Holborn, Middle Eastern Restaurant Guide

“Flavours that transport you to the Middle East” inspire adoration for fans of Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich’s “interesting” café, which moved to Bloomsbury (to the former site of Cigala, RIP) in 2022 having been a major media sensation when it first touched down near Warren Street 10 years earlier. The “brilliant range of eastern Med tapas” is “fresh and delightful” and acclaimed by many for their best meal of the year: an impressive achievement for a relatively humble operation. If there’s a criticism, it’s that some reporters feel the raves are overdone, judging the performance “enjoyable but not exceptional”. Top Menu Tips – “The Falafel starter is magic (and I am comparing it with a number of experiences in the Middle East)”. “Slow- cooked lamb is smooth, tender and tasty, and the stuffed aubergines are a flavour and texture sensation”; “finally onto cheesecake… unlike any previously experienced!”

Review: “Really enjoyable and imaginative Middle Eastern food” at “reasonable prices” wins very consistent praise for this modern duo in Marylebone and Shoreditch from Tel Aviv-born Limor Chen and her husband Amir. It’s “family- and veggie-friendly” too, with very welcoming service. In late 2024, a new Delamina branch is planned for the periphery of Covent Garden. Top Menu Tips – “Charred Cauliflower; also the moist and tasty date cake”.