We’re certain that if our grandmother held the reins of her own restaurant, she’d take over the local food scene in a heartbeat. For brothers Ash and Daniel, and their parents Steven and Pooran, they’re putting their money where their mouth is – pooling their collective knowledge to open a family restaurant centred on Pooran’s recipes. After quickly securing a heritage-listed spot on Coronation Drive – the former home of famed restaurant Joseph Alexander’s – the family set about cleaning and restoring the venue to its former glory. Soon thereafter, Momani’s started to take shape. Named after Pooran’s nickname given to her by her grandchildren, the restaurant boasts a lavish ground-level dining area complete with glittering chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Brisbane River. Upstairs, patrons can find a beautifully appointed bar, piano lounge and more seating overlooking Momani’s Coronation Drive surrounds. Although featuring a refined interior aesthetic, Ash and the family have worked to ensure the space was accessible and inviting – with a family-friendly vibe and a menu of wholesome food ensuring everyone is comfortably catered for.
As anyone with a grandmother that expresses her love by feeding you can attest, the portion sizes at family dinners are rarely small. The same can be said about Momani’s menu, which has reportedly caught out many patrons with eyes bigger than their stomach. This is a good problem to have, as buyer’s remorse is impossible when you’re full to the brim. Under Momani’s supervision, the kitchen team has imbued a range of disparate influences from Turkey, Syria and other regions of the Middle East and the Mediterranean sea, distilled into a menu of sharable eats that resemble a home-style banquet once assembled. Dips, marinated olives and dolma lead proceedings, accompanied by fresh bread baked in-house. Entrees such as soft-roasted eggplant, jewelled rice and marinated lamb fillet are followed by a series of mezze platters, piled high with falafel, chargrilled king prawns, Momani’s specialty kofta and a mixed grill of lovingly cooked meats. The menu is set to expand further as Momani’s settles into its groove, with new twists and specials to be added with regularity. Daniel is heading up the bar offering, with a range of cocktails imbued with fun and flavour. Mediterranean twists are incorporated across the range, with the likes of pomegranate and cucumber adding a vibrant dose of colour.
Momani’s is currently undergoing a soft launch. For contact and booking details, check out the Stumble Guide.
