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Just a short walk away from the shops on Kensington High Street this refined restaurant serves a variety of delicious fare with magical flavours inspired by Egypt’s second city, Cleopatra’s Alexandria. Delicious twists on Mediterranean cuisine. We had a fantastic combination of starters that tantalised every taste bud - beetroot-cured salmon with charred cucumber, Mediterranean ratatouille (I haven’t had it this delicious) and silky smooth, smoky aubergine. For mains, I went for the oven-baked bamia (okra) and lamb. Okra is one of my favourite vegetables but, to the many sceptics, this dish will convert you. Full of flavour and the meltingly gorgeous lamb that went very well with the fatta rice – fluffy white rice over pieces of toasted bread, giving texture to the entire meal. For dessert, I had a creamy mehalabeya, a smooth and more-ish pannacotta-like dessert, from milk and mastic (the resin of the mastic tree – also known as Arabic gum, or tears of Chios, where the tree grows), topped with sugary pistachio. There’s an excellent wine list, focusing on the French classics, to perfectly accompany this wonderful medleys of flavours. I was particularly impressed by the staff and manager who, with their quiet grace and courtesy, made us feel very welcome.
We arrived late on Sunday night to a warm and friendly welcome. The menu was new to us but the hosts made us familiar with the food choices and gave great guidance. The food was really delicious. The service was exemplary. We were so happy with the whole night. Special thanks to the hosts, who made the whole evening special. Ps. Try the lamb shank ... you will love it.
Another cuisine ticked off my bucket list thanks to Aladino’s of South Kensington, London’s first and only Alexandrian restaurant. It is also – along with Bandol – one of the best looking. The decor is almost homely – like someone took the TV out of their very posh, very beautiful living room and added some more tables – but also dreamy and romantic. Warm, flattering light emanates from flying spaghetti monster ceiling lamps , the kind I find myself mooning over in Heal’s before realising I will never, ever be in a position to spend £3,000 on a thing that holds lightbulbs.Personally, if my name was within a letter of one of my favourite Disney movies I’d have my restaurant decked out in gold-sprayed monkey statues, technicolour cubic zirconas, etc., but then clearly Aladin Barakat, the restaurant’s owner, is much more restrained than I. And tasteful.
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