Service was very attentive and helpful. Food was excellent, we particularly liked the vegetable dishes of grilled broccolini and the roasted eggplant. We saw the desserts they had for takeaway, which were not all on the dessert menu, but they allowed us to order them anyway. We had a lovely meal for our last night in London. read more

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Good spot for Middle Eastern / Mediterranean inspired dishes with a nice environment. I came for lunch and while the lunch menu is quite limited, at least you can get 2 sides with each main dish. Mains: Chicken Pastilla - This was my favorite dish of the meal, as the chicken and other ingredients were enclosed within this crispy exterior - very tasty. Lamb Kofta - This was basically like lamb sausages, which were good but nothing that special, although the sauce did add some nice flavor as well. Sides (or as they call them, salads): Aubergine - Came with 2 slices of aubergine; I liked the white sauce on top which gave it a little extra creamy flavor Cauliflower- Very standard so not much to comment on here Mushrooms - Pretty nice pairing with the lentils as well Butternut Squash - Well cooked with some parmesan shavings on top My main issue here was the value, as each combo of main + 2 sides costs 29.50 GBP, and the portion sizes were rather small (refer to my photo). In fact, they even combined 2 sides into 1 small plate because the portions were so small. The interior is very nice though, as it is an elegant yet minimalistic type of design. It wasn't too busy for lunch even on a weekend. The staff are fairly friendly and attentive. The service speed is pretty quick. Overall, the pros of Ottolenghi are that the food is pretty good and the environment is nice. However, the cons are that the portion sizes are small (so value might not be great) and the lunch menu is fairly limited. Therefore, all things considered, I am giving Ottolenghi 4 stars. read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Chicken Pastilla (bottom), cauliflower and aubergine (left), Lamb Kofta (top), mushrooms and butternut squash (right) - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

Flavorful and tasty food, interesting cocktails, kind staff, comfortable seating, and an overall great atmosphere for a meal. Really enjoyed our dinner here! We tried a couple of eggplant dishes, chicken skewers, a lamb dish, green beans, pita chips, mushroom dish, and maybe a few other things, all of which I forgot to take photos of. The margarita, Negroni, and mocktail with Szechuan pepper were good as well, and they have a solid wine list. Dessert was also very good. We had the Victoria sponge cake, carrot cake, and brownie! read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

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Lovely place, great food and service! Went there for lunch and would recommend it to friends!

You'll have to get a reservation in advance but do everything you can to come to this restaurant!! Everything we ate was so fresh and had such bold flavors. The assortment of salads and vegetables to choose from made for a light, energizing meal (until we got to dessert) and I can't recommend this restaurant enough!! It's not overly fancy and the focus is on the food. You walk in to what feels like a little market with salads and baked goods on display that you're able to order from the table. The menu always changes but honestly anything he makes is delicious so just try to taste as many things as possible! read more

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Delightful space with excellent food. They are vegetable forward so lots of options for vegetarians work great flavor. Service was attentive. read more

Good but not great breakfast. I was very excited to go but found it not as awe-inspiring as I expected. The look and feel of the restaurant is great, nice and bright, and the pastries in the front window are very appealing. For breakfast, I had the shakshuka with a side of bacon. The streaky bacon was the highlight, as it had a sweet (I believe maple) glaze, was nice and thick and not overly fatty. The shakshuka was just meh. I am not an expert by any means on the dish, I've only had it four or five times, but this definitely wasn't even in the top 50%. Nothing bad about it but did not have the vibrant and layered flavors I was expecting. It is a good option when you want a nice breakfast that is not an English breakfast but I still would not return (at least for breakfast). read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Shakshuka - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

The food here is very good and the flavours are on point. I expected a lot more vegetarian options but maybe less is available in the lunch menu. Prices are high but the quality is good. Over all an expensive lunch option in London. Service is nice but slightly uncoordinated and the waitress was unable to explain anything on the bill when asked. It's ok but I would have expected some response or clarification. If it wasn't for prices I would have given this place 5 stars. read more

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I've enjoyed Ottolenghi's dishes by way of his cookbook and recipes for years now so I definitely had to come dine at one of his restaurants while I was in London. Fortunately it was easy enough to get a seat at the bar even without reservations as I was by myself. I ordered the following items: Sesame crusted barrel aged feta Roasted aubergines Cuttlefish Every single item was delicious! The feta was a perfect appetizer to start with - sweet, salty, so much texture! The roasted aubergines were lovely - though I must say, I don't think I've come across an Ottolenghi aubergine recipe that I didn't love. Then there was the grilled cuttlefish which came with samphire (a new ingredient for me!) and taramasalata and spiced with baharat. It was a fantastic combo and so much umami in that single dish! I got a wonderful glass of white wine that the bartender recommended and the meal was perfect! I wanted to have dessert but was too full so I got a couple things from the bakery to have later and the baked treats were also fantastic of course! The banana bundt cake with dulce de leche was such a treat! Definitely a memorable meal and I highly recommend it! I'd love to try his other restaurants on my future trips. read more

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I had a lovely breakfast at Ottolenghi on lunch recent trip to London, a place I have wanted to try for quite some time. I received a very warm welcome from the staff, who were friendly and available throughout my meal. The tomato sauce on the shakshuka was rich, with a deep flavor. The toasted bread was the perfect accompaniment. One small thing I would have loved was some homemade hot sauce - when I asked for some, I got a bottle of tobasco. After breakfast I bough one of the cakes from the window- I'm yet to try this but it does look inviting! read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Shakshuka - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

Snagged a solo seat at the bar and had an amazing meal. I went all vegetable although I'm not vegetarian and loved every dish. Chocolate tart was a perfect way to end the meal. read more

Food was outstanding. I had an order of sea bream with 2 salads (roasted eggplant, and chickpea/tahini) along with an order of bread and a non-alcoholic chamomile shooter. All were delicious and I was stuffed (with a bit of leftovers). Service and staff was great (and friendly) too. My only quibble: I had the least comfortable seat in the house (bar seating but not at bar but along entrance window). But I can't complain about that... I came without a reservation at lunch on Saturday. At least I got seated and ate well without breaking the bank! read more

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Food a as a everything you would hope for at an Ottolenghi restaurant. Flavorful without being overdone. Each dish allowed for the underlying main ingredient to shine. We especially enjoyed the sweet potatoes. Only downside, and it's by design, is there is only one large table, so it's really just for takeaway. read more

In a word: sharp. Been watching his Masterclass, and he's in love with food, and that passion comes across here. Snagged reservations a day ahead of time and sat at the lower-level communal tables in a snug, white tile room. Then the gastronomy started--tapas-like, we were guided to several small plates and one larger centerpiece. Each was a delight, as could be heard from our fellow diners--the sounds of enjoyment were almost erotic. I still cannot understand how they got that eggplant to taste so scrumptious and feel so crisp. Wine selection worked with the menu. Excellent across the board. Let Otam's team guide you through a simply excellent dinner. Wife could not agree more. We still talk about it with friends and between ourselves, trying to figure out the flavors and textures. read more

My one culinary goal for my London trip was to dine at an Ottolenghi restaurant/cafe. My friend was open to the my suggestion. This location was closest to the east side and my friend was amused with the name Spitalfields. Guy humor? We were late. Very late. The host/hostess were able to find a table for us. I was very appreciative. Thank you! Waitress, I don't remember your name. You were excellent. Drinks: Le Canary - a pink drink that was tasty. My friend enjoyed his whiskey on the rocks. We also had a lovely bottle of red with our meal, a Cotes Du Rhone Meal: Breads & olive oil: I can't remember that last time I had olive oil that tasted like the home made oil I had at a friend's home in northern Italy. The selection of breads included a savory corn bread that had a nice kick. Roasted fennel, ricotta cream, crystalised fennel seeds and sour cherries Herby roasted aubergines with preserved lemon paste, pistachio and chilli chatta: I rarely see fennel as a main ingredient and the flavor profile was delicately superb with yummy tartness from the sour cherries. I love aubergines and this dish truly allowed the aubergine to shine. Cauliflower tabbouleh, celeriac, ras el hanout shallots: I think this was my least favorite of our dishes, nevertheless yummy. Orkney scallops, shrimp sambal, coconut, kohlrabi and apple slaw: dare I say i thought the kohlrabi/apple slaw elevated the scallops? the shrimp sambal may have been a bit too salty? Pulled lamb shoulder, kalamata olive, tzatziki, ladopita: divine. For my first experience, I was glad I had a friend to enjoy this meal with me and someone who was willing to explore the menu. The ambience met my expectations. I do hope to return some day. read more

Been wanting to come here since I was introduced to one of Ottolenghi's cookbooks years ago. We lucked out grabbing two seats at lunch as soon as they opened, but I recommend a reservation because the place fills up and they turned lots of people away. They charge for water, so go easy on it and enjoy one of the refreshing cocktails instead! Everything is tasty and portions are big. We ordered a main with two sides each. Smoked eggplants with chickpeas, green harissa, and tahini was rich. A pea and zucchini goat cheese tart with preserved lemons was my fave of the bunch. Sides were colorful and flavorful: a watermelon, lime, chili, feta salad; tomato and burrata with pearled couscous and capers; chickpea hummus with spring onions and grapes was an unexpected fave; and baby gem salad came with a smokey eggplant yogurt and spicy chiles. We didn't need dessert, but they were too pretty to refuse. The apple and currant cake with a maple cream frosting was amazing. The ricotta cake topped with hazelnuts has just a bit of innocent looking chocolate on top, but cut inside and it's stuffed with more rich chocolate throughout. Desserts are definitely for sharing. Highly recommend. read more

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I flew 4,000 miles to eat here. 10/10. Absolutely divine with a lovely atmosphere. Service was fantastic, wait staff did an awesome job of making everyone feel comfortable even though half of us were embarrassingly soaked and dripping from the sudden downpour outside. read more

Having made several recipes from his cookbooks, I was so excited to try dining in an Ottolenghi restaurant. It surpassed all of my expectations! My wife and I sampled a variety of dishes, both sweet and savory, and every single one was fantastic. There were loads of options for people of many dietary preferences, including vegetarians and those who can't eat gluten! The rose harissa tofu scramble was really spicy and lovely and didn't overwhelm with a floral taste, the tangerine/pistachio/yuzu cake had such an interesting and complex flavor, and the brioche pretzel was a sweet, cinnamon-y cloud which paired well with the amazing house-made spreads which can be brought to the table. The drinks were also stellar - the hot chocolate being one of the best we've ever had! We were so impressed by the meal that we bought a few cakes and brownies to bring back to the US with us - they were delicious even a day later! And if you're looking to get someone an Ottolenghi cookbook, all of the ones in the restaurant are signed, so they make awesome gifts! On a weekday morning in November, it was very easy to get a reservation, and we would have actually been able to walk right in. The display of pastries and cakes in the window had me salivating. The table space is very bright and open, with whimsical decor like colorful toasters on the tables. This particular location is also close to Liverpool Street and Spitalfields market, so it would be a great place to grab breakfast before catching a train or going shopping for some unique London goods to take home. I really hope I have an excuse to come to London again soon just so I can go visit this restaurant! read more

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Whenever I splurge, I make sure to do thorough research and pick a place that will challenge and delight the senses. I had really high hopes that Ottolenghi would deliver, but honestly my boyfriend and I were quite disappointed by our 85 pound dinner here. Our drink of choice, Hendricks punch, was fabulous! It was refreshing and interesting, like a tangier, fruitier fun and tonic. We were off to a good start. Our "nibble" of "crumbed" octopus should have been advertised as burnt octopus, though the taste wasn't too bad, for 6.5 pounds it was a little disappointing and way too crunchy. I felt like I was eating cinders. From there, we tried the butternut squash, carrot mash and watermelon radish dishes. The butternut squash was pretty decent, if not a little cold and generally pretty bland, dolloping yogurt all over doesn't unbland it or add flavor. The watermelon radish dish was pretty tough to eat, the radishes were way too hard and filled with too many seeds. My boyfriend really enjoyed the flavorful carrot mash but I found it to be too overwhelming and the carrot mash itself felt a little baby foodish. My favorite dish was actually the bread dipped in whatever sauce accompanied the manti dish. What a heavenly sauce, warm and perfectly spiced, with the consistency of yogurt but the taste of hummus it was incredible! The aubergine dish I liked even though it was a little dry and had a monotone flavor. I felt that the chickpeas and the aubergine had the same flavor and just made your mouth kind of dry, but I'm a lover of eggplant so I still enjoyed the dish. We were so disappointed by the dinner (maybe we had too high expectations or maybe we just got a bad seasonal menu) that we didn't care for dessert despite still being hungry after 6 dishes! We went to nearby Spitalfields for some milkshakes instead. For 85 pounds you can buy so much delicious, flavorful food in London that I don't think I'd recommend Ottolenghi to anyone. It was decent food, tiny portions and overall did not live up to expectations. read more

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Large party at this very good restaurant in Spitalfields. They served a wide variety of dishes, and all were excellent. I can especially recommend the celeriac skewers. read more

Over the years I have learned and cooked middle eastern food from Ottolenghi! I was pumped to try one of his restaurants, and it did not disappoint. It's recommended that you get 5-6 dishes to share between two of you - we got the ladopita, Muhammara, Taktouka, peppers and shawarma. Everything tasted incredible, hard to pick a favorite - but the pita and muhammara were memorable. The chicken shawarma was unlike anything I had ever eaten - it was chicken stuffed in a phyllo dough and baked. That was suppose to be my healthy entree, but it ended up being a carb bomb, not complaining though. Can't wait to be back in London and try the other Ottolenghi restaurants. read more

Went for Afternoon lunch with family.. Menu was from the kitchen and 2 salads ( Seabream fillet, char grilled salsa, fried chickpeas price 29.5 and selection of three salads). The fish was truly good and could not be better. the portions were adequete.. the price per person felt a bit high. Something to mention... The view from the table onto the back alleys of London was not something I would wish to see when having lunch with passer by's on and off peeking inside on the window and the dirt strewn on the back alley . Maybe pulling the fancy red curtains would have been a good. Overall a nice afternoon in Spitalfields. read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Seabream fillet and 3 salad sides - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

Are you allowed to swear in yelp reviews? I feel compelled to use expletives to communicate the amount in which I love eating the peas here. Like ... what?????? What the hell?????? Cold peas??? I LOVE THEM. I LOVE OTTOLENGHI. CALL ME WHTEVER TOU WANT BUT I LOVE IT!!!!!!! read more

Ottolenghi = beautiful food, and if you've ever seen one of Ottolenghi's cookbooks, you'll know just what I mean! It's been a dream of mine to visit an Ottolenghi restaurant after having been inspired by the Middle Eastern flavors showcased in his books, and my experience here met every expectation! In the front of the restaurant is a huge display area of desserts and cold appetizers, as well as a shop where you can buy packaged goods and pantry staples. What a feast for the eyes! But then it was time for dinner! After starting with a plate of three types of bread (including a cheese focaccia and a feta/polenta bread), we had two of the cold appetizers on display: the cumin roasted cauliflower topped with turmeric yoghurt and sour cherries; and the roasted heritage carrots topped with cashew tofu and fried shallots. Both of these dishes were so balanced and complex in flavor--the spice of the "curried" yogurt paired beautifully with the cauliflower, and the roasted carrots were so tender and earthy, but balanced with the creamy almond "tofu". Then came the selections from the kitchen! The sweet roasted beetroot and grilled pear paired nicely with the salty whipped feta and the nuttiness and earthiness of the dukkah. I also loved the lamb fatteh, which were small fried patties of ground, spiced lamb served over tahini yogurt, aubergine, pine nuts, and a few pieces of fried pita! But my favorite dish (though not by far) was probably the marinated aubergine served over lime labneh and topped with sunflower brittle. The aubergine here was the most tender, smoky eggplant I've had, and it paired perfectly with the sour labneh and the nutty sunflower brittle and Aleppo pepper on top! Every bite here was just full of flavor and magic (as you'd expect from Ottolenghi's recipes). The romantic atmosphere and friendly service were memorable parts as well, and though the prices weren't cheap, the flavors and experience were definitely worth the visit! read more

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Amazing. This was my first meal after flying in from the States. Excellent service, warm atmosphere, thankful I was able to snag a seat at the bar with no reservation. Highly recommend. You won't be disappointed. read more

The food is inspiring, fun, terrific! Important to go with a little group (4-6?) if you like to taste a wide variety! We were so into it that I forgot to take photos. We had outstanding service from foodie wait staff. But, if you're on a budget, agree in advance to be modest in your alcohol selection or your bill can skyrocket. Our group spent less than 1/2 of what our friends at the next table spent. And alas, they found their waiter to be snooty! Of a group of 12, 8 left happy and eager to go back, and 4 were disappointed. Interesting how an experience can be impacted both by our own attitude and behavior, as well as others... Its quite a balancing act! Take away for me is to bring your best, and eat and drink mindfully. read more

Without exaggeration I had the best lunch of my life at Ottolenghi. The flavors were amazing. I had the quiche with gem salad and rice. My partner had the succulent chicken breast with eggplant and hummus . We shared a piece of vanilla cheesecake. Every mouthful was a delight. Our server was charming. Can't wait to go back. read more

Fabulous spot. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner. We had roasted aubergine, cauliflower and sea bream. Luscious flavors and great presentation read more

Amazing food, service and ambience. Ottolenghi always prepares veg in delicious and unexpected ways. The desserts are are always a 10/10. Highly recommend!! read more

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Ottolenghi's is a bit overrated. The dishes are interesting, but the recipes during my visit were not especially innovative nor delicious. Many recipes relied on a whipped cheese or yogurt base to overwhelm, meaning they were very rich and heavy. Prices were high, but not crazy for White Chapel or The City. Service was attentive, but staff were somewhat aloof. Importantly the place has a problem with insect control. There were hundreds of fruit flies around the table, on the walls, ceiling, and generally flying through the air during the summer. The bugs made it difficult to enjoy a £100 dinner. It was actually gross. read more

ottolenghi was at the top of my list to eat at when we visited london. we were not disappointed. i cook ottolenghi recipes at home at least once a week so i did not want to miss out actually trying his food! we had a mixture of cold and hot tapas's. peppers, squash's, shrimp, moussaka salad, pork belly and more. every bite was different and beautifully prepared. do not miss!! read more

Living 30 seconds from Ottolenghi means that I am in a state of constant temptation due to the scent of spiced apple bakers' confectionery emanating from the delicatessen side of this mini-franchise. I had the highest hope for this duet of sit-down restaurant meets grab-and-go counter, named after the Israeli-chef owner's namesake. The airy, modernistic interior is uncluttered, leaving you to concentrate firmly on the Med/Middle Eastern food. From the outside, particularly at night, it has a romantic yet sexy feel due to the dim lighting. Probably an upshot of it's heavy dependence on natural lighting by way of a middle room glass ceiling and and sleek glass walls. I think our mistake was coming at 10pm for dinner - they had run out of the Cabrito goat shawarma which was what I was angling for. The wait staff appeared either tired or bored depending on the particular server and took ages to bring out wine, finally bringing the wrong one. I found the menu interesting but not especially inspiring. The duck confit with crushed artichoke and figs, which we both opted for, was lovely in flavour but the portions are rather small and the duck has been taken off the bone and put into almost a terrine-style cube. Just a slightly different image from the one I had in my head - of bone-on crispy and succulent skin. The artichoke and fig was absolutely impeccable allowing some forgiveness in the confusion. The portion of olives, which was at least 5 pounds, reaped around 12 olives without any oil or bread. Disappointing value for money. I had been promised, by goers before, that there would be toppling towers of colorful salads and vegetarian delights. Looking at the brunch menu and the lunch menu, we seem to have been deprived of this at dinner. I am intrigued by the Butter bean mash with padron peppers and jalepeno sauce, the roasted pumpkin with farro, date molasses and feta, and the butternut squash quiche with membrillo and stilton. I don't give up so easily, Ottelenghi. Expect an updated review soon. read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

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We were a big group and were served a wide variety of items. Everything was delicious. The staff were very helpful.

After hearing so many friends rave about Ottolenghi's recipes, I was expecting to be blown away by this place. The ambiance was nice (white linens, dim lighting and candles), and some of the dishes were standouts, but I found the menu to be a little bit hit or miss. Most dishes were definitely a bit on the pricey side, and the meal came out to about £50-60 per person (we did order 3 drinks for a party of 4). I didn't find the service to be that great either - it was fine at the beginning but then it seemed like they forgot about us and it took an hour for the dessert + check to come and we were ready to be done with the meal. TL;DR: I'd probably give this - 3.5 stars. I think there are better places to eat in London at similar or cheaper price points. The best dishes for me: burrata with rhubarb and dates, and crushed carrot with labneh, and pork belly. We ended up getting doubles of the burrata and pork belly because we liked it so much. This is a nice place for 2, 4, or 6 people, but I think 4 is the optimal size so that you can share various dishes and be able to try enough things. They recommend 2 dishes per person, I think we ended up with about 10 dishes for our party of 4 because we repeated 2 of our favourite things. Some of the dishes only come with 3 pieces (like the pork belly) -- I wish they would accommodate it for 4 people and add an extra piece of meat and charge a little more -- some restaurants do this and it makes it much easier than trying to cut 3 pieces of pork belly into 4. Here are the dishes that I liked in the order that I liked them (best to worst): Burrata, rhubarb, dates and nigella seed caramel (£11.50) - We all loved this one, we ordered a second one because one wasn't enough. The burrata was super fresh, the shredded (and maybe pickled) rhubarb and the dates were a nice sweet contrast to the savory, and there were a lot of different textures and flavors all in one dish. I'd highly recommend this! Crushed carrot and rose harissa with labneh, pistachio mint and pea shoots (£9.50) - I wasn't that excited about this dishes -- I like carrots but don't love them, but this was fantastic. Really unique way to prepare and serve carrots, and the rose harissa and pistachio mint were so interesting in flavor. The pistachio added a nice texture. I'd highly recommend this also! Pork Belly, Kimchi, Pink Grapefruit, Salted Black Bean (£12.50) - We ended up getting two of these because we didn't realize there were only 3 pieces of pork belly, not 4, and we had all eaten it. It's hard to share / cut the pieces of pork belly, so just plan accordingly for you party. The pork belly was great though and the skin was super crispy like a chicharron. The kimchi was great too but I preferred the pork belly alone so that I could really taste the pork belly. Great dish, and would recommend this! Roasted aubergine with tahini and miso yoghurt, almonds, chili and herbs (£9.50) - This was good too, but not super unique - I've had eggplant before, and I liked it with the yoghurt and almonds. It was good, but it if I came back, I don't think I'd repeat it. Pan Fried Octopus with edamame, sprouts and white soy (£12.50) - Proportionally, there wasn't much octopus in the dish. Every time I thought I'd be eating a piece of octopus, I was sadly eating a piece of edamame. Good, but not one of my favourite dishes. Spiced Pumpkin with Goat's Milk Labneh, Picked Grapes & Jalapeno (£11.00) - There were not very many pieces of the pumpkin - almost just 1-1.5 cubes per person? Nothing super special. Yellow Fin Tuna with Soy, Ginger and Spring onion sauce (£11.50) - There were only 3 pieces of thinly sliced tuna which makes this pretty pricey per piece of tuna. Nothing special here - I've had plenty of raw tuna in my life, and this was a disappointment. We got a lemon & mascarpone tart for dessert but didn't really care for this. It was too sweet and too sour all at the same time - maybe it could have used some meringue to balance it out, and the crust seemed a bit burnt. I would pass on their desserts. All in all, some dishes were hit or miss - some interesting flavour and texture combinations, but the entire meal didn't really make me jump up and down for excitement. I'd come back here again to eat if someone really wanted to come, but don't think I'd make it a regular place in my restaurants of choice or in my recommendations. There are better options out there for the money. read more

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On my visit to Ottolenghi, I sampled every type of salad they were serving! All were very good, but the ones that I found particularly memorable were the roasted aubergine, tandoori cauliflower, and butter bean mash. If the food weren't so expensive, I would try to eat healthily here everyday. It's definitely a struggle to turn a blind eye toward their pastry section though! read more

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During our vacation in London we were fortunate to eat in two of Ottolenghi's restaurants.the first time was at their Upper Street location and we actually reserved a table while still in New York. We loved that restaurant and while, yes, there was a high expectation based on all the hype, we felt that the ambience, the service and food made our experience very memorable. When we were wandering around London on our last full day, we literally walked past this location and since fortunately, it was past their lunch time rush, we were able to walk in and get a table. The lunch menu was very different and ( again) we shared everything and we thought the service and the environment was casual and lovely. And their take out desserts were so gorgeous ( if you can refer to desserts that way) that we decided to buy some desserts as gifts to bring home as well as to have some for our flight back to JFK. It's tough when s restaurant has to surpass the hype but I think Ottolenghi succeeded ! read more

I don't usually give out 5 star reviews but the extra special service really put this place over the top. We landed in London from Los Angeles and had to deal with lost luggage so we phoned the restaurant to let them know we may not make it. They said just keep them updated and they would keep the table as long as possible. We couldn't reach them due to dialing errors on our part (Not dialing the proper prefix from our US cell phone) and arrived to find that we just missed the table- she had left it open for 2 extra hours but just had to let it go since she hadn't heard from us. Emily, the hostess suspected that we wouldn't make it that night so proactively blocked a table for 5 for the whole night next night in case we had to rebook. Amazing!! So of course we came back the next night to impeccable service and a most amazing meal. Don't miss out on ordering a variety of salads and vegetables to start. Our favorites were the roasted carrots, roasted beets and bitter leaves were delicious! Beautifully prepared and so perfectly seasoned. We then shared the Manti, lamb fatteh and duck and plum croquettes. All delicious. We also had the prawns and those were not my favorite. It was the only dish that was a bit disappointing. It was definitely the best meal we had during our stay in London. read more

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Gluten-friendly afternoon dessert. Delicious. Menu: I had the orange polenta cake. It didn't contain chocolate which I was very happy about! The cake was moist and not too sweet. I need to find this recipe. I will come back for more desserts and to try their lunch or dinner options. Venue: There is an assortment of desserts and fresh items on display. The restaurant has window seating which is great for people watching. Very cozy and very modern decor. Close to the tube and close to Spitalfield market. Service: The staff was friendly and very helpful. They didn't shun me for bringing in my own tea on a cold rainy summer day. I'm pretty sure I was wet and shivering. read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

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Vegetarians beware. I was super excited to try this restaurant based on my love of his amazing cookbook. The veggie choices were several cold salads, deep fried zucchini, burrata cheese and falafel and hummus (which were shamefully salty, cold in the middle and generally uninspired.... I mean come on, this should have been the best bloody dish on the table, it went uneaten after the initial bite) They have an amazing cookbook sitting there on the shelf for sale, but are unable to translate any of the authors inspiration into any of the veggie dishes. I was underwhelmed and even a little insulted by the mediocrity of both selection and quality of the dishes. The meat eaters in the group were all happy and their food looked pretty good. We did not finish two of the three desserts. Dry tart and stodgy cheesecake. Yikes.... Brutally mediocre and with my initial expectations that translates to brutally bad. I will never recommend this place to my veggie friends visiting London. Go somewhere that cares. read more

Phenomenal and according to the women next to me, authentic to the Middle East, and specifically, Israel. I've never been to Israel, so I wouldn't know. But what I do know is the food is amazing. I started with the celeriac appetizer. Root vegetable with more flavor than any meat dish I've ever tasted - perfect! Then I had the dumplings and asparagus, both of which were out of this world. Highly worth the wait! Service was great too! A must do for any foodie visit to London! read more

Ottolenghi Spitalfields - Celeriac appetizer dish - Mediterranean Near Me - London, XGL

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