Had a wonderful evening here. We had the set menu with paired drinks. Loved the atmosphere and the team where very helpful, cheery and attentive. I found the food to be very satisfying, simple but very tasty and exciting. Was here for my partner for my birthday and I have a fantastic time.

Have been meaning to come here for years and glad I came to the new Brunswick Village location. Joseph has done an amazing job with the atmosphere and ambience. the staff are all super friendly and special mention to Eddy who welcomed us and Nahuel who took great care of us. We opted for some sharing plates across the small/medium/large categories. the cutides to start were perfect and just the right amount of salt on the cucumbers. radish was super fresh. Makanek, fried cauliflower and quail kofta followed and the makanek dressed in delicious sauce was to die for. We then had the fish of the day (barramundi with tahini sauce), eggplant and batata harra. ended with a few desserts and the baklava ice cream sandwich was very tasty. not to forget that Steve makes and serves his own natural greek wines which are delicious. next time we are back we will try the Lebanese wines. a great dining experience and must try to a different but great middle eastern food. I like that they didn't go down the traditional route but also didn't try to take on some foods that only a teta can make at home.

Rumi was a restaurant located in Brunswick serving Middle Eastern food. We went in as a big group for dinner and got their set menu (~12 dishes at $60pp) and in it were a range of small & large dishes designed for sharing. Their portions were pretty generous, and the dishes were so deliciously flavourful. Loved their dips, their super crispy school of prawns, and their tender lamb shoulder. Service was friendly and quick. Overall an excellent Middle Eastern feast.

Had a great dinner here with my group and the foods were amazing! Booked a table for 12 with Eddy and he greeted us when we arrived. We had a banquet menu and the nice foods kept coming to our table. Lamb shoulder and the chicken wings were my favourites and I don't normally like chicken wings! The cauliflower and the almond rice salad were really good too. Definitely need to check out this place if you like Middle Eastern foods or if you are around the area. Highly recommended!

Heard so many good things about Rumi and was so excited to go. Unfortunately it didn't live up to the the hype. The food was nothing special and very overpriced. Happy to pay good money for tasty food but this was far from that.

We randomly booked for dinner after watching a re-run of an old Anthony Bourdain show. 😜This iconic restaurant did not disappoint. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed like family.💚 The food was sensational and the servings generous. We had cheese cigars, eggplant and lamb shoulder, roasted cauliflower, crunch prawns 🦐 all were all amazing. The lamb fell beautifully off the bone and the eggplant was full of middle eastern flavour . We shared a selection of the deserts as a group of 4 and each was unique and delicious. The baklava ice cream sandwich a standout. The service was friendly and attentive, the restaurant has a great vibe and yet is cosy enough to still be able to have a conversation. Can't wait to return ✈️to Melbourne just to come back to this wonderful venue.

Recently relocated to East Brunswick Village, Rumi is still shining bright. A fabulous middle eastern restaurant in the inner north which has recently launched its own cook book. Don’t leave without getting the cauliflower or the garlic potatoes. Or the Iranian sausages. The whole menu is to die for actually. Oh and the cheese cigars!!

Our starters were delicious. Particularly the prawns, meatballs and batata harra. The prawns were coated in so much seasoning, and when combined with the tahini, it was an explosion of flavour. The meatballs were so soft and the added yoghurt on top was an excellent choice. The batata harra is something you need to order anytime you see it on the menu. Perfectly crispy on the outside and the seasoning is spot on. We were really excited for our mains when we saw how tasty the starters were. Unfortunately they were slightly disappointing. The eggplant was cold (it may be traditionally served that way but I’d prefer warm) and we found it was just too oily. The lamb was too tough to cut but was softer once eaten. The seasoning itself was just okay, it definitely needed the dressing to make it something special. The Iranian dressing consists of honey and vinegar - acidic scent, sweet taste. The barramundi was probably the best main. Crispy skin, tender flesh falling off its bones, and the seasoning was simple but effective. The dessert was okay, I enjoyed the smoothness of the pudding but nothing special. Next time I’d order something different. I still absolutely recommend a visit to Rumi if you get the chance. You are bound to enjoy the bursts of flavours that come through their dishes.

We were fortunate enough to host our company Christmas party in a private function room on the opening night of Rumi’s new restaurant. The taste, portion size and speed at which food was served was absolutely perfect. We unfortunately didn’t get to capture too many photos of the food because the team all sat down and ate so quickly – something that is not always easy to achieve amidst the chaos of a staff Christmas party. The service was phenomenal as well, with not an empty glass in sight all night and great accommodation for those with dietaries. Beyond that, the Rumi team took great care of us in the lead up to the party, providing us with constant communication and offering to assist in taking our event to the next level – from providing us with AV equipment, a dedicated event team on the night, personalised decorations and menus, and take-home gifts for guests. Thank you, Rumi, for a very memorable night, we will certainly be back!!!

A truly immersive Middle Eastern restaurant, Rumi Brunswick fully deserves it’s high rating. With a strong customer focus, the vibrant, “buzzing” atmosphere instantly transports customers to the Middle East. The food is incredibly delicious and comforting, with a choice of small, medium or large sharing plates, complemented by a comprehensive beer and wine list. It's no wonder Rumi is considered one of the best restaurants in the city. We’ll be back for sure!

This is a nice place to visit for big groups as they gave decent sharing serves. I ordered the Vegetarian banquet menu and the quality of the food was exceptional. All salads were so well balanced. My fav were the pita salad and the roasted cauliflower. Thank you for an awesome meal.

One of the best Middle Eastern Restaurant north of the Yarra. Super tasty food made everything in-house served in a rustic fashion. The food is to share so a bigger group is better to try more items on the menu. We were a group of 11 and had their banquet which had small sharing plates with enough food to fill everyone including the teenagers up. The wine and drinks list is also great to cater for all. A must try.

Those place has stood the test of time from when they had there fist restaurant to were they are now. The arabesque style food starting with the home made dips to the meats which are grilled and a assortment of other dishes in between, also the dessert we had must be tried even if you think you have eaten to much. If you like this review please like and share.

amazing food.. really good and fresh.. really love the place, the waiters are knowledgeable and friendly.

Rumi is open and as delicious as ever. I highly recommend dropping in on one of their amazing Sarafian Sunday Sessions. We did the Tacos Arabes this weekend and it was bueno 👌

Truely authentic Middle Eastern food only it is better than I initially thought. The lamb shank is a must have if you are taking the trip to the place. The Freekah Salad was a piece of art if I am being modest: with freshness bursting in my mouth with every spoon. My constructive feedback is spaces and seats available. It was fully booked on Tuesday night (perhaps talks to the quality of the food and popularity) but seriously I expect them to expand the place. So 5 stars for the food, hospitality and value for money but team at Rumi if you want to make more people happy more tables are needed ( I dined at the bar table...)

One of the greatest experiences you'll get in Melbourne, but I didn't like when they kicked us out in a nice way for others to sit in. However, worth trying of course.

Visited Rumi yesterday and we realised after sitting down that our movie booking was a lot earlier than expected. Our waitress was amazing and so accommodating and we got our food within a matter of minutes after she spoke to the kitchen and explained our situation. We mostly just tried the cold entrees so definitely will be back to sample the rest of menu which we have heard great things about. The cocktail on arrival was a nice touch and tasted great as well.

This has always been one of my favourites. I was particularly impressed with the customer service when we had them cater our event. Even though they made a mistake with two of our dishes, the staff went to great lengths to immediately provide a solution. Greatly appreciated. And the servings were also quite generous given the quality.

Amazing tasting menu! Food here was incredible, with service to match. We got the tasting menu which had us bursting at the seams by the time we were done, definitely recommend! (The add on for the fish of the night was the best decision we made ever! So good)

Can I give 10 stars for service? Lucy was amazing - her smile and beautiful manner made our evening! The food was awesome- we had the banquet which had varied plates - it’s too hard to pick a favourite dish! All the staff were great, food five star - this lead to a memorable night! Thank you!

Really nice atmosphere, with tasty food! The wine/beer pairing was a great choice! Our favourite was the cigar sticks!

The food here was delicious! We had ordered the chicken skewers, lamb shoulder, Persian pilaf and lamb meatballs. It is so lovely to see that they have the lamb meatballs options for those who don’t eat beef. The service was really friendly. The food took a little bit of time to be served. However, when it did arrive it tasted freshly made so well worth the wait! The aesthetic of this place is well done! I like the interior decor. I think they did a good job of trying to capture a part of the essence of the Sufism and Rumi’s poetries.

Was seated outside for dinner. The seating initially felt uncomfortable as the bench was a bit far from the table to my comfort level and so for my friend, but once we got indulged in the food, we did not notice that at all. Great vibes, was a perfect weather to be seated outside for dinner. Enjoyed all the dishes, the dessert and my mocktail. Good service as well!!

We had the banquet and it didn't disappoint. Lots of small-medium servings and they were all delicious. The staff were welcoming and made us feel comfortable. And oh my gosh, the cauliflower dish was amazing!

Checked out Rumi on a Saturday night. Banquet seemed like a good mix of dishes and a good deal, so we went for that with the drinks pairing. Starters were solid with the Sigara Boregi being the highlight - nice and crispy fired phyllo dough with a melted cheese filling. Dips were quite good too. Second course was a little hit and miss. The 'Persian meatballs' didn't really scream Persian to us - more like something you'd find at your local trattoria. They were served in what was basically a marinara sauce which drowned out the presumably Persian style seasoning of the meatballs themselves. The fried cauliflower was well done - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and went well with the caramelised onion garnish. Cabbage salad had a nice tang that played well with the other dishes and the wine. Overly not a very middle eastern course. There’s an adage in sports that ‘your best players need to be your best players’. That held true with the mains. The lamb shoulder was the star of the whole meal - super tender, nicely spiced and a good charr on the outside. The spice mix used for the chicken wings was amazing but a bit let down by the wings being slightly over-cooked. Overall really good though. A little block of Turkish delight was a nice way to cap off the meal, plus the Pennyweight Gold dessert wine was an really interesting touch - tasted a bit like a cinnamon donut or even pancakes with maples syrup. I'd never had a wine like this before, but I actually didn't mind it. The drink pairings were a steal at $30 for four drinks, and the service was good, albeit a bit too eager to clear our plates and glasses. Overall, Rumi was a great dining experience with standout dishes and great value for the Banquet option.

Exquisite food and fantastic service. I have been a few times over the years and it’s consistently been a great experience. Their Turkish delight martinis are to die for!

We did the 'Feed me' menu option, which I definitely think is the way to go for your first time here. So many drink options, the signature Rumi Cocktail was so refreshing and perfect to pair with every meal we tried. The lamb was our highlight, and the only let down with the food, was we thought the pita bread served with the dips would be warmed, however this did not take away from how delicious and flavourful each of the dips were. Finally, if you go for the 'Feed me' option, then definitely opt-in for the Fish of the day also, you won't be disappointed.

Amazing food and great service. We ordered 5 dishes and 2 drinks - all up $120 - very worth it. We ordered: Entree: Sigara Boregi. Mains: Caramelised eggplant, Mante (turkish dumpling - amazing flavours) and Advieh marinated lamb shoulder (the complementary sauce was amazing with soft tender meat!!),.Dessert: Baklava Ice cream sandwich - great finisher to a beautiful meal - comes as 2 sandwich so great to share with a friend. Drinks: Iced Beirutea (would recommend for Summer - very refreshing. I believe their tea mix is homemade) and Remedy Gin & Tonic. Perfect middle eastern food right in your doorstep. Note: Apologies for the dark photos, the poor lighting was not kind to me.

Delicious HIGH QUALITY food. I don’t even know how they do it. The lamb was falling off the bone, chicken was so succulent. Every dish was 11/10. My fave was the baklava ice cream sandwich. Wow, delicious!! They have really wonderful and attentive staff. Perfect for a really nice date night or dinner w friends. I always enjoy our times out at Rumi. Great atmosphere and always a great experience. Can’t wait for our next visit!

Last night had the vegan banquet for two and OMG haven’t had food so delicious in such a long time. We were late picking our food up as we thought they delivered and they were so accomodating and lovely trying to get us out food! Can’t recommend enough. Five stars doesn’t justify how absolutely marvellous our experience was.

We had a meal delivery via Providoor during lockdown. The food was amazing. The presentation of the pack was excellent, and the preparation required to plate up a delicious meal was very simple. The quality and quantity far outweighed our expectations, and I can’t wait until we enjoy the food from Rumi again, hopefully next time it will be in the restaurant.

We were so lucky to have dinner at this place before the owners went on vacation. If you like a variety of foods, meats, bread and dips then you cannot go wrong having the Banquet menu. I especially loved the dips at the start and the yummy mains. The service was super lovely and the atmosphere inviting. If I had to deduct any points it would be on the dessert. Only turkish delight was the option and it really wasn't to my liking but it's a taste thing more than anything. It would be lovely if there were more dessert options. However, I would certainly recommend this restaurant as a must go to if you ever get the chance. It was absolutely a delightful experience.

Had the meatballs and chicken shish with a side of rice. All dishes were hearty and just out right divine. Cherry cocktail was perfect. Will be back soon

Wonderful night out with the family. Food was incredible, esp the Lamb, Labne and that Cauliflower wow! Staff are all super friendly, can highly recommend, we will be back :)

The classic banquet they have on offer is amazing. The flavor combinations are so well crafted. Love the modern take on Lebanese food while still being firmly grounded in traditional recipes. The lamb shoulder was out of this world good, it just effortlessly falls of the bone! Overall incredible dining experience that I would recommend to anyone. And their cocktails are also very good and unique!

I’ve dined at Rumi twice now, both for bigger group bookings. The service, food and ambiance here is just perfect! From the booking through to settling the bill - the team managing and serving are incredible. Obviously the food is also top notch. But Eddie is just incredible. The communication and flexibility he provided through post-lockdown restrictions was outstanding. And I love that he manages bookings back of house, but then he’s also there to welcome you on the night. It’s that authentic and personal touch that makes you so loyal to a restaurant. Thanks guys!!

The food was great. The flavours were fresh and unique. The service was kind and prompt. We had the $55 banquet but it felt a little rushed in the 90minute time allotment. Was good value for money. Would definitely go back

Delicious middle eastern food with a modern twist. Fresh and full of flavour. Good portion sizes. Excellent service. Very nice vibe. Can’t wait to go back!! Oh, and order the arak! You won’t regret it!

Four of us ate here, excellent fast and friendly service. Great food. Girlfriend was able to have lots of vegan/ vego options. Many Cocktails and good wine options! Must try the mante of the menu!

One of the best food places in Melbourne. I was amazed by the flavors in chicken wing, chicken shish and eggplant. Staff was very friendly and also adjusted dish quantity for our group. Baklava Ice cream sandwich is must have for dessert.

As always , the food is amazing. The eggplant stunning

The staff were lovely, the food was such a beautiful refined middle eastern delight. We had the banquet with the special, which was barramundi with potatoes. The flavours were so well complimented! I had to ask what the little green circles were, but if you want to find out, do yourself a favour and go try it. The cherry mocktail was another example of a perfect flavour combination. Highly recommend this place 🙌🫶 I remembered to take a photo of the lamb and chicken a little late 😅

Lovely food, attentive service. Legit, the food was so tasty. The baklava Ice Cream Sandwich is a must and the banquet is exceptional value. The only downside was that with hard floors and walls, the sound was a little louder than I would have loved. But still manageable for a conversation.

Rumi has a cool menu and good service, but unfortunately it is much too expensive for the quality and amount of food served. I left still hungry and with a huge bill. There are many other restaurants in the area with better value for money.

This gem is a must go! There were dishes so good we ordered a 2nd round! The manager was very friendly and making sure we had a good time. The restaurant was very busy when we were there (Friday night) so booking is highly recommended. My highlight food was the fried cauliflower and the almond tarator. We finished it so quickly & had to order another one instantly. Definitely worth the visit!

Had a Friday night dinner at Rumi recently. You can rely on the food always being great , albeit too salty for my palate. You know the type where you walk up at 2am after dreaming you’re in the desert and need to get up to down an entire glass of water. The atmosphere was good but the service was as minimal as you can get. More like what you see on TV at an American diner. But we were stilled asked to tip. But here is the reason after years of loving Rumi we won’t be going back. The windowless absolutely reeked all evening (for both genders). I’ve subsequently heard that’s the common occurrence. Think fermented cabbage or those yellow urinal things. By the end of the night it permeated into the restaurant. Please sort it out Rumi so you can go back to being the great restaurant you once were.

A great little gem in the heart of Brunswick. Amazing ambience, delicious food and great customer service. Parking could be a bit hassle if you’re visiting in busy hours on a weekend especially. Food is really good, we tried 5-6 dishes and all were amazing. They sell alcohol however their food is mostly Halal suitable. Highly recommended.

Food n Service great. Nicholas did a great job being our waiter for the night. Atmosphere can be done better. When it's crowded, it can become very noisy. However, the food was excellent. It's definitely worth it Also, the cheese cigars for a starter were great but would have been awesome if it was a bit less salty. We still ate them very quickly and didnt have time to take a picture 😁

Have eaten 3 times here before and the food never disappoints. Great for special occasions (and casual eats) - would recommend booking as they get full. Good service, seating in and outdoors. The banquet offers a selection, enough to taste and savour each item - but bring a big appetite!