Reviews Carob Tree Restaurant

We ended up at The Carob Tree after a rather hungry stroll in Hampstead Heath. Overly grateful for the table and ungraciously eager to order, "no no, we'll order drinks and food together."

Now that we should stumble across a restaurant so well reviewed by my boss is simply delirious luck, but to be greeted by just the right character of host was wonderful.

A quick scan of the menu we had been recommended to choose around five dishes, including a dip or two, a couple of meat dishes and a salad. Naturally we went for a bit more than suggested, because by this stage no food seemed like it could be enough - but we restrained from ordering everything, which I felt was good of us.

The houmous and melin tzanosalata to you and I that's: roasted aubergine, tomato , garlic olive oil and lemon dip came with fresh toasted pita - apparently delicious, but I requested something non-glutenous and some refreshing cucumber fit the bill. Oh and wine - let's not forget the wine.

The restaurant itself it simple, but extremely welcoming and was buzzing with chatter and evidently very happy guests.

The wine was going down a treat, but we were clearly looking starved and assured our food would be coming out as soon as each dish was cooked - that's how small plates work and we were happy to wait.

But shortly they arrived in their individual glory - coal grilled asparagus with kefalotiri - that's a delicate cheese, and who doesn't like cheese, on everything?

Keftedes next, these are a generously sized mixture of minced pork, spices and potato fried in little balls.

But it's not over yet, here goes the charcoal grilled lamb... I know, I know..

I'm hungry all over again. Fresh lemon squeezed on everything; mouthfuls of smokey meat, perked up with fresh flavours red onion and sweet grilled peppers

And it wouldn't be a proper meze if we didn't have some squid.. again, the charcoal grill just gives it that flavour that I can't quite get over on every mouthful.

The tentacles were particularly crispy, which sounds barbaric but really we all know they're the best bit.

Filled to the brim, there's no intention of looking at the dessert menu (though we all know there's a second stomach for that!)

But it seems sweet is not an option here – before we could ask for the bill our host has popped these down and almost before we can say thank you.. Greek baklava - layers of filo pastry, syrup honey and chopped nuts

We mentioned thrice how sweet it is and by the fourth consideration of its intensity we'd demolished the lot . Concluding, that it was just sweet enough.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I'd thoroughly recommend a visit here, via the woods or just getting in the car works too!

A full review available with photos on my blog www[dot] survivalsurvival[dot]com