Our dear friend Marishka Michener, a resident of Easton, PA, asked to be taken to this restaurant to celebrate her 90th birthday, as this was a new establishment at which she had not yet eaten. We obliged and were very happy with her choice. The restaurant is in a renovated space with very tasteful decor. When you enter, an attractive bar fills your view to the right. Meli has a wonderfully fresh appearance. We were seated by the large windows that provide a view of downtown Easton. Our waiter, Charlie, was rather well informed and was a courteous server, extreme friendly and personable.
We also met the chef, Salah Eddine Ben Attou, who is from Morocco. He spent a considerable amount of time speaking with us about the cuisine of his homeland. He showed us several pictures of Morocco, of which he was very proud. Coincidently, I recently received a gift of a Moroccan recipe book, as cooking is one of my pleasures. As a result, I discovered that preserved lemons are a staple in Moroccan cuisine, so I began to preserve my own lemons. Appreciatively, chef Salah took the time to graciously explain the correct process of preserving lemons.
We began with delicious martinis served in unique glassware. For an appetizer, Jon and I shared the Kalamari (with charred lemon & spicy tomato oil). Marishka, the birthday girl, had the Horiatiki Village Salad (vine ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta, capers, kalamata olives, EVOO), which she found delicious. The entrées were new and delightfully different.
I ordered the Grilled Lamb Chops (garlic, eggplant, red peppers, scallions, basil aioli) with a side of lemon potatoes. These were not your typical lamb chops! Maybe there were herbs to create the Moroccan flavor, which I greatly appreciated. Jon had the Dover Sole, which he reported was tender and tasty.
I had no room for dessert, but they all appeared to be quite appetizing! We ended with Espresso Martinis, which we greatly enjoyed.
This is a fun place to dine, and you will thoroughly enjoy the fare! Try it, you’ll like it!
Meli European Taverna
322 Northampton StreetEaston, PA 18042
610-672-4730
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