Address: 3 Rochester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 9AF
WWW: http://www.arabicabarandkitchen.com
Summary: A good idea, but does not live up to expectation
I was very very very excited about Arabica. Coming from Turkey, least to say, I do enjoy my middle eastern food - and serving it as small nibbles means I can get more to taste. What could be more delightful?
On entering Arabica, we are immersed in a friendly atmosphere. Service is fast and competent, and comes with a smile. The menu reads very exciting, and hence, four of us start picking fast to create a considerable list of delicious-sounding tid-bits.
We end up ordering:
Bread (comes free, as also still water)
Moutabel
Muhummara (Muhammara)
Hummus
Magdous
Istanbul Mussel Roll
Aubergine Kibbeh
Armenian Style Luhmacun (Lahmacun)
Sujuk pide
Tabouleh
Except Muhammara, Istanbul Mussel Roll and Armenian Style Lahmacun, I definitely had better, and the others with less experience of middle eastern food, were not fully satisfied either. For instance, we have not tasted a hummus that is better than sold in People's Market in Lambs Conduit Street, yet in any restaurant. Tabouleh lacked enough bulgour (cracked wheat) and any dressing.
Magdous was way better in Abu Zaad (Shepherd's Bush Market)
Aubergine Kibbeh was interesting, but maybe we should have gone with the original recipe.
Others were not worth writing home about.
However, Muhammara and Istanbul Mussel Roll were a delight, and I may return to this place just to have the mussel roll.
And the Armenian Style Lahmacun, though thicker than the Turkish style, was very very tasty.
Deserts:
Original Bean Choc Pot
Booza
Baklawa Pistachio
All desserts were very well done. However, my favorite had to be Booza which has Mastic in it.
Mastic has the power to return to my childhood memories, and summer in Turkey. And for that, Arabica is still the winner for me.
We paid a toal of 96.19 pounds for four (does not include wine).
I think Arabica is great for picking a few nibbles, probably for lunch or a coffee stop, but would not be one of our dinner destinations in the future.
WWW: http://www.arabicabarandkitchen.com
Summary: A good idea, but does not live up to expectation
I was very very very excited about Arabica. Coming from Turkey, least to say, I do enjoy my middle eastern food - and serving it as small nibbles means I can get more to taste. What could be more delightful?
On entering Arabica, we are immersed in a friendly atmosphere. Service is fast and competent, and comes with a smile. The menu reads very exciting, and hence, four of us start picking fast to create a considerable list of delicious-sounding tid-bits.
We end up ordering:
Bread (comes free, as also still water)
Moutabel
Muhummara (Muhammara)
Hummus
Magdous
Istanbul Mussel Roll
Aubergine Kibbeh
Armenian Style Luhmacun (Lahmacun)
Sujuk pide
Tabouleh
Except Muhammara, Istanbul Mussel Roll and Armenian Style Lahmacun, I definitely had better, and the others with less experience of middle eastern food, were not fully satisfied either. For instance, we have not tasted a hummus that is better than sold in People's Market in Lambs Conduit Street, yet in any restaurant. Tabouleh lacked enough bulgour (cracked wheat) and any dressing.
Magdous was way better in Abu Zaad (Shepherd's Bush Market)
Aubergine Kibbeh was interesting, but maybe we should have gone with the original recipe.
Others were not worth writing home about.
However, Muhammara and Istanbul Mussel Roll were a delight, and I may return to this place just to have the mussel roll.
And the Armenian Style Lahmacun, though thicker than the Turkish style, was very very tasty.
Deserts:
Original Bean Choc Pot
Booza
Baklawa Pistachio
All desserts were very well done. However, my favorite had to be Booza which has Mastic in it.
Mastic has the power to return to my childhood memories, and summer in Turkey. And for that, Arabica is still the winner for me.
We paid a toal of 96.19 pounds for four (does not include wine).
I think Arabica is great for picking a few nibbles, probably for lunch or a coffee stop, but would not be one of our dinner destinations in the future.
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