Manzé

‘Manzé’ means ‘to eat’ in Mauritian Creole and it’s the name of a restaurant quietly making waves in the North Melbourne culinary scene.

But the name carries much more than the promise of a delicious meal. Behind Manzé is a tale of cultural heritage, of living your passion, and the spirit of three friends turned business owners.

Nagesh Seethiah, the owner of Manzé, was born in Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean.

"I came to Canberra in 2010 to study law and art history at ANU and was working in restaurants part-time," Nagesh recalls.

During his studies, he found his true calling in the world of food. It was also in Canberra that he crossed paths with Jason Phu, an artist, and Jason later introduced Nagesh to Osman Faruqi, a writer and journalist.

The trio’s friendship blossomed as they shared a passion for art, culture, and food.

Nagesh moved to Melbourne in 2017 and as he delved deeper into Melbourne's culinary scene, he couldn't help but notice the gaps.

"All suburbs need at least one interesting restaurant," he reflects. “I’d walk past this corner of Errol Street all the time because I live nearby, and I thought it could be the place for something unique, a restaurant with some cultural significance.”

The idea for Manzé began to crystallise.

In 2021, Nagesh, Jason and Osman decided to take a leap of faith. They envisioned something extraordinary — a small, creative eatery that blended their diverse backgrounds and interests.

Manzé’s menu is a journey through Nagesh’s South Indian ancestry, mingled with Mauritius’ African, Creole, French, and Hakka Chinese influences. The tropical ingredients of the island bring these diverse flavours to life.

“Our signature dishes include the Taro and Ginger Fritter, a street food staple in Mauritius,” smiles Nagesh. “Plus our masala spice blend is always on the menu somewhere. The secret lies in the unique blend of spices made from my grandmother’s recipe. When my family moved away from Mauritius it was the one thing that connected them to home.”

The Manzé experience goes beyond food - it’s about nurturing community. The restaurant's open kitchen invites diners to witness the incredible team of chefs cooking, who make it a point to connect with the diners by stepping onto the restaurant floor.

Every Tuesday the kitchen is helmed by Manzé’s staff or Nagesh’s friends, who all hail from various cultural backgrounds. That means for just $30 diners have the opportunity to taste a myriad of flavours every week.

The Manzé community extends to supporting local artists as well. Every two months, a new artist's work is selected for the walls by Amelia Winata, a curator at Gertrude Contemporary. The artwork on display mirrors Melbourne's diverse artistic tapestry, with a focus on emerging artists from under-represented backgrounds.

The vision for Manzé is to be more than just a restaurant; it's an invitation to embark on a journey of taste, culture, and community.

“I’m so lucky that I get to come to work every day to cook food and express my culture,” Nagesh smiles. “So I invite everyone to take a seat at our table so that we can all share our stories through food.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio