Northcote’s new Malaysian restaurant, Merah is now open.
The contemporary venue is from the same team – Aline Viravouth and Marcel Nantharath – behind Nasi Lemak House in Carlton.
Meaning red in Malay, the name ‘Merah’ plays homage to the colour of chilli sambal, a traditional condiment served with Malaysian street-food. “Just as sambal brings together a variety of ingredients to create something memorable, so too does our restaurant,” says Aline.
Open for lunch and dinner, diners can expect an array of Malaysian flavours with a Melbourne twist. The menu features classic Malaysian street food dishes such as Char Kuay Teow, Chilli Crab, Beef Rendang and Nasi Lemak.
Merah‘s menu also includes many vegan-friendly dishes using healthier alternatives such as the Java Jungle Curry Laksa made with a plant-based broth and soba noodles, and the vegan BBQ sliders with grilled mushrooms and sambal. The Merah Fried Chicken has been touted as a must-have.
All dishes are made from scratch every day using locally sourced produce. Merah’s kitchen includes an imported Malaysian grill with white-charcoal, giving dishes a smoky BBQ flavour and keeping produce moist and tender. “If we are going to have an authentic Malaysian BBQ, why not get the charcoal they use back in Malaysia,” says Marcel. Diners can also find a selection of local craft beers and organic wines to accompany their meals.
Merah will also stock Aline’s house-made sambal, made from a four-generation old family recipe. “I’m a huge chilli fan and have worked tirelessly over the years to perfect my recipe. We always have people asking to buy it at NL House, so I’m excited to see it in jars and ready for customers to take home,” says Aline.
Designed by One Design Office, the 30-seater restaurant draws upon traditional rattan and plywood textures, furniture from Dowell Jones and Made in Japan crockery. The relaxed and quirky venue also features speckled walls and muted tones of pink and grey against banana-leaf green walls for a vibrant dining experience.
Merah is located at 238 High Street, Northcote and will be open Tuesday–Thursday 5pm till
For more, please visit: merah.com.au
