Terrific, professional restaurant with glamorous decor and a perfect pre-theatre menu. Excellent service, and location, of course, makes it ideal for anyone heading to the theatre.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
This is a review of the new branch in Kings Cross, which doesn't have it's own entry in the Zomato database yet. Decent Levantine food, but not as good as my grundgier but cheaper favourite Mangal1 in Dalston for charcoal grilled dishes. You are paying for chic surroundings here. Unlike Mangal1, Arabica would be a suitable venue for bringing a date. Mezzes not as inventive as some pricier other favourites such as Morito in Clerkenwell or Tuyo in Hackney.
What they do well at Arabica is classic middle eastern comfort foods that I rarely see on menus. I love that they do batata harra and mejadra (spelt here as Mujadarah). Another thing they do very well is efficiency. Huge quantity of personnel in the open kitchen and food arrives very quickly.
We started with the Moutabel which was pleasant but not as good as the cheaper Patlacan Salata at Mangal1. The smoked aubergine lacked a pronounced charcoal taste. I had the same complaint for the grilled meat dishes too. Though I could see the charcoal grill and open fire in the kitchen I couldn't really discern it in my food. Moutabel was served with some exceptional flat breads. Extremely thin and delicate. The green zhug arrived soon after. Not as punchy and bright as my favourite zhug at the Good Egg in Stoke Newington.
Both of the starchy comfort foods were excellent. The lentils in the Mujardarah were nicely spiced and the crunchy paper thin tangle of fried onions was lovely. Batata harra (fried potatoes) were fabulous too. Very crunchy so probably fried in quite a lot of oil and pronounced flavouring of spices and garlic as well as fresh coriander.
Our grills of chicken wings and beef shish were a little disappointing. Beef was tender and perfectly medium rare but a little underseasoned and lacking smokiness of charcoal. Accompanying braised onion in a sweet date sauce was very nice though. Wings did have a light whiff of smoke. Fat rendered off well but also under seasoned for my taste. They did come with a rather refined toum, or garlic sauce. I don't mind my toum to be aggressively garlicky, but if you prefer a milder more nuanced toum you will like this.
We were too full for desserts, though the desserts did look great. They had no problems with providing a takeaway box for unfinished food.
I would recommend Arabica especially for beautifully executed traditional starchy comfort foods associated with home cooking and street food that don't appear regularly on restaurant menus. The charcoal grill section of the menu is more varied than most middle eastern restaurants, not being limited to lamb and chicken. Also they are good if you prefer middle eastern sauces such as Toum and Zhoug to be toned down and refined. I didn't try their Harissa but expect that would have been the same story there. For charcoal grilled meats and aubergine, my favourite London address is still Mangal1. For creative mezzes still I prefer Morito and Tuyo.
Arabica seems to be my default option for dining out around London Bridge.It’s right on the edge of Borough Market and is surrounded by lots of other cute restaurants and bars if you fancy sticking around the area afterwards. As you walk in, the restaurant has an old school regional map in the corner; this gives you a pretty good idea of the cuisines that this place is aiming for – a mix of Turkish, Iranian, Lebanese-esque food. They have a range of cocktails, each with an inventive Middle Eastern twist, but I couldn’t resist going for one of the house G&T’s – refreshing and delicious.
I'm no expert on middle eastern food, but I must say I really enjoyed everything we ordered. This restaurant does a lot of small servings which means each person is intended to have about three to four dishes each.
We ordered basically one fish from each of the menu sections: hummus and lamb dip with flatbread, stuffed vine leaves, falafel, fattoush, aubergine and cauliflower rice, a lamb pizza sort, and some lamb kofta. Everything was delicious despite being a little pricey. The service wasn't as good as I'd thought, but good food is worth it. Will be back if I'm ever in Londond again.
Take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure through the ‘sun drenched lands of the levant’ in the heart of London’s bustling Borough Market. Levantine cuisine, encompassing the countries on the coastline east of the Mediterranean Sea, easily conjures up images of sun-kissed pavements, colourful mezze and a dining landscape abundant in flavour and spices. At Arabica, even on a winter’s day, the gleaming natural light bouncing off the edges of the exposed brick walls radiates a feeling of warmth that is also echoed through its rustic, vibrant dishes.
Had lunch here and the food was delicious! We had the aubergine dip, halloumi and falafels to start and these were all perfectly seasoned and fresh. The halloumi was served with peas and asparagus which I've never had with halloumi before. I thought this dish was a standout! For main we had the octopus, feta salad, lamb belly and lamp chops and these were equally delicious. Great friendly staff and great service, they were very attentive and welcoming. This place is a great choice and I would highly recommend! Only thing is it's a little pricey than expected but the food was worth it!
Great for a pick and mix kind of lunch, this is a right gem in London Bridge. For food I would say this place is a 4.5/5 however... the service is always terrible. You basically have to beg to order. Everything on the menu is lovingly prepared and delicious and it's well worth making a stop here, ideally not at peak times!
Arabica Bar and Kitchen regularly features in Time Out London’s Top 100 Restaurants list, and it’s been on my radar for some time. With food “inspired by the sun rise nations of the Levant”, it offers more than your bog standard mezze restaurant. The menu features dishes such as whipped feta with chillies, mint and pumpkin seeds, Lebanese style roasted cod, and sticky lamb belly and ribs with a pomegranate honey glaze. It’s not difficult to see why I was so spoiled for choice.
The restaurant itself is a rather sexy little number and, like the menu, offers a happy departure from the majority of Middle Eastern restaurants. Exposed brick walls replace heavy fabric drapes, you sit on actual chairs instead of cushions, and there’s not a belly dancer in sight. It’s more like a trendy urban cafe and has the same busy vibe.
Read the full review by visiting The Determined Diner - thedetermineddiner.com
Arabica features on a number of 'Bests' lists and for very good reason! The menu is inspired by Syrian cuisine, the friendly staff will gladly explain it for the uninitiated. The dips all come with the freshest, most glorious pita bread! The hummus is easily one of the best I've ever had. I'd definitely recommend the lamb dishes here; so tender and flavourful it melts it in your mouth! The Armenian lahmacun with the well seasoned/spiced lamb mince and pine nuts was the winner though. Sigh, I'm salivating just writing about it. This is a great restaurant that deserves a visit if you're a fan of middle eastern food, or food in generally, really.
I am very lucky to work right next door to Borough Market, London Bridge. As a foodie, i love that its just a hop skip and a jump to the best food market in London. On payday Friday, me and a work buddy Becky always treat ourselves to a nice meal out. (If I’m honest we do this more often than just payday! We cant help ourselves!)
Gingle Lists Everything
+4
The pilaf was the best rice style dish I have eaten and that is not something I would normally get excited about. The salad was as unhealthy as a salad can get, with great slabs of fried crouton in it. I don't normally feel overwhelmed by salad but this was a lot to handle. The lamb belly is a dish you shouldn't bother trying to share - deliciously crispy and well spiced with the fat all flavoursome and moreish.
Arabica Bar and Kitchen is a restaurant that serves food from the Levant (Mediterranean countries – Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Armenia and Turkey) in Borough Market. The restaurant is modern and despite the food sometimes being quite similar to the food at your usual Maroush, it has a more casual and modern atmosphere. You can either sit inside or outside, where you can watch people eating their Borough Market food whilst slowly walking from stall to stall. Arabica Bar and Kitchen serves breakfast from 8.30 to 11.30, then takes a small break and restarts serving food from 12.00.
I eat a lot of bread — it’s my farewell tour to carbohydrates — and stuff my face with lamb and beef tartare (kibbeh nayeh). It’s all very satisfying. And the loos are clean and tidy.
Incredibly tasty food! We weren't hugely hungry, so only had 4 tapas style dishes between the 2 of us, but the food was so flavoursome. Obviously being in the heart of borough market, it isn't cheap, but I would highly recommend going. I intend to return with a group and order loads!
Lovely desserts available all the time . everything so delectable , and freshly prepared , and my favourite appears to be the Knafesh . I'm in love withe the desserts here , from the parties , to the ricotta, ans so much more . Lovely place to tickle your senses if you have a sweet tooth .
This place is very spacious and large and it opens right in front of the market. The food here has always been appealing and appetizing or may be we were lucky that we ordered the best dishes from their menu. Service is quick and efficient. I would definitely recommend this place to every one!
This restaurant has some really warm interiors with some fabulous features. The staff was great and greeted as soon as I entered. The owner also came and asked for feedback about the meal. The menu was extensive and the food was excellent. I ordered Chicken & Pistachio Taouk washed down with a gorgeous cocktail which was so delicious that I can never forget. Overall, a very nice experience and I would recommend you guys to visit this restaurant when you are in that part of the town.
I had a great experience at this place. The ambiance of the restaurant is beautiful with stylish interiors and a gorgeous bar. The music here is also good, and makes the place more lively. The food is remarkably good, with all dishes being cooked to perfection. The drinks are also quite delectable. The staff is courteous and friendly offering a great service. Would surely recommend this place.
Some of my friends decided to check out this place last sunday, so we went but without a reservation. So, we had to wait outside this place for 30 minutes and finally got a table. We ordered a Spanish red wine and a bowl of Kalamata olives as suggested by one of my Spanish friends. The wine tasted amazing and the food was good but was served in small portions. I really liked their staff as they were very friendly and attentive. We would probably visit this place again in the near future.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Recently opened in London’s Borough Market is Arabica Bar and Kitchen. Set up by James Walters, who started up a market stall over 14 years ago, Arabica serves an array of Levantine inspired Meze dishes. The menu is sectioned into Dips, Raw/Cured, Fried, Clay Oven, Stove/Grill, Charcoal, Salads and Veg/Rice/Pulses. So there are plenty of options to please everyone.
First up was Hummus with Lamb Fillet, Pine Nuts and Ghee. Being a Hummus lover, this lovely looking plate with tender Lamb Fillet, was something I could have dipped in to all night. Next up was the Sujuk Pide and the Beef and Bone Marrow Kofta (served rare). The Sujuk Pide with Red Pepper Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Halloumi looked like a Gondola shaped Pizza, and I would have easily let the whole thing sail in to my mouth. Unfortunately, it had to be shared. The Beef and Bone Marrow Kofta, very succulent, savoury balls of meat and extremely good. However, if you don’t like your meat rare, then stay away. Our next dish was Frog Legs. As a Frog leg virgin I was a bit nervous about trying these, but I just went for the kill (Sorry Kermit!). Sautéed with Garlic, lemon and Coriander, the whole plate was balanced perfectly. I’m not saying Frog legs are my new favourite thing, but I wouldn't be worried about having them again. We finished up with Spinach Fatayeh alongside Sugar Cured King Prawns. The Fateyeh, triangular Pastry parcels filled with Spinach, Sumac Onions and Pine Kernels were ok but felt a bit soggy or wet in my mouth. The King Prawns.... these bad boys were Kings! Not small and pathetic like many restaurants serve up, but big, juicy and meaty, that tasted amazing.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get round to desserts. I had a killer hangover and the beer sweats had started to kick in. That accompanied by the heat from the open kitchen, I needed to get out of there before my face started to melt down my shirt.
The Staff seemed very chilled out and the service laid back, but not in a way that impacted service and were all very friendly. My Cocktail of the night was the Rania’s Spritz. With a nice bit of heat from the Ginger and a kick from the Chilli, this could soon become my new favourite. However, I felt they were rationing a bit on the drink. Fill her up! For the size of some of the dishes I think some may have been slightly overpriced, but I won’t let that stop me from coming again. Set under a high arched ceiling with exposed bricks and an open kitchen for all to see this is a great little venue that they have acquired, and I will most certainly be back. So it’s see you later Yalla Yalla. Hello Arabica!
Nice little place for lunch or a quick snack if you are in the area, browsing around Borough Market for example. I wouldn't however, make a special trip.
The dishes were decent - good quality, well seasoned lamb kofte; fresh prawns cooked just right. The Wild Mushroom and Truffle Man'ousheh was the highlight for me - some of my favourite ingredients tossed together on a soft warm flatbread. The affogato needs could do with a bit more coffee though.
The dishes didn't really blow me away but I'd go back to try more of the dishes just to see if I'd change my mind.
Why Waste Annual Leave?
+4
For a foodie, it's always hard having to answer the question of what your favourite world cuisine is. And as someone rubbish at choosing favourites, I tend to opt out of making such decisions and instead focus on eating said cuisines.
But.....that said, I have a real soft spot for Middle Eastern food and if I did have to choose numero uno, this would be a serious contender. I also spent part of my childhood in the Middle East so there's something about it that always brings back fond memories.
This airy space is right in the heart of Borough Market and was a great location for a weekday lunch. I imagine it's somewhere that would be painfully popular and busy with the Friday night post-work crowds.
Although the menu does have starters and mains, I got the impression that the ethos is really more about mezze small plates and sharing plates and the portions, I will admit, were a little on the small side. Not so small that I was hungry but just about small enough to leave you wanting a bit more. We ordered a cheese sambousek to share - I loved the pastry consistency and the salty cheesy goodness inside.
For our "mains", we went for spicy lamb kofte with chilli and roast tomatoes and my choice of sugar cured king prawns which were absolutely divine. We asked if it came with much on the side and were told that other than a small garnish, there are no real sides so I was still a little peckish and anyone with a bigger appetite would probably need one or two more plates to feel full. For us, it left just the right amount of space to squeeze in a dessert.
We had both been eyeing up the Knafeh even before we arrived - a baked filo pastry dessert in syrup with pistachio nuts and a central core of cheese - a calorie coma but so comforting and moreish. We complemented this with a rather lighter Mouhalabieh milky pudding, which I liked but I've tasted better in other restaurants such as Kaslik and the Knafeh definitely wins my vote for desserts here. I'd already had a sweet fresh mint tea (always a preferred drink of mine but I felt that the one mint leaf only that was served could have been a bit more generous) so ended the meal with a Turkish coffee which comes served with a pistachio flavoured Turkish delight for dipping.
I'm not entirely sure why I ordered this as I'm not a coffee drinker and this was served black so even with the Turkish delight and the sugar they added, it was still a little bitter for my tastes but that's purely a personal preference based on the fact that I almost never drink black coffee but the aromas and spices wafting from it were undeniable.
The service, contrary to a few reviews I had read, was friendly, prompt but not pushy in any way. I am always on the lookout for great Middle Eastern restaurants in London and have found as many bad ones as I have good ones so am always delighted to find one that fits into the latter category. And I can gladly say this does. I will definitely be returning and the menu is more than wide enough to be able to order an entirely new batch of items this time (except of course the knafeh, which I will not be able to deny even 2nd time round!) I'll probably order a little bit more next time round as well, perhaps a starter to myself and maybe even one more mezze plate for mains.
I must thank the lovelyl Alexandra of Zomato fame for this lovely meal and great company.
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Two days after a trip to Kerbisher & Malt, I found myself eating out again, this time at the new permanent home for Borough Market regulars, Arabica Bar & Kitchen. They have got themselves a wonderful, large, airy room right that opens out on to the heart of the market, round the corner from the superb Rake pub (which we may or may not have retired to after the meal).
Where to start? Well, I could talk about every delicious dish but I would soon be out of my foodie adjective depth. The exciting range of Lebanese 961 beers were sadly not available so we turned to the excellent wine list instead. A few minutes in, and our table was full of small plates, including a Lebanese Lamb & Beef Tartare (Kibbeh Nayyeh) bursting with flavour, delicious air-dried Hereford beef (Basturma) and some delicious dips. The Hummus and Smoked Aubergine dips were a little on the stingy side, as was the bread, but there was plenty else to go around.
After several good decisions from the Dips and Raw / Cured parts of the menu, many more plates arrived from the Fried, Charcoal, Stove / Grill, Salads and Veg / Rice / Pulses sections. Healthy portions of semolina-crumbed squid and whitebait didn't last long. Lamb and Spinach Kibbeh (croquettes) were hard to share for more than one reason. And Chicken & Pistachio kebabs & Beef Onglet on a smoked barbecue salad managed to impress even when split 5 ways.
Three options from the Clay Oven section of the menu arrived last and nearly finished us off. The standout was the Armenian-style Lamachun, a beautiful flatbread smothered with spiced lamb, tomato, onion, peppers and pine kernels.
18 plates or so later, we made it to dessert. Make sure you do too, and order the eye-catching Knafeh - warm, melt-in-mouth Levantine cheese pastry with orange blossom honey and crushed pistachio. There was a bit of a spoon scrum for this one, though the Levantine ice cream (Booza) provided a distraction. I have also heard good things about the Arabica Affogato and the Baklawa, but we had run out of space. A Turkish Coffee was the fitting way to finish, with a Pistachio Delight on the side.
The menu is packed full of things you will want to eat, so I suggest going with a few friends and getting as much as you can! As you can see from the multitude of photos, it is a feast for your eyes as well as your stomach. Portions are small for the price, but the quality is definitely high enough to make one forget. Highly recommended.
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The menu is portioned off into manageable chunks - dips, raw / cured, fried, clay oven, stove / grill / charcoal, salads, veg / rice / pulses - each offering a handful of choices. Whoever devised it is a clever sod, because the format dictates what feels like natural logic - these are all small sharing plates, so we’ll choose one from each group. Be warned, doing so can unwittingly tot up the bill and result in a spread in excess of what is reasonable for two people to consume. Or in our case, a mere nod of acknowledgement from Gluttony.
We of course, cleared the lot.
And the lot we got was very good indeed. Let me begin with the Lebanese lamb and beef tartare, and the fact that it was just about the best I’ve encountered. A fabulous grainy texture from the presence of bulgur wheat, hand-chopped meat, expertly seasoned, with herbs and onion and great olive oil - so easy to eat. I could sit in front of a film with a bucket of this and a wooden paddle and reach the bottom within six minutes (£9.50)
The texture of a well-cooked chicken liver is up there with the best the food world has to offer; the ones here were velvety and tickled by the sweetness from sticky pomegranate molasses, dressed with jewels from the fruit and a flourish of crisped onion slithers (£6.50).
A moat of glossy whipped-up hummus (with ghee!) surrounded a chunky island of tender lamb fillet and toasted pine nuts (£6.50). The cacik (pronounced juh-jook) - strained yoghurt with garlic, cucumber, lemon, olive oil, mint and dill - was better than my dad’s (£5.50), and the moutabel - smoked aubergine with tahini and bejeweled with pomegranate seeds - managed to beat the other two in the which-dip-can’t-we-leave-alone game (£6).
Levantine pastries of akawi cheese, nigella seeds and parsley were good, if a little heavy. I prefer the thinner filo used in böreks, probably because they’re what I’m used to. The advice to wrap them in the lettuce leaves and fresh herbs they were served with did lift them, however (£6).
King prawns with peppers, garlic and the sweet smokiness of Turkish urfa chilli were very pleasant (£9). Then there was the pide (pronounced pi-deh) boat - an oval vessel of pillowy-rimmed bread transporting spicy beef sausage, barbecued red pepper sauce and yielding hot halloumi to our mouths (£7).
Then there were beef and bone marrow koftas with a defiant love-it-or-get-the-hell-out promise of “served rare” on the menu. My dining partner applauded the fearlessness; “Order meat in Edgware Road and they'll cremate it because of their religious beliefs. Persians are not Arabs - we like our meat rare! I’m so bloody pleased it’s pink.” Tight little balls of savoury and succulent sensation - very good (£9.50).
Our banquet closed with knafeh - a slab of shredded filo pastry cooked in butter and soaked in syrup, encasing a treasure of cheese at the centre. I’d prefer the cheese a touch more salty, and it needed more butter or syrup as filaments of pastry were catching in the Iranian’s throat and was a little dry on my tongue (£7 - I had a glorious one in Istanbul once). Then there was a Turkish coffee (with warming undercurrents of cardamom) affogato over halva ice cream which I thought was very clever (£5.50).
This place makes people happy through that age-old winning combination of warm hospitality and very good food. The entirety of the remaining menu are things I want to eat more than three times and so I suspect this place will become a regular.
Love it here, have been coming here for years. A great varied menu for veggies / vegans but also lots of meat so there’s something for everyone. Fab drinks, lovely atmosphere. Last night I visited with a couple of friends and Meryem served us - she was great, explained the sharing menu, helped us pick an extra dish and looked after us really well 😎
The food at Arabica is stunning and great for sharing with a group of people. This is modern middle eastern food at its best. It’s fantastically situated in Borough market and on the weekend there’s a lively atmosphere. The dips on the meze are delicious. The watermelon and feta and grilled halloumi are the star dishes. The only let down was the service. Our order did not get through and it had to be re-ordered, so we ended up waiting a lot longer before it arrived. Certain items didn’t get ordered and we had to request the bill twice. This was our first time there and I would given it 5 stars if the service had been better.
I “thought” that I had had Lebanese “cuisine before but I now realize that I had just had Lebanese “food”. In Houston. This restaurant elevated the quality , of flavor and presentation light years above what one finds in Houston. Thank you (name withheld) for recommending Borough market to us. Monmouth Coffee was packed as was just about every food kiosk. But we came across this quieter sit down place and it was fabulous. Several of the staff were actually Italian and I had a conversation with one that I think. A Roman friend would have enjoyed as he talked about learning to absolutely love the more complex flavor profile of Lebanese or Middle Eastern food after feeling most comfortable with the gorgeous simplicity of Italian cuisine. A learning experience. Another of the Italian staff treated me to a house Negroni, which used ingredients atypical of a Negroni, but with beefeater gin..Highly recommended.
Good place for a group who are happy to share. Very drinkable rose and potent cocktail to finish. Food was pretty good and staff were engaged and able to give good info on allergens.
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Came here on a Sunday for lunch with a friend. I have previously seen this place many times walking past it in Borough market so this time I thought I would give it a go since I was craving Middle Eastern food. We had made a reservation beforehand but it was acting quite empty when I got there as there were barely any customers at almost 1pm.
Waiter greeted us with a smile and I felt welcome and gave us a table near the entrance. My friend and I decided to share the mezze plates and we went with 5 of them: hummus, baba ghanosh, grilled halloumi, crispy squid and falafel bites. We also ordered the sesame sagnak bread on the side. Everything was so delicious and flavourful so we can't pick our favourites. The hummus was rich and smooth and the baba ghanosh was so tasty and went so well with the sesame bread. Falafels were crispy and the halloumi was sweet with the honey dressing and crispy with a nicely grilled outer layer. Squid batter wasn't thick so we could taste the squid nicely and the sauce that accompanied the squid was so refreshing.
Overall, we had a really good experience here: friendly staff, nice vibes, and amazing food. We had an amazing time here and I would highly recommend.
This is a great low key classy place to grab some really good cocktails. The service was absolutely great and the drinks were very good. The staff were all amazing. I highly recommend checking this place out and staying for a few drinks. I am definitely coming back next time I am in the neighborhood.
The restaurant has a rustic and elegant atmosphere, with a cozy atmosphere. The food is delicious and the service is excellent, the waitress was very helpful and friendly
Passing through London for 2 nights and I ate in here twice. The food is exquisite. And this place has the most friendly staff. Shout out to the new GM who is running it. Very slick sir. Thank you. See you soon
Absolutely delicious lunch and beautifully presented. Humous Taramasalata aubergine and calamari and sat outside in the sunshine.
Lucas Eduardo Bento Morais
+4
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Arabica in London Bridge, and had a great experience. We tried a variety of plates and each one was better than the last.
My absolute favourite dish was the spiced cauliflower, which was simply out of this world. The combination of spices and the texture of the cauliflower was perfect, and I couldn't get enough of it.
The restaurant itself has a lovely atmosphere, with a warm and welcoming decor, great spot for dates. The staff were friendly and attentive, and made sure that we had everything we needed throughout our meal.
Overall, I would highly recommend Arabica to anyone looking for delicious, high-quality Middle Eastern cuisine in London Bridge.
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