Shakahari At Clarendon

We visited again for dinner on Saturday night. Sensational food, very inventive and tasty, friendly staff and good for vegans and vegos. I’d happily take carnivores here too.

I happened to be walking down Clarendon street when I saw a sign for Shakahari and noticed it was a vegetarian restaurant. I checked out the menus outside and it sounded good so I headed in.
I had a wonderful time and am so glad I went in! The food was fantastic, very fresh and flavorful. I had and recommend both the Green Papaya and the Satay Shakahari. The portions were good sized so I was very full by the time my meal was over. I wish I had the stomach for the dessert because it sounded great as well. The prices were well within Australia’s high range, high but not extravagant.
The service was also great. I didn’t catch the names of the waiter or bartender but both were very friendly and helpful.
I will certainly return the next time I’m in Melbourne, thanks for a great time!

I wish I could tell you what the food is like but was unable to eat. As someone who needs to avoid gluten for medical reasons, I was excited to try the restaurant as there were many options listed as gluten free. I called the restaurant shortly before my visit and was told that they use the same oil to fry the gluten free items as they do the non gluten free. they should not be allowed to call their food gluten free if it’s being contaminated with gluten! (Some of us get REALLY ill if we eat gluten, so I was NOT impressed). The chef said I could have pasta and that would be made fresh and separate from gluten, however as I don’t like pasta I decided I’d have the gluten free icecream. when I turned up at the restaurant they couldn’t guarantee that was gluten free either. I sat there drinking wine watching my friend eat instead. I certainly wouldn’t go back and given my experience, doubt my friend will either. Only good point was the chef at least was upfront when I asked. If you have celiac disease and relied on the menu, you may very well get violently ill. I think this restaurant either needs to make their food completely gluten free, or remove ‘gluten free’ from the menu. Not impressed.

I attended a business lunch with a few mates and a few of vendors yesterday. After strolling past many of the great restaurants on Clarendon (which are myriad), at the suggestion of my friend who’d eaten there previously, we decided on Shakahari.
I should explain that I do love veg, and that many, MANY years ago in my youth I was a vegetarian, however I was a bit crestfallen at the thought of eating vegetarian that day, as I had my mind set on seafood and am always in the mood to indulge my carnivorous leanings. That said, I’m also typically in the mood for a new food adventure, which turned out to be a good thing, because instead of a veto I capitulated. And I must state that I owe a debt of gratitude to my friend, he couldn’t have made a better suggestion.
Everything on the menu that day looked intriguing, but the lasagna was what caught my eye from the get-​go. To make a long story short, all of our party ordered something different, and after a brief wait filled with active conversation, things got quiet with the quickness once the food arrived. Spaghetti, lasagna, laksa, tofu satay and biriyani were all devoured in short order. And I can say without risk of hyperbole that my lasagna was the best lasagna I’ve ever eaten in my entire life, protein or no protein. And it was not only vegetarian, but vegan and gluten free; all of which are qualifiers that aren’t important to me, but made the dish all that more impressive due to the constraints that they place upon a chef to deliver rich and nuanced flavours. The hot and cold salad elements served with the meal were equally impressive.
I can’t wait to return to sample the rest of the fare I witnessed at our table that day, as well as the rest of the menu.