Harden's says
Arabica's new branch can be found in the ground floor corner of the Aga Khan Centre building, a stone's throw from Coal Drops Yard.
Harden's survey result
Summary
A street stall serving “interesting Middle Eastern food” that has developed over the years into a fully-fledged restaurant – this “buzzy” Borough Market fixture makes a “fun” option for a simple meal, while its spinoff across town makes a “decent enough addition to King’s Cross”. Ratings are dragged down, though, by the sceptical view that – while nice enough – the food never manages to hit the gastronomic heights.
Summary
One of the success stories of Borough Market – this Levantine operation with an “interesting mix of Middle Eastern food” started out as a simple stall before trading up to a permanent restaurant that gets “very busy at lunchtime”. It has a similarly well-rated offshoot in King’s Cross.
Summary
“The food is always a delight” at this “consistently high-quality” Levantine specialist “with an emphasis on inventive veg”. Originally a market stall, it graduated to a restaurant inside a Borough railway arch, with a second branch in King’s Cross. Top Menu Tips – “the stand-out cod dish with chunky flakes cooked just perfectly” and “the toasted flatbread that comes hot in rustling bags”.
Summary
“Excellent” Middle Eastern food – “lots of very tasty dishes, with the veggie plates taking the crown” – wins solid ratings for this former festival stall that has moved steadily upmarket over two decades, and now has a glass-fronted flagship at Borough Market, a restaurant in King’s Cross and an outlet in Selfridges’ food hall. For regulars, its revised menu inspires mixed feelings (“an improvement” to some, “a step back” for others).
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).
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