It has developed a solid reputation off the back of its grill, its mantra indeed is that ‘everything tastes better once it’s been smoked’. In downtown Haggerston, beneath a railway arch you will find one of East London’s – no, all of London’s – finest Middle Eastern restaurants.
The proof of the Palomar’s success is, quite literally, in the pudding. To finish, the sesame creme brûlée sums up all that has come before it: a clever twist on the classic, it’s light, creamy and subtle, served with a beguiling toasted sesame brittle. The enoki mushrooms are a favourite of the vegetable dishes, umami-packed and texturally intriguing, crowned with a fresh pop of spring onions. Next, move on to some of the meat and fish cooked on the josper grill – from Persian lemon chicken with pumpkin couscous to crab kofta with Yemeni pancake and luscious amba yogurt. Start with one of the masterful house-made breads, like the exquisite kubaneh, akin to a fluffy brioche, which comes with a whipped tahini dip and chopped tomato relish. The cuisine is a happy harmony of several different cultures – from the Levant to North Africa and Southern Spain – with the menu split into sharing dishes. It’s far more fun sitting here anyway: watching the chefs at work as they rush things out of the grill and artfully plate up.
Yet here’s a tip for the savvy gastronome: drop in and leave your name at the front desk, nip to sister bar The Mulwray for a tipple or two, and let them call you when your spot at the bar is ready. Then there’s the bewitchingly dark salted chocolate truffles, which make for the perfect finale to a triumphant meal.Įven some eight years on from its opening, securing a table here takes expert planning and patience, with bookings snapped up weeks in advance. The luxuriously nutty tahini ice cream is subtle and sophisticated, while the delicately rose-scented coconut malabi is somehow both refreshing and indulgent. Don’t leave without trying one of the delightful puddings, which strike just the right note between inventive and crowd pleasing. Every dish is a winner, but standouts include the sharp, salty labne (best scooped up with laffa bread) tender fried aubergine, adorned liberally with zingy, vivid-green zhoug the revelatory oyster mushroom skewers (crisp, juicy and confoundingly meaty) the gloriously sticky halloumi with black seed honey.
Prepare to be surprised and delighted by dish after spectacular dish, offering an elegant, modern take on Middle Eastern-inspired sharing plates: a joyful riot of flavours and textures, fragrant with spices and the freshness of herbs and citrus, and as beautiful as they are delicious. There are two vibrant set menus to choose from one vegetarian, one vegan, both guaranteed to win over even the most devout carnivores. The space is charming, the service is faultless (the team are as lovely as they are efficient), and the food – masterminded by Head Chef Helen Graham – is nothing short of extraordinary. If you’re looking for a meal for a special occasion, you’d be hard pushed to find a better place to celebrate than Bubala.
0 kommentar(er)
