beautiful, so delicious. This is definitely my favourite restaurant in Sydney. Great atmosphere, excellent service. I look forward to come back
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