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AKUB – NEW PALESTINIAN RESTAURANT IN LONDON
I VISITED THIS NEW PALESTINIAN RESTAURANT IN JANUARY AND LOVED THE DECOR AND FOOD FLAVOURS. HERE IS MY FULL REVIEW.
If you have yet to hear about Akub, I highly recommend visiting this new Palestinian restaurant in central London close to Notting Hill. The restaurant showcases Palestinian cuisine and has beautiful minimal decor with white, green and brown hues predominantly lighting up the rooms, thanks to the big windows and glass roof. There is a peaceful and earthy feeling.
Akub is divided into three floors, each room having a distinct identity. There is a hidden bar on the lower floor next to the kitchen. Unfortunately, I saw it when going to the restroom and didn’t have my phone to take photos. Last but not least, I particularly liked the dark green plates used to set up the tables and the coffee cups, as they both had a rustic character. They were uniquely designed for Akub by a pottery artist. Time to dig into my review of Akub and find out about this new Palestinian restaurant in London.
BREAKFAST AT AKUB: YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS NEW PALESTINIAN RESTAURANT IN LONDON
Palestinian cuisine is relatively new to us, and we weren’t sure what to order. We decided to choose the sharing breakfast for two people called “Ftoor Lazeez (Delicious breakfast)” which included:
Coffee or tea each;
Two eggs each (boiled or fried);
A delicious bread selection (Akub bread, Nigella seed crackers & spiced focaccia);
Dips (Labaneh & Humous);
Veggy (Fava Bean Foul & Zaatar Roasted Tomatoes);
Selection of condiments & spices (Sumac, Zaatar, Olive oil, Pear Jam & Honey)
After Froor Lazeez, we ordered my favourite dish, the Arabic coffee French toast. I’m still ecstatic about it. I can score it the best French toast I had in my life. The fluffiness was like walking on clouds, the texture was so soft and the taste so delicate. Wow!
We spent around £65. Breakfast for two was £44, the French toast £14. Plus 12.5% service charge
OVERALL IMPRESSION
We had an excellent impression from the moment we arrived. The staff was welcoming and had great enthusiasm. I liked the natural light. The only decor aspect that I didn’t like was the artificial tree because it collects dust over time and is hard to keep clean.
Choosing Ftoor Lazeez was the best option because the menu was overwhelming, considering my lack of knowledge about Palestinian cuisine. On the other hand, I would have preferred to be approached by the waiting staff and driven through the menu.
When the Arabic coffee French toast was served, we were not told to pour the coffee on the French toast. Even if it could be logical to do so, I would have anticipated a potential guest’s question and informed them rather than go back to the colleague and keep on talking. Unfortunately, I didn’t find some staff attentive to the guest’s needs.
Regarding the price, maybe for £22 each, we should have received slightly larger portions. If I had gone somewhere else and had an eggy breakfast, I would have probably spent slightly less but had more food. Ftoor Lazeez has a lot of dips and spices, which will not fill me up for long. I recommend adding a sweet component to the breakfast to make it more attractive and substantial. Nonetheless, the flavours were authentic.
Conscious that we visited Akub just one week after opening, it definitely has all the potential to improve and become a destination restaurant within central London as the food was delicious while keeping the unique middle eastern flavours.
AKUB – NEW PALESTINIAN RESTAURANT IN LONDON
I VISITED THIS NEW PALESTINIAN RESTAURANT IN JANUARY AND LOVED THE DECOR AND FOOD FLAVOURS. HERE IS MY FULL REVIEW.
If you have yet to hear about Akub, I highly recommend visiting this new Palestinian restaurant in central London close to Not...
TRY OUT UCHI A FANTASTIC JAPANESE RESTAURANT IN EAST LONDON
If you are bored of always hearing about the same Japanese restaurants and perhaps looking for something special then look no further, Uchi is an incredible Japanese restaurant in the heart of East London.
As my mission is to spot hidden gems and share them with you I was struggling to find a Japanese restaurant that would fit my not-central London location criteria and have an authentic Japanese vibe.
When Uchi Restaurant came up, I knew immediately that it would be the right one.
Love at first sight! Not everything went perfectly, but I believe Uchi Restaurant stands out among London’s many Japanese restaurants.
UCHI IS AN AUTHENTIC JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Uchi is a stand-alone Japanese restaurant located in Clapton, East London. They also offer take away option.
Even before entering, I immerse myself in the Japanese atmosphere, as they have large windows with a view of the horigotatsu tables and the restaurant. It immediately gave me a home feeling. The name of the restaurant couldn’t be more appropriate as Uchi means house in Japanese.
It’s very modest, tackled away between flats in the residential area of Hackney. You wouldn’t look for a restaurant there unless you knew it. Being away from the main street actually enfolds the restaurant with an intimate ambience. Uchi is perfect for first dates, family reunions or romantic meals.
Uchi operates mostly in the evenings and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Due to the limited opening hours, it is hard to book the table as they seem to accept reservations only by phone (voicemail service available).
Tricks for you (which I wish I had known before, I visited Uchi): It is possible to book via Table Agent.
As always, I suggest you book in advance, especially if you wish to dine at the horigotatsu. My booking was made just a few days before the visit and therefore we were allocated to the main room overlooking the kitchen & bar.
INSIDE UCHI RESTAURANT: REVIEW
The restaurant has a vibrant soul with a mix of wooden & metal furniture. A beautiful golden countertop and delicate blush walls with soft lights are perfect to create a romantic atmosphere. The Japanese crockery is stunning. The robata grill section of the kitchen overlooks the restaurant.
Uchi offers an interesting menu and also they have a board with the daily specials.
Robata Grill view at Uchi Restaurant
Metal counter at Uchi Japanese Restaurant
Write your order at Uchi Restaurant
A pen and a menu/order pad are part of the mise en place. We wrote our dishes selection/quantity and then the waiter would come and place the order.
Suggestion: The food would come as ready without a specific order, so should you wish to eat cold food first and hot after, I recommend ordering bits by bits.
I thought the waiter would have placed the order so that the food would have come reasonably spread and considering the serving temperature. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case and soon we were invaded by plates. This has slightly spoiled the experience. I had to rush to eat the hot food otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to taste them at their best quality even If I wanted to start from the cold.
JAPANESE FOOD & DRINKS AT UCHI
Starting from the cold dishes I would like to highlight the incredibly fresh and tasty sashimi selection. We had a variety of five different fishes:
Scallops: Very creamy and buttery;
White tuna: delicate and subtle;
Salmon: smooth, with a hint of saltiness.
Tuna: tender and mild
Kingfish: extremely strong in taste, almost overpowering.
Sashimi Selection at Uchi Japanese Restaurant in London
Food selection at Uchi Japanese Restaurant in London
I invite you to eat them in this order. I would have appreciated the waiter directing us and suggesting which fish we should have started with and the ones to follow due to the intensity of the flavours.
We also tried the sea urchin gunkan (uni nigiri). The taste recalled my first trip to Sicily, where I ate them for the first time. All suddenly I was diving to the seabed rather than realising I was still in London. If you haven’t had it before, just to give you an idea, the kingfish is delicate compared to a sea urchin.
We tried the beef roll, by the look I thought it would be very dry but the moisture from the meat completely embraced the roll and created an incredible and balanced taste. This was my first time having a meat roll! Loved it!
We had an incredible wagyu nigiri. It had smoky notes and the meat was extremely tender. Also it was served with a contrasting agrodolce dressing. What a great pair!
The perfectly executed vegetable tempura had a faultless battering not greasy at all.
We tried Taro Imo Kara-age, the vegetarian version of the chicken kara-age. The spicy sauce was for me slightly too strong.
The delicate matcha tart was our dessert, beautifully decorated with strawberries.
SAKE IS A MUST!
If you haven’t heard yet about Sake, just so you know it is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice. You can have it hot or cold but not all restaurants have the sake warmer machine. Uchi has it, so you can choose or even try both.
We went for cold sake and I was reluctant to try it again, as we went to a Japanese restaurant a few months back in West London and I didn’t like it. I found the sake we chose very light and pleasant on the palate with a hint of strawberry. Sake is like wine, you might not like one but another might be amazing, so this was an unexpected surprise. Also, my matcha green tea was superior to the one I would normally find in other Japanese restaurants.
DETAILED ORDER – UCHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT IN EAST LONDON
Drinks:
Cold sake: honjozo, standard grade 150 ml £9
Green tea: ryoku cha £3
Food:
Mixed sashimi £28
Wagyu nigiri £16
Taro imo kara age £6 (v)
Uni nigiri £11
Seared beef roll £14
Sea salt edamame £4 (v)
Vegetable tempura £6 (v)
Chicken yakitori robata grill skewers £7
Matcha tart £11 (v)
The total bill for 2 people was £129.37 (12.5% service charge included)
TRY OUT UCHI A FANTASTIC JAPANESE RESTAURANT IN EAST LONDON
If you are bored of always hearing about the same Japanese restaurants and perhaps looking for something special then look no further, Uchi is an incredible Japanese restaurant in the heart of East London.
As my mission is to s...
TOBA NEW INDONESIAN RESTAURANT IN LONDON
Surely you have already heard about the new Indonesian restaurant in London, Toba. Even if it has recently opened Toba’s reputation is already bouncing all over the city. Pino, the owner is already well-known in the London food scene. Pino has been running Pino’s Warung in Camden Market for many years, serving to Londoners and visitors authentic Indonesian food. Warungs are traditional Indonesian family-run small eateries known for offering genuine and delicious recipes.
The name of this new Indonesian restaurant in London comes from one of Earth’s largest known explosive eruptions that happened where nowadays you can find Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Toba Restaurant Decor
Toba restaurant is located in St. James’s Market so privileged to be hidden away from the noisy traffic of central London. The restaurant has a welcoming feeling, soft dim lights, a choice of earthy tones and a predominance of wood. With its sharing concept, Toba offers the most famous dishes from Indonesia perhaps with a modern presentation and well-balanced flavours. Toba is cosy, I counted just less than 40 seats which justifies the turning time for the tables. Anyway, an hour and a half are standard for a table of two in London.
This was our first attempt at eating Indonesian food. We decided to try it just a few days before our honeymoon in Bali. (I can’t wait to share all the good food I had there). We couldn’t be happier to have tried Indonesian food at Toba as it is a great addition to the London restaurant scene.
SATE AYAM, RENDANG, MIE TEK TEK JAWA, TERONG BALADO ARE JUST A FEW INDONESIAN DISHES THAT YOU CAN FIND AT TOBA RESTAURANT
Don’t worry if you are not knowledgeable about Indonesian food. The staff is friendly, and Pino likes to walk around tables and speak with each guest. They will be more than happy to assist you and give you suggestions.
Sate Ayam Chicken Skewers
The menu showcases a good variety of meat and vegan dishes. Our Indonesian meal started with Sate Ayam from the bites section. Scrumptious chicken skewers served with a semi-sweet-smoked peanut sauce topped with crispy shallot. Firstly I thought the sauce was a bizarre pairing but after the first bite, I changed my mind. The meat’s tenderness was impeccable and the peanut dressing was very complementary. I would say, this dish is a must to order.
Rendang dish at Toba Restaurant, slow-cooked beef
Rendang is highly recommended if you are looking for a beef dish to continue your meal. I loved the slow-cooked meat’s texture. The meat almost melts in your mouth and the touch of spiced coconut milk enhances the flavour of the beef. I don’t particularly like spicy food but this traditional dish from West Sumatra was executed perfectly and I enjoyed it.
Mie Tek Tek Jawa, I would rename it “the king of Indonesian food”. From the most remote warung to the most high-end restaurant this dish is universally served in Indonesia. Stir-fried yellow noodles served with chicken, beef, shallot, radish, spring sprouts, chilly and hot spices. Especially perfect for hot food lovers, the portion is so generous as well. My husband was jealously keeping the dish for himself, however, from what I could try I found it mouthwatering.
The next dish was the Terong (aubergine) Balado, here again, Toba is presenting a very authentic dish from West Sumatra. Balado is a ground-red chilli-based sauce that can be used for many dishes. Here the spicy sauce is paired with deep-frying eggplants, which are very tasty (& spicy).
TOBA OFFERS YUMMY INDONESIAN DESSERTS, PERFECT FOR COCONUT LOVERS
Desserts all looked good on the menu and we tried Dadar Gulung and Wingko Babat Toba style.
Both puddings were so mouthwatering that I could eat more. Wingko Babat is the Indonesian version of pancakes, perhaps with a twist of Philippines influences as it has a cassava cake base. The dessert has shredded young coconut, served warm, with a delicious vanilla ice cream on the top. The texture of the cake is fudgy and with the moisture of the ice cream, it becomes softer creating that sort of warm/cold feeling at each bite.
Dadar Gulung which means rolled pancake, owns the bright green hue to pandan, a leaf widely used in Asian cuisines. Filled with grated coconut and palm sugar.
Not even to mention, Indonesian desserts are perfect for coconut lovers. Not a surprise as Indonesia is the largest coconut producer in the world.
TOBA VISIT OVERVIEW
Toba is a new London restaurant with a soul, which proudly showcases Indonesian dishes offering passionate and friendly service. Pino is not only the owner, he is also the chef patron, spending quality time with each table and supporting his chef brigade and front-of-house team.
The restaurant proposes a sharing concept and the size of the dishes are perfect for this purpose. Prices are very reasonable considering the location, perhaps the 15% optional service charge might be excessive considering this is not a fine dining or Michelin-starred restaurant but is in line with central London. The dishes worth mentioning amongst all are sate ayam (chicken skewers – bites section), rendang (slow-cooked beef) and Wingko Babat Toba style.
Following our honeymoon in Bali, I believe Toba is an authentic Indonesian restaurant in London serving traditional flavours.
The entire staff was from Indonesia. Overall it gave me an authentic feeling. Toba has now introduced a brunch menu. I’m confident that Toba will have a bright future, and we will often hear about it.
Our bill was £ 134.55, including two large bottles of Belu water (£ 6 each) and a bottle of white wine (Vinho Verde £ 36).
TOBA NEW INDONESIAN RESTAURANT IN LONDON
Surely you have already heard about the new Indonesian restaurant in London, Toba. Even if it has recently opened Toba’s reputation is already bouncing all over the city. Pino, the owner is already well-known in the London food scene. Pino has been...