Inspired by the vibrant Tel Aviv dining scene, this Middle Eastern bar, eatery and all-round mecca has brought an intoxicating hit of warm spices to the ground floor of the Ovolo, Fortitude Valley. The menu, created by Israeli-born executive chef Roy Ner (Nour) and head chef Dario Manca (Pilu at Freshwater), puts a new world twist on centuries-old dishes to create a modern mosaic of flavours.

Chefs Ner and Manca have put together a vibrant sharing menu, based around the collision of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean culinary cultures. The venue will open from brunch through to dinner, followed by a special late-night ‘midnight street food’ menu inspired by the eclectic dining scene of Tel Aviv after dark.

The kitchen will make six different types of Middle Eastern bread, from braided challah loaves to yoghurt flatbreads, semolina pita and goats cheese pretzels. However, it’s the tightly scrolled Yemenite butter bread that is set to be the show-stealer. Inspired by an ancient African pastry recipe, the dough is kneaded with animal fats and butter then rolled up into rosettes to create a rich, buttery bread.

Vegetable are given as much care as the meat at Za Za Ta. Red and golden beetroot are cured in pastrami spices, including mustard, paprika and coriander, then aged for two weeks. The sliced flesh is combined with dill and garlic fermented cucumber, along with hot, puffed pretzel bread and horseradish crème.

Tender tentacles are slow-cooked in North African spices like chilli and caraway, then grilled over charcoal to obtain a rich, smoky crust. It’s served with an eggplant and walnut pickle and a house-made camel n’duja, made from camel hump and Turkish peppers.

The drinks list revolves around plantation rums and Mediterranean gins, muddled with Middle Eastern fruits like persimmon, kumquat and pomegranate, and fragranced with Arabian spices. One drink you’ll wish you ordered is the Genie in a Bottle, a share cocktail made from sumac-infused gin with saffron sticks, Israeli honey and cherry smoked hibiscus rose tea.

Inspired by the Victorian era, the sprawling colonial-style venue is home to various, quirky spaces, including The Parlour, a stately drinking room; The Library, a cushion-filled lounge bar; and The Conservatory, a plush dining room where tessellated floor tiles meet velvet upholstery. There will also be secret hideaway spaces including a billiards room and study.

Za Za Ta is located at 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley. It will open Mon-Sun for lunch and dinner, from 11am – late. For details or to book, head to: zazata.com.au.