North Ward’s BalaBite has amassed an enviable following among locals and visitors
North Ward’s BalaBite has thrived in its first year of trading in Townsville. Here’s how Avi Cohen and wife Dana Kyatinsky have achieved it.
Townsville
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T
he mouth-watering smell of aromatic spices, and the visual treat of beautiful potted flowers, are drawing locals and visitors alike to Eyre Place in Eyre Steet’s dining precinct.
For the past year, foodies have been adding a hearty serve of Israeli street food to their palate at BalaBite.
Co-owner Avi Cohen says the food offering at BalaBite is a “mosaic of flavours”.
“The food is actually a combination of cuisines from all over the world, because Israel is a combination of so many cultures from Northern Africa, the Middle East, eastern Europe and the Mediterranean,” he says. “That is why there is so much flavour in the food, and it is what makes it so unique.”
Avi was brought to Townsville by the owner of the North Ward Shopping Centre to enrich the property’s food offerings.
“The first thing we did was invest in the aesthetics of the street,” Avi says. “Lights, potted plants, outdoor furnishings as well as music.”
The Eyre Place at Eyre St side of the North Ward Shopping Centre has been transformed into a street food dining mecca which is fast gaining a reputation as a destination in itself.
“People are coming to the area to get experience the food and vibrant atmosphere of the dining precinct.
“It is actually extremely uplifting to see how Townsville has welcomed us and supported us.”
The precinct also includes Grandma’s with a new eatery about to be launched during the next months. “The location is superb, being so close to The Strand and has plenty of car spaces at the shopping centre.
“We are finding that 90 per cent of our customers are coming in especially to dine or takeaway with us.”
The BalaBite eat-in and takeaway store serves home-baked pita pocket breads filled with variety of options including “Tel Aviv” grilled chicken, “Jerusalem” pulled lamb or grilled beef and lamb koftas with salads, including couscous, and dips such as tahini and baba ganoush.
The business has a solid following on their social media sites with plenty of delicious-looking dishes.
Mr Cohen, who was born in Jerusalem and emigrated to Australia about 16 years ago, ways he wants to raise the profile of Israeli food.
“I get so much joy at seeing how people are enjoying not only the food but the Eyre Place at Eyre St dining precinct,” he says. “I believe in being real, nothing fake. “From the real potted flower boxes to the fresh produce used to make the food. “There is no cutting corners when it comes to freshness. The dishes are all masterpieces because they are prepared with passion, with a deep appreciation of the fresh ingredients that make the whole dish.”
BalaBite
45 Eyre Street, North Ward - Eyre Place
Go to balabite.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook
T: 4772 6282
@balabite
Originally published as North Ward’s BalaBite has amassed an enviable following among locals and visitors