Le Lee - Shopska salad - Tomato, cucumber, onion and grated fetta, Fried zucchini with garlic and parsley

Lé Léé, Northcote

Macedonian cuisine isn’t one that I’m familiar with, and restaurants in Melbourne are hard to find. Luckily it’s much easier to explore now that Lé Léé just opened up in Northcote.

Le Lee - Daska so meso i sirenj - Cheese and cured meat board
Daska so meso i sirenj - Cheese and cured meat board
Le Lee - Taratur - Strained Yoghurt with cucumber and garlic, Pindjur - Roast peppers and eggplant relish topped with fetta
Taratur - Strained Yoghurt with cucumber and garlic, Pindjur - Roast peppers and eggplant relish topped with fetta
Le Lee - Shopska salad - Tomato, cucumber, onion and grated fetta, Fried zucchini with garlic and parsley
Shopska salad - Tomato, cucumber, onion and grated fetta, Fried zucchini with garlic and parsley

The menu is focused on sharing plates, in line with their traditional communal dining style. The meal might begin with starters like lightly crumbed Fried Zucchini, dips, cured meats, or a tasty and refreshing Shopska Salad with tomato, cucumber, onion and grated fetta.

Le Lee - Banica - Rolled leek and cheese pastry
Banica - Rolled leek and cheese pastry
Le Lee - Peceno zadusheno svinsko - Slow-roasted pork belly
Peceno zadusheno svinsko - Slow-roasted pork belly
Le Lee - Selsko meso - Slow-cooked beef meatballs, pork, chicken and mushroom
Selsko meso - Slow-cooked beef meatballs, pork, chicken and mushroom
Le Lee - Tavce Gravce - Baked beans
Tavce Gravce - Baked beans
Le Lee - Vardarsko grne - Slow-cooked claypot w mixed veggies and pork and chicken
Vardarsko grne - Slow-cooked claypot w mixed veggies and pork and chicken

Mains are largely warming dishes. The Banica is a crisp and flakey spiral pastry filled with leek and cheese. Slow-roasted Pork Belly delivers on the crackling, and the meat itself retains its juices. Vardarsko Grne – a slow-cooked claypot of vegetables, pork and chicken – comes with a bread topping that can be eaten alongside it. A surprise favourite for many is the baked beans. Wipe away all those memories of canned beans. This is one flavoursome dish that has much more depth of flavour than just tomato.

Le Lee - Trileche - Milk cake
Trileche - Milk cake
Le Lee - Visnja baklava - Sour cherry baklava
Visnja baklava - Sour cherry baklava

Their Macedonian-style Visnja Baklava contains sour cherries, and has a caramelised topping, but is softer and in places, almost custard-like compared to the baklava you might be more used to. The Tufekija Poached Pear is filled with a delicious walnut filling and comes with a scoop of stretchy-style ice cream, but if you’ve got a sweet tooth, the more saccharine Trileche (Milk Cake) might fit the bill.

The food at Lé Léé is hearty and cooked with passion. I can foresee another visit in the future – those stews will be particularly enticing during colder weather!

Disclaimer: I was invited to Lé Léé as a guest, however, opinions expressed here are purely my own, and are based on my experience at the time.

Lé Léé
236 High St
Northcote, VIC, 3070
(03) 9001 6507
https://www.leleemacedonian.com.au

Lé Léé Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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