Harden's survey result
Summary
“A firm favourite for years” – Sam & Sam Clark’s Exmouth Market stalwart helped put the area on London’s foodie map and maintains a huge fan club with its “vibrant” and “deliciously spiced” Spanish and Moroccan influenced dishes, “alongside an excellent list of Spanish wines and sherries!” That there’s “nothing poncy about the place” is much of its enduring appeal, although “what with all those hard surfaces, it’s always a bit noisy” (sometimes deafeningly so). There is a small minority who feel the experience here is “not quite what it was” in days gone by. Even they can feel it’s “still worth patronising”, though, and most reporters would go much further – “Every time I go, I vow to go more often!”
Summary
“Still going strong twenty years on…”, “still stylish…”, “still needing acoustic engineering…!” – Samuel & Samantha Clark’s “unflashy” Exmouth Market legend has maintained an enormous loyal fanclub over the years. The draw is its “consistently excellent cooking, with distinctive Spanish and North African flavours” (“so fresh and vibrant”); plus “a great list of sherries and wines”, all delivered in a “relaxed and buzzy” (“always noisy”) setting. But, for a growing minority of regulars, it’s “not always as good as yesteryear”: service “if well-meaning is sometimes patchy”; and “though the old-favourite dishes are still cracked out with aplomb, they’re not as adventurous as they once seemed”. Such reservations tend to be quibbles, rather than full-on complaints, however, and the overall consensus is that it’s “still a real favourite!”
Summary
“Still going strong twenty years on…”, “still stylish…”, “still needing acoustic engineering…!” – Samuel & Samantha Clark’s “unflashy” Exmouth Market legend has maintained an enormous loyal fanclub over the years. The draw is its “consistently excellent cooking, with distinctive Spanish and North African flavours” (“so fresh and vibrant”); plus “a great list of sherries and wines”, all delivered in a “relaxed and buzzy” (“always noisy”) setting. But, for a growing minority of regulars, it’s “not always as good as yesteryear”: service “if well-meaning is sometimes patchy”; and “though the old-favourite dishes are still cracked out with aplomb, they’re not as adventurous as they once seemed”. Such reservations tend to be quibbles, rather than full-on complaints, however, and the overall consensus is that it’s “still a real favourite!”
Summary
“I’ve been coming for 20 years – it’s yet to disappoint”. Samuel & Samantha Clark’s “unpretentious” (“no cheffery”) Exmouth Market landmark still turns out “memorable Spanish and North African dishes, with a terrific selection of Spanish and Portuguese wines and sherries”. Indeed, for its vast fan club, “the only limitation is the noise: it’s not great for conversation” given how “echoey” the room can become. All this said, a small band of long-term fans do sound a warning note, feeling “the food has become a bit more variable in quality and interest” in recent years. It’s still a minority view though – most reporters are just “grateful not to live nearby: otherwise I’d never go anywhere else…”
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Moro?
Restaurant details
Moro Restaurant Diner Reviews

"I really wanted to like Moro and the service was the best I have ever experienced. Unfortunately the food was on the whole quite ordinary with a lack of punch to the dishes."

"Excellent food and service"

"Contrary to current reviews this was absolutely up to scratch. Lovely, friendly, well-informed service. Super food -we chose the North African end of the menu and it was spot on. Highly recommended "

"It is a marvellous place, filled with a lovely waiting team and delicious spices. It’s a delight to be back. It’s always a bit noisy, what with all the hard surfaces, who cares when the food is vibrant and delicious."
Prices
![]() |
|
---|---|
Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
Filter Coffee | £2.50 |
![]() |
|
---|---|
Service | 10.00% |
34-36 Exmouth Mkt, London, EC1R 4QE
Opening hours
Monday | 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 pm‑10:30 pm |
Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 pm‑10:30 pm |
Thursday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 pm‑10:30 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 pm‑10:30 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 pm‑10:30 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 pm‑10:30 pm |
Best Spanish restaurants nearby
Spanish restaurant in Clerkenwell
Spanish restaurant in Farringdon
Spanish restaurant in King's Cross
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Traditional restaurant in Clerkenwell
British, Modern restaurant in Bloomsbury
British, Modern restaurant in Holborn