Queen Ester – The Best Falafels in Australia
Israeli Street Food Has Never Been Better
I first heard of Queen Ester from one of the besties, Brookie, her longest friend and a great friend of mine (Sammy’s) hubby worked there. Sammy was telling us to visit and see Arthur cooking up the greatness. I thought, that’s great, I will go and visit because it was Sammy’s hubby. It was located in a little hole-in-the-wall, and Sammy said to get there early, so we planned a 1030am lunch/brunch at Queen Ester’s in Newport.
Who’d think it would become my obsession, I have since been to feast four times, they have opened a second restaurant in Mona Vale, Arthur is now one of the owners of Mona Vale and it is just as epic and each time I fall further in love with everything they serve.
Just as an FYI – this is a food post, no political comments or hatred will be tolerated, it is an Aussie restaurant that specialises in Israeli food, nothing else.
The Venues
Newport is the first venue I visited, it is their OG venue, and I have been three out of four times. I just love it, it’s such a beach suburb venue, all the dining is on the pavement on some smaller tables and even smaller tables, and it is just adorable. People walk by close to your table and even recognise you, I had two peeps yell out or mention my name on my most recent visit. My head grew a little.
It is almost Byronesque in its design. When you get there grab a table first, then someone has to grab a menu and order for the table.
Then kick back and wait…
Mona Vale is quite a bit larger, it is on the Newport side of Mona Vale on Darley Street, in the industrial section and has quite a few indoor and outdoor tables that are large and can accommodate much more than Newport, same style of design just bigger and a full restaurant in size.
They have some smaller kids tables outside and are dog friendly – it is cute that there are so many owners enjoying a meal with their doggoes.
The only dilemma is parking, just skip the headache and park a bit up the road in the Coles carpark. Same for Newport, access from behind the main road and there is a carpark.
The People
Considering I know one of the owners the staff are all wonderful haha. They won’t bother you at all and are quite friendly and knowledgable, also Byron/Newport/Avalon styled. A lot of pretty and healthy people. They must eat the food too.
When they deliver the food, however, they will appear almost godlike, delivering such wonders, made not by mere mortals, but from heaven’s food alchemists. And when you fall in love with the food, and become addicted they will turn your wonderful dealer, and you some Queen Ester crack whore.
And you will love them haha
My god I am hungry for more right how!!
All the staff know everything about the food, their knowledge garnered from themselves being addicts too haha
Now as you are dining in the heart of the beaches, you will see a lot of tanned, fit surfy types, just smile and breathe in, they will respect you because you are at the Queen’s!
The Entire Menu (Newport) – WEEKDAY
ZIUA
Israeli pastry filled with mixed cheese & alives. Serued with boiled eggs, tahini, crushed tomatoes, zhug & pickles. 17
ISRAELI FALAFEL
PITTA – Falafel, cabbage, tomato, pickles, herbs, zhug, amba & shifka. 17
BOWL – Falafel, hummus, green seled, pickles, herbs, zhug, anbe & shifke (GF）.19
CHICKEN SHAWARMA
PITTA – Hummus, zhug, tahini, tomato, pickled onion, cabbage & herbs. 19
BOWL – Rice, green salad, hummus, pickled onion, tahini & herbs (GF). (GF)
SABICH
PITTA – Eggplant, boiled egg, hummus, zhug, tahini, tomato, pickled onion & herbs. 17
BOWL – Eggplant, boiled egg, hummus, green salad, pickles, herbs, pickled onion, zhug, auba & shifka (GF). 19
SIDES
queen E’s chipsy- with mix spices & parsley. zhug mayo/special tahini. &
Four falafel balls 5 | add hummus (tahini, zhug + amba) 4
Eight Falafel balls 10 | add hummus (tahini, zhug + amba) 4
Extra: egg – 3 eggplant – 3 pita -3 falafel ball – 1.5
The Entire Menu (Newport) – WEEKENDS
Breakfast （8am-1030am）
TOASTIES
La Banette’ Sourdough/Israeli bagel
Swiss cheese, Gruyere cheese, madbucha (Moroccan tomato relish). 12
Extra: olives/fetta. & Egg/salami/gf bread. 3
SALAMI & EGG CHALLAH
Cruncy salami, fried egg, matbucha, zhug mayo . 17
BOWL
SHAKSHUKA – Green salad, herbs n/ Labneh, served with bread. 18
OMELETTE – Green salad, herbs n/ Labneh, served with bread. 18
ZIVA
Israeli pastry filled with mixed cheese & olives. Served with boiled eggs, tahini, crushed tomatoes, zhug & pickles. 17
Lunch (tIll 3pm or sold out)
ISRAELI FALAFEL
PITTA – Falafel, cabbage, tomato, pickles, herbs, zhug, amba & shifka. 17
BOWL – Falafel, hummus, green salad, pickles, herbs, zhug, amba & shifka (GF). 19
CHICKEN SHAWARMA
PITTA – Hummus, zhug, tahini, tomato, pickled onion, cabbage & herbs.19
BOWL – Rice, green salad, hummus, pickled onion, tahini & herbs (GF). 21
SABICH
PITTA – Eggplant, boiled egg, hummus, zhug, tahini, tomato, pickled onion & herbs. 17
BOWL – Eggplant, boiled egg, hummus, green salad, pickles, herbs, pickled onion, zhug, amba & shifka (GF). 19
SIDES
queen E’s chipsy- with mix spices & parsley. zhug mayo/ special tahini. &
Four falafel balls 5 | add hummus (tahini, zhug + amba) 4 Eight falafel balls 10 | add hummus (tahini, zhug + amba) t
Extra: egg -3 eggplant – 3 pita – 3 falafel balL – 1.5
The Food
Like the crack whore I am, digging in the couch for drooped falafel crumbs, I just worship Queen Ester (no H). The food is perfection at both venues. I have a set menu that I will now have on each visit.
The Ziva, this is what I want for breakfast daily.
The Chicken Shawarma Pitta, this is what could eat for lunch ever day for the rest of my life
Four Falafel Balls, I am not going to lie, these are the best falafels I have ever eaten and they taste the same on every visit, if you don’t order the falafels did you even go to Queen Ester’s??
An Extra Egg – look you will find room for it
2x of the fruit just drinks – I order one but then I need another on every visit haha
That is my order on each visit – I tend to share the Ziva, the falafels and the egg with whoever I dine with.
The Viva is my favourite dish and I couldn’t live without it haha
I have had the falafel pita and it was spectacular, but the I missed having the shawarma so it’s the shawarma and falafels on the side.
The menu has slightly more in Mona Vale but mostly as is, they do some great stuff with cauliflower, much to my friend Mel’s heartbreak, she ordered both cauliflower dishes at Mona to find out they had sold out haha
And bloody hell, I have to do breakfast here, the Salami and Egg Shallah has my name all over it!!
In Conclusion
Can you hook a brother up for some of Queen E – come on man, I need it – give me that sweet Israeli street food NOW. Queen Ester I love you!
SCORE BREAKDOWN: 3/3 food, 2/2 service, 1/1 drinks, 1/1 venue & ambience, 1/1 cost, 1/1 toilets & 1/1 bonus
*** Spooning Australia was invited, with thanks, by the venue ***
All photographs are Copyrighted by Spooning Australia and Jason King – please feel free to share with full credit provided.
Queen Ester Details
Website
https://www.queenester.com.au/
newport@queenester.com.au
monavale@queenester.com.au
Address
Newport – 5c/7 Robertson Rd, Newport NSW 2106
44 Darley St, Mona Vale NSW 2103
Bookings
Walk ins only
Pricing
Low
Opening Hours
Newport
Open: Tues-Wed, 10am-3pm
Thurs-Fri, 10am-8:30pm
Sat-Sun, 8am-10:30am (brekkie), 11am-2:30pm (lunch)
Mona Vale
Open Monday – Friday, 8am-2:30pm (brekkie 8-10:30am)
Vegetarian Options
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Local Delivery
Yes
Gluten-Free Options
Yes
Kid Friendly
Yes
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