Cafe Zum Zum for comparison to Abla's.. lebanese food

Yes, it is an experience whenever you walk into a Lebanese restaurant.. mostly because of the Banquet menu you get to enjoy slowly, to the Belly dancing on show (read next blog on KanZaman's).

Let's start with Cafe Zum Zum in Carlton and the banquet menu
- Dips
- Tabouleh
- Falafel
- Sambousik
- Lahme B'ajeen
- Morrocan lamb
- Chicken shish tawouk
- Baklava
- Turkish Delight
- Halva
- Lebanese coffee









For $40 per head, it certainly is worth the price for the quality and portion of food you obtain.

I know someone who tried Abla's and done a quick comparison of the two for experience.
- Cafe Zum Zum has male waiters (2 on the night we were there), whilst Abla's has chicks
- Cafe Zum Zum has more dips to start off with
- Zum Zum's chicken is served with sauce all over whilst in Abla's it's a dry version. We agreed it was possibly due to the region to how the dish is prepared that could have made it slightly different.
- Abla's old lady owner comes out and greets all the diners whilst Zum Zum errmm nope.
- At Zum's there a choice of tea, coffee, or lebanese coffee, whereas Abla's doesn't give you that choice. Anyway, I got tea! Lebanese coffee... now if you've never tried this, I heard its super strong.
- Zum Zum does some of the dishes as combined, whilst Abla's does it one by one for each and every item.
- Zum Zum has one extra dessert
- Abla's has the very good bbq chicken wings in its banquet, but Zum's doesn't include it.
- Zum Zum at $40 per head, Abla's I think is slightly more, possibly $50 ph.
- And atmosphere, well Zum Zum is modern with those Shisha pipes on diplay, Abla's is more home style white tableclothed.

The only slight disappointment of the night was the lamb, just a tad dry.

Anyway, thumbs up, service was lovely, atmosphere was busy for a weeknight, my friend said the food is as good as Abla's.

Find it at: 645 Rathdowne St Carlton North VIC ph 9348 0455