Harden's survey result
Summary
“Never tire of it”, declare the legion of fans of Sam & Sam Clark’s Exmouth Market stalwart, crowning it “still one of the best”; and hailing “top flavours” from a “super-reliable” Spanish/North African menu (“no tweezers here, just very tasty food in generous portions”); all alongside the “buzzy” and “cool” setting and “classy Iberian wines to boot”. “Chaotic” service seems to have been a recurring problem this year, though, and that it’s nowadays too “crowded, rowdy, and highly priced” features in ever-more reports. Top Menu Tips – “top starters include the smoky duck breast with orange, and delicate lamb’s kidneys on toast; charcoal-grilled lamb with beetroot is perfection; the yogurt cake could be described as Moroccan Mess!”
Summary
“Still great even after all these years” and “still an absolute favourite” – Sam & Sam Clark’s inspired stalwart helped put Exmouth Market on London’s foodie map when it opened in 1997, with its “super-flavoursome” Spanish/North African food from an “ever-changing menu”, all “washed down with wonderful wines” (predominantly Spanish, and also from Portugal and Lebanon) and fine selection of sherries. Fans say there’s “a lovely buzz” too, but the room can be horribly “noisy”… “is it getting worse?”
Summary
“Have loved it forever!” – “After all these years Sam and Sam Clark’s vanguard player in the 1990s British restaurant revolution still punches well up to its weight” (and scored much more consistently again this year, with one or two diners noting a “marked improvement” after a soggy couple of years). “Still packed, still pushing out creative Spanish/Moorish food, still surprisingly good value, and still in a minimalist space that’s fundamentally 1990s”; it’s a “heartwarming delight” for its big and ultra-loyal fan club. Other plusses include “excellent Spanish wine list and relaxed-but-efficient service”. The “only issue is the noise level, which can make it difficult to hear your companion, even on a small table”.
Summary
“Still going strong (after all these 25 years)… the only downside is that it can feel noisy when full” – that’s long been the classic view on Sam and Sam Clark’s “old favourite” on Exmouth Market, where an “interesting range of tasty”, “Spanish/Moorish-influenced dishes” are provided alongside an “oenological tour of Spain” from the extensive Iberian wine list (which has an “exciting selection of wines by the glass”). Its ratings have been drifting south, however, over a period of years, due to the minority who “really want to like it, but find the food lacking punch” nowadays. Top Tip – “on a weekday, at lunchtimes, Moro sets up a stall in the street outside the restaurant, and sells tagine with couscous to take away: some of the best street food in the UK!”
For 34 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?
34-36 Exmouth Mkt, London, EC1R 4QE
Restaurant details
Moro Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Various visits over the year, all excellent food"
"Service always used to be exceptional but under new floor team was chaotic. Food still terrific and ambience noisy but cool/fun"
Prices
| Wine per bottle | £39.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
34-36 Exmouth Mkt, London, EC1R 4QE
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:15 pm, 5:15 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‑3 pm |
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