Cuisine: Middle Eastern / Mediterranean
Address: 501 Orchard Rd, #02-04/05 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880
Nearest MRT: Orchard

Helmed by Chef Khaled Elelimi, Pistachio Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Grill is a halal restaurant that offers popular classic dishes with a contemporary twist.

At Pistachio, the food is made from scratch and served fresh. They offer popular classic dishes with a contemporary twist for lunch and dinner. As for whether it is a halal restaurant or not, strictly speaking, it is not halal certified because they serve alcohol on their premises. However, many Muslim families were seen patronising the outlet because the food that they offer are all halal, same as what is typically offered in Egypt.

For appetisers, we had the Hummus ($8) and Pita bread ($5). Hummus is a puree of chickpeas with tahini and extra virgin olive oil. The freshly baked pita bread was warm and crispy, allowing us to tear off pieces of it to dip into the hummus. This is my favourite starter for sure and a staple dish in many Middle Eastern countries, from Lebanon to Egypt.

Next, we ordered the Lamb Merguez Pide ($28). It is a rectangular pizza made with homemade lamb sausages, parmesan, and shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Looking at its size, it feels more like a starter than a main course, so the price does not make it worth it. Nevertheless, the lamb sausages were unique and the crust of the pizza was done well so we quickly finished up this pizza with a few bites.

This is the Couscous Royale ($38). While the portion on the menu stated that it’s for two, it seems like one person can finish this dish easily. Topped with grilled lamb chops, chicken and lamb sausages seasoned with aromatic spices, this dish is served with fragrant couscous and vegetable bouillon. There is a difference between the Moroccan couscous used here (made from semolina) and the fatter, pearl-like couscous from Israel, that is made from wheat, that I have cooked at home. The variety of meat was sufficient for us to enjoy the various kinds of meat. I like how the rice has managed to soak up the flavours of the stock.

Our last dish for sharing is the Adana Kebab ($28), which reminds me greatly of my time in Iran. This was a typical dish that people usually ate for lunch or dinner in many parts of the Middle East. On the white plate, you can see a grilled skewer of ground beef seasoned with aromatic spices, served with saffron rice and salad. Since the beef has been ground finely and mixed with spice, you do not really get to chew on the beef itself. Nevertheless, the dish was great, especially when served with the fragrant rice that is topped with raisins and cashew.

We ate quite well during dinner and did not have enough space for desserts. While some of the portions are slightly small, we really appreciate the fine culinary skills of the chef, who has successfully brought the flavours of many Middle East/ North African countries out in his dishes. Even the restaurant is also artistically decorated with murals of pyramids and mummies, giving rise to some serious Egyptian vibes that match the heritage of the chef. As of this post, I have not visited Egypt yet and after tasting the various dishes in this restaurant, I am pretty sure I would savour the food in Egypt when I go there next time.