Ottolenghi: Very Hip Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Restaurant in North London

A few months ago, I checked out Ottolenghi in North London. This very trendy Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant has been recommended to me by a few people, so I was very curious to check it out. 

The restaurant isn't super big, but it's fairly long and narrow. The dining room is communal sitting for the most part, while the front of the restaurant it more cafe style and you can buy the mouthwatering confection in the window. I came here with my parents and from the moment we walked in, I felt like this might not be their scene....

The decor and the furniture was just a little too modern and trendy, if that makes sense. Heck, even I wasn't crazy about it. It almost felt like I had traveled back to the 1970s. Groovy, man.
The front of the restaurant and then dining room in the back
Yum yum!

Ottolenghi's dishes are very much tapas style plates and the flavor inspirations are a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. The menu is divided in half between cold and hot dishes. The menu is a little small, but each dish sounded absolutely tantalizing! I really wanted to try everything. 
After much deliberation with my parents, we shared up five plates, which were all superb. We enjoyed the following dishes:
- grilled king prawns, tom yum sauce, Tokyo turnips, and shiitake mushrooms
- tempura courgette flowers with ricotta, Schneeflockil, truffle honey, and walnuts
- paneer and potato fritters, butter curry, courgette and mint chutney
- grilled mackerel, green mango nam prik, sorrel, peanuts, and toasted rice
- miso quail, sweet and sour Thai shallots, grapes, and plum wine

I will apologize in advanced -- I ate here back in May, so my memory may not be quite as sharp. I do recall really enjoying most of the dishes. The one dish that I had mixed feelings about was the quail, but that was because I felt the shallots were too sour. The quail was beautifully cooked and very succulent.

In the courgette flowers, I recall particularly enjoying the truffle honey and the walnuts. The truffle honey was beautiful since you got to enjoy the wonderful aroma of truffle, but the honey added a touch of sweetness to the dish, that complemented the ingredients. Also, if I recall correctly, the walnut were a bit caramelized, so that was really lovely.

Sadly, I cannot recall any specifics about the other three dishes, but I do recall loving every single mouthful. I remember thinking, "wow, these are flavors that I've never experienced before and they all work brilliantly together! I love all of this!" Really really delicious dishes. Beautifully presented too!
Our selection of dishes

All in all, my evening at Ottolenghi was really delightful. I'll confess, the decor wasn't exactly to my liking and, called me old fashioned, I prefer having my own table vs communal dining, but hey, it's all part of the experience right? For me, it was all about the food. Really really stunning flavors, artistic presentation, and also, really good service! I'd say, all of the hype I hear about this place is spot on. If you want to try new foods and flavor, and you want to be in London's very trendy Angel neighborhood, I recommend Ottolenghi! :D 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gordon Ramsay's Cheesy Potato Dauphinoise

Image
I am fairly impressionable --- at least when it comes to cooking. When I see a recipe or a dish that intrigues me, I become obsessed and determine to give it a go. I have been obsessively watching Come Dine With Me  for at least one month and a dish that keeps popping up is: Potato Dauphionoise. I've eaten this side dish a couple times in my life, but not recently. It looked so delicious and easy to make, and I was determined to try my hand at this posh looking side. As per usual, I consulted the internet to look for recipes. As most of you know, I am obsessed with Gordon Ramsay. He is always my go to. If he doesn't have a recipe for something I want to make, I'm always feel a little lost, but luckily, that wasn't the case this time. I was delighted to have stumbled upon Gordon Ramsay's "Gratin Dauphonoise." He has yet to let me down and you know what, this dish was a winner! Something that I am adding to my repertoire.  This dish was incredibly e...
Read more

Truffle Cream Cheese & Chive Spread

Image
So, I realize that this post is rather late…but I figure, better late than never, right? Over New Years, I was searching for recipes online, when I stumbled upon a new Gordon Ramsay recipe. As we all know, I LOVE Gordon Ramsay, in fact, I should probably just change my username to that.  Chef Ramsay has a recipe for a deliciously decadent, but oh so easy truffle cream cheese spread, and I couldn't resist. The ingredients are simple, you may even have most of them, and it takes no more than ten minutes to make. Oh, and it's delicious.  Whether you are entertaining guests or spending time alone, this spread is perfect for all occasions. It's great with bread and crackers, it's also delicious with grapes. The fluffiness of the cream cheese/sour cream, coupled with the decadence and amazing aroma of the truffle oil makes this a really luxurious spread that everyone will love! For Gordon Ramsay's video, please click this link .  Ingredients: - small con...
Read more

Tawaraya - One of Kyoto's Most Famous and Oldest Ryokans

Image
On this visit to Kyoto, rather than stay at a hotel, my parents and I were fortunate enough two spend two nights at the very famous and exclusive Tawaraya ryokan . Tawaraya is considered one of the most famous and posh ryokans in Japan. Past guests have included Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, and even Marlon Brando! (Many famous Japanese people have stayed here as well, but these three just popped into my head). We made our reservation one year in advance, but even then, we had difficulty getting a room!  To quote Wikipedia: "A ryokan ( 旅館 ) is a type of traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo Period (1603 ~ 1868), when such inns served travelers along Japan's highways. They typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner…Most ryokans offer dinner and breakfast, which are often included in the price of the room. Most visitors take their meals at the ryokan, which usuall...
Read more