Merrylands venue confirms its evening service will continue after packed Ramadan sittings, alongside new dishes including burning cheese and sambousek cigars
After drawing packed crowds throughout Ramadan, Western Sydney restaurant IFTAR Merrylands has confirmed its evening service will continue beyond the fasting period, alongside a refreshed menu of new dishes.
The Merrylands venue first introduced the after-dark service during Ramadan to coincide with iftar, the breaking of the fast at sunset. It quickly became a popular gathering spot for families and large groups.
Founder Jeremy Agha says the response made the decision easy. “People kept asking if we’d keep opening at night once Ramadan finished,” he says.
“We were fully booked every single night, and there were a lot of people disappointed they couldn’t get in. It quickly became clear there was real demand for something like this in the area.”
With IFTAR Nights now continuing beyond Ramadan, the venue has also introduced a series of new menu additions, expanding the offering for evening diners.
New additions include:
- Mansaf rice: Slow-braised lamb shoulder served over fragrant spiced rice, finished with toasted almonds and walnuts. Served with a minty garlic cucumber yoghurt.
- Burning cheese: A molten slab of halloumi cheese and bubbling honey served with caramelised figs and dates, designed for tearing into at the table. Think of your favourite greek saganaki — only better.
- Sambousek cigars: Golden, crisp pastry cigars filled with spiced sumac lamb and pomegranate molasses, perfect for sharing.
- Fried fish sando: A stacked sandwich of panko crumbed whiting, crunchy onion and coriander tahini wrapped in a toasted brioche bun.
- Cheese and sojuk manoush: Fresh-baked flatbread topped with melted cheese and spicy sojuk sausage.
- Batata harra: Cubed potatoes, fried in tallow and tossed in a chilli coriander paste.
IFTAR takes its name from the Arabic word for the breaking of the fast during Ramadan. Agha grew up working in his family’s Lebanese bakery in Guildford before opening the restaurant in Merrylands.
With evening service now continuing and new dishes rolling out, the venue is evolving beyond its original daytime offering into a regular night-time dining destination for Western Sydney.
IFTAR Nights are continuing beyond Ramadan. For updates and menu highlights, visit @iftarsydney
Address: IFTAR, Main Lane, Merrylands NSW 2160
Daytime service:
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
IFTAR Nights (evening service):
Monday to Sunday: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm