I really feel for people in the hospitality business. While I enjoy eating out and do it a lot, who am I to judge? 

As an amateur ‘food critic’, I found my experience at Maha to be regretfully underwhelming. That is no fault of the staff – service here is impeccable and they really do everything to make you feel special; It is both unobtrusive and personable. 

Venue wise, I’m not so sure. Looking at the newest photos uploaded by Maha here on Zomato, you’re given the impression that it’s a light and airy space. In reality, it’s subterranean. The dark mirrored walls, the wooden slats cut at 45 degree angles hanging from the ceiling, the street art mixed with Arabic – they all gave me a slightly 80s vibe. It is definitely luxurious, just unexpected. 

Ultimately though, it was the food that affected my experience the most. It is most definitely not bad but at the same time, I know I will struggle to remember it with the passing of time. I’m not sure why. I enjoy Middle Eastern food but I think it’s at odds with the fine dining experience I had. Where I expected generous and bold, I got paired back and refined. 

Unfortunately just not to my liking despite the obvious hard work and pride goes into this place.

Location

CBD, Melbourne