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Your search for the best pita bread, hummus, falafel, Manakeesh, Turkish coffee and kunafa in Bengaluru ends-here..

Maffei Kitchen in Koramangala is a delicious culinary experience showcasing the rich, authentic, traditional flavours of Lebanese, Moroccan and Greek cuisine with lip smacking Turkish Coffee and Mediterranean desserts. 🤤🥰

Set in a fine-dine ambiance and augmented with warm hospitality, Maffei Kitchen is a beautiful rendezvous to savour bona fide Mediterranean food in Bengaluru to the “initiated and uninitiated”.

Run by Chef Ammar Molki, who back in 2013 introduced authentic, affordable Lebanese food to the masses with Byblos Restaurant, Indiranagar (closed down in 2021) – Maffei Kitchen is the upscale avatar with premium pricing, but great food and service nonetheless.

Must Eat:

Being privileged to have tasted authentic Mediterranean fare in India and abroad – my expectations were high and the food at Maffei aced it!!

Every dish was a MasterClass!!

Starters:

• Fresh Orange Juice: freshly squeezed orange juice –  no water, no sugar – 100% refreshing and tasteful
• Fattoush: Salad with seasonal vegetables and topped with the iconic fried pita bread. Dressing is a simple, zesty vinaigrette and a generous dash of sumac spice giving it a sophisticated and lovely flavour!
• Hummus with Chicken: The best hummus I have tasted in Bengaluru !! A delicious hummus made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and spices topped with sautéed chicken.
• Falafel: I have never appreciated Falafel – since every falafel tastes like our ‘south-indian masala vada’. But man, the Falafel here is so darn delicious and has a unique flavour of fresh herbs, spices and sesame seeds.
• Pita Bread: the best Pita bread ever – baked to perfection❤️. Soft and fluffy on the inside with a slight chew on the outside – absolute deliciousness !!

Main Course:

• Zaatar and Lebnah Manakeesh: a traditional Lebanese flatbread akin to a thin-crust pizza topped with fragrant blend of Zaatar, Olive Oil and Lebnah.
  • This combo is NOT on the menu, but upon request they made this.
• Lebanese Grilled Chicken: boneless chicken marinated with Lebanese spices and charcoal grilled to perfection – super tasty!!

Desserts:

• Classic Kunafa: Masterclass !! Too tasty and not overloaded with sweetness.  A hint of dried rose petals, pistachios, saffron elevated this humble Kunafa into an exquisite one!!
• Turkish Coffee: I am not a black coffee guy – South Indian filter coffee is my thing. But this Turkish Coffee, a thick, slightly spiced black coffee is so delicious, aromatic and vastly thicker than a standard black coffee – loved it!!
  • The Turkish coffee served at the restaurant is brewed by boiling in a traditional copper pot called ‘Cezve’.
  • You can buy the Turkish coffee powder and Cezve copper pot at the restaurant
  • Pro-Tip: Turkish coffee tastes best with no added sugar and when paired with a cheese Kunafa

Useful Information:

• Ambiance:
  • Indoor AC dining (spread on ground & 1st floor) + Bar counter on the 1st floor
  • 1st floor accessible by indoor staircase – no elevator 
  • Best for date-nights, family, friends, kids & group-friendly
  • Pet-friendly: No
• Service: the entire staff is extremely polite, will help you choose/describe the food and happy to serve.
• Alcohol: They serve wines, champagne and cocktails in the restaurant
• Dine-in Reservation: Required on weekends and for large groups – call them to make a reservation. 
• Facilities:
  • High-chair for Kids/Toddler/Infant: Available
  • Breast-feeding room: Not available – don’t hesitate to ask the staff, they will find a quiet, private corner
  • Wheelchair Access: No | Entry to the restaurant (ground floor) is via flight of steps
  • Wheelchair Friendly Toilet:  No 
  • Customer Toilets: are clean, well-maintained with toilets on both ground and 1st floor.
  • Food Parcel/takeaway: They parcel all the items on the menu
  • Food Delivery: Listed on popular food delivery apps
  • EV Charging Point: No EV charging point is available at the premise for cars or motorcycles
• Cost of the Meal: for 2 adults is INR 5,300 (includes a 10% service charge and without alcohol)
• Mode of Payment: Cash, UPI, Credit and Debit cards are all accepted
• Parking for motorcycles & cars: Free parking for cars and motorcycles in the basement
• Timings: 12 pm noon to 11:30 pm [Open all days of the week]
• Location: Maffei Kitchen, Koramangala 5th Block, Bengaluru [Find them on Google Maps]

Ever grateful to my dear friend Krishna Prasad for facilitating this gastronomical experience  ❤️🤗

And mind you – I haven’t tried their wraps, assorted Mezze Platter, baklava and other sweets 😬