The food was so delicious. We could have eaten anything on the menu, really difficult to decide. Decided on the green chermoula chicken, pulled lamb shawarma with sides of smokey aubergine and burnt lemon and Israeli salad. Great that all the mains are served together on a large tray so you can share with loads of dip, leaves and the most amazing pitta. Great atmosphere, friendly staff who are happy to explain everything. You must experience this great place! đ
Favourite restaurant in london - food and service are great and the restaurant itself is always buzzing! You have to wait a bit but you can have drinks at the bar or they'll call you so you can have a drink next door at trip. Well worth the wait. Definitely get the broad bean humous, the lamb and the roasted cauliflower!! Some of the best dishes I've had!
Great food (like the best) a total taste sensation! Great atmosphere! Great beer! And great service! What else could you ask for?
Proper dope food. Yum yum. I come here every time I'm in London, food, staff and vibe is exceptional.
Had an amazing final meal before our kid is born. Amazing service, incredible diverse food- easy for everything to taste the same with smoked then grilled meat but every flavour unique and beautiful! Will be back (albeit with a pram and nae chance of getting in!!)
Amazing food, music and service! Some of the best food I had in my life! Thk you so much!
Amazing meal ( if you like meat, get yourself here when your in London) great sharing experience 5*
Seriously good food. I'm a chef and get so annoyed when I can't eat proper tasty food. Nailed it! So delicious and brilliant too for my veggie partner, lots of veg that were loaded with flavour and gorgeous to look at. Thank you!
Went to your restaurant last nyt...food was so scrumptious...luved ur morish autumn slaw and da pork belly was cooked so well...definitely cumin bak for more...yum yum!!
Favorite grill smoke house in london , good service good food and fantastic drinks ....
I can't get enough of it here. My new local. So unique!
We are beside ourselves about the roasted cauliflower. Keep it up with thise mean cockrails too!
This is a great restaurant with Israeli food. Similar to meditarinne food . We ordered chicken, de boned and lamb along with grilled bone marrow . Accompanied by fresh baked pita bread.
The draught beer was perfect.
Quite laid back atmosphere.
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Berber and Q is one of my favourite restaurants in London. The vibe is low key but attractively lit. The cocktails are pleasing albeit trying a little too hard. But the true star is the food and the value thereof. The menu is divided into 3 sections of 4 - 6 dishes: dips, mezze, and meats. You order a selection of these to share (pretty much mandatory) and it all comes out together attractively arranged on large wooden board/platter(s). The flavours are a hoi polloi of middle eastern deliciousness - just read the menu and trust me it is all very well executed. I should qualify by saying these are big powerful flavours, not for those who prefer subtlety (I myself am happy with either). If you aren't a meat eater you can dine extremely well for around ÂŁ10 (plus drinks!). Consequently it's very easy to over order - my fiance first visited before me and ended up literally sick from doing just that and then being unable to stop sampling the deliciousness before her.
Added bonus: if you're a board gamer book a table @before/after dinner at draughts next door for access to a huge games library and drinks/small eats while you play.
Only negative: service can be a little slow so I've docked 0.5 points...but then again that could be said about half of Londons better restaurants.
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Laid back vibe in railway arches with exposed brick and farmhouse style tables. Attentive service. As you are seated you are brought a bottle of tap water, and a jar of toum, or white Lebanese garlic paste. This sauce was fantastic.
We had a late lunch of mixed pickles, aubergine chreime, and smoked short rib. Smoked short rib is really a dish for two to share. Quite a lot of meat dressed in a sweet date glaze on a pita and garnished with salad and copious amounts of dill as well a little roast vegetable. I liked it, but my companion felt the meat was a little dry. Tasty glaze. The whole roast aubergine with almonds and sour cream was served cold and utterly delicious. Pickles were nothing special. I had expected more exuberant spicing in a North African joint. In general, great attention to detail in design and execution of the dishes.
Good value for the quality of the food. We ended up taking home some of the short rib and pickle. A very big lunch for two with a glass of wine for 40 quid.
There is a shortage of decent eating places in the no manâs land that is Kingsland road, between Hoxton and Haggerston, after the Vietnamese cafes. Dukes Brew & Que kicks in just past Haggerston station as you enter a flow of more pubs and cafes, but there is little else around, or at least I thought. Recently google has become my friend and having searched the area to pick up some suggested dining spots before a camp musical at The Glory, I saw this Berber & Q place and checked out the website.
Berber & Q is extremely good. Great food, wine, service and atmosphere.Â
We went as a group of four early on a Sunday night, and were lucky to get a table without waiting, as the restaurant was already packed. After joking about how the North African barbeque joint with craft beer and bearded staff was "peak hipster", we were seriously impressed by the quality of every part of the experience.Â
The food was exceptional. The harissa hot wings are good enough to make the trip for.  We took out waiter's advice and had two types of lamb and were really impressed by the difference in flavour and texture that the chef achieved. We got all of the veg mezze bar one, and the star of the meal turned out to be the whole head of cauliflower. A bottle of orange wine added to the novelty and went extremely well with the food. Go to Berber & Q.
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There is a shortage of decent eating places in the no mans land that is kingsland road between Hoxton and Haggerston, after the vietnamese cafes. Dukes Brew & Que kicks in just past Haggerston station as you enter a flow of more pubs and cafes, but there is little else around or at least I thought. Recently google has become my friend and having searched the area to pick up some suggested dining spots before a camp musical at The Glory, I saw this Berber & Q place and checked out the website.
Talk about a hidden gem. This little mews tucked under the overground bridge just before Haggerston station has a couple of drink/food spots (including Draughts) built into old station brick alcoves. The menu boasts a solid meat offering. A one pager that simplifies the process. No reservations. First come, first served. Even as a table of two they dont sit you until your full party arrives.
So i sat at the bar to wait for my friend. Whilst initially quickly welcomed, it took some time for the bartenders to engage. They open at 6pm, I was here at 6.30pm, so it was not like it was mad busy. Luckily wathcing the open plan kitchen and enjoying aroma of bbq food kept me busy. Also note, mobile signals are intermittent in this little spot - so ensure whoever you are meeting has good directions.
The main courses are served on metal trays. Choose your grilled and smoked meets cooked over charcoal and it comes with a salad, grilled pita, spicy salsa, green pepper and cumin salt. The meat filled menu which includes delights such as smoked pork belly, short rib and home made sucuk sausages. Sides and starters with an eastern influence. I went for hand pulled lamb mechoui and Jacki opted for the harissa hot wings. We shared a s side of urfa roasted pumpkin with green harissa, yoghurt and pecan.
The food is quick and wholesome. The vibe is pretty chilled, even when it gets busy. It has a warmth about it, especially when its cold outside. The bar does a good selection of unique cocktail infusions as well as offering the classics (I had a dirty martini). If you live local, definitely worth a visit. In fact, even if you don't, the overground gets you to this spot with ease, so make the commute.
The foodie scene is ever expanding and the fun of this means you get to travel to new places for the next best thing. The London sprawl has taken east London and Stoke Newington and Dalston have fully immersed themselves as a destination for food lovers, bar hoppers and trend setters. Berber and Q, which brings with it "Mezze from the East, Music from the West". Grilled meats and smoked food is lavished upon its dining guests and with the vibe of East London and music to match, the restaurant has a buzz about it.
Youâve probably had it up to your eyeballs with how much we keep banging on about how Berber & Q can do no wrong. Our latest review on their Shukshuk Bar partnering up with Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick being the latest instalment (read our review). Well we had heard that they had started doing brunch at their original railway arch in Haggerston â and with it gave us a chance to introduce a newbie to the cuisine as well.
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There are some places which open to such incredible reviews, you become sceptical. "What's the catch?" I find myself asking, and can it really live up to the extreme expectations now set? As it is, how I see the review process working is like this:
- Reviewer goes to a restaurants and loves it. Expectations raised.
- Said reviewer then uses sensational and exaggerated vocabulary to communicate said love in the most romantic way possible. Expectations raised again.
- Reader reads review which conjures up images of the most amazing meal to ever hit their lips. Astronomical expectations set.
In this respect, a positive review almost becomes a curse as the only way the experience can go is down; I've fallen victim to this before myself where a place with rave reviews left me feeling disappointed. That though is not Berber and Q - oh no, and far far from it.
Taking inspiration from the cuisines of the Middle East, North Africa and the Ottomans, the team have comfortably settled into their home under the arches a stone's throw from Haggerston station where the sight of a queue of eager patrons has now become routine. Here, the aroma of beautiful mezze and chargrilled meats reigns supreme and sets you on your way to a gastronomic journey - and as the tray (I repeat TRAY) of mains arrived, I could tell that this was going to be quite the journey.
Harissa hot wings, house-made merguez sausage, smoked pork belly with pomegranate molasses BBQ sauce, smoked short-rib with date syrup glaze and special of Moroccan lamb mechoui was the order of the day and I can honestly say, I don't know which I loved more as all were prepared and cooked with the utmost respect for the ingredients and their natural flavours. The short-rib was superbly tender and moist as it fell off the bone whilst the merguez sausages were an explosion of flavour with every bite.
Not to be forgotten are the mezze options which are an absolute hit. Dishes of the cauliflower shawarma, tahini & rose, Turkish yogurt with sumac onions & barberries and the always solid hummus with mesabaha & pine nuts were my pick of the bunch and on any other day, just these 3 with some of Berber and Q's fresh pita would've been enough for me.
But still I tried to remain sceptical - this was an incredible meal but how could I be sure?
So I returned, this time for a quiet brunch; away from the tantalising smells of the barbecue and a menu devoid of any of my previous favourites. In the broad light of day, we started again - the outcome was still the same.
The "Full Israeli" brunch for 2 was phenomenal; mezze plates of hummus, honey feta, Israeli salad, tahini, avocado, boiled egg, baba ghanoush and yogurt & date syrup were served with fresh pita and provided a tantalising array of flavours for the palate to explore. Relaxed by day, Berber and Q provided the most comfortable of environment to watch the day pass you by as you pick away at the feast laid out for you and sip on Turkish tea or coffee (or even a cheeky cocktail for those braver souls).
However, as with any popular "no bookings" restaurant, you have to arrive within half an hour of opening to get a table straight away otherwise, prepare for a lengthily wait.
Now in writing this review, I know full well the irony which I have fallen victim to but I feel it is justified. The meals really were that good and I would tell that to anyone. Right now, I'm telling that to you. I've raised the ante in Berber and Q - it's your move now.
Also follow me on Twitter @annixontong and @wetrykai and on Instagram @annixontong.
Itâs not the sort of place I frequent often is Haggerston, but itâs starting to become a lot more enticing with the addition of Tonkotsu East and now this, Berber & Q. Itâs housed in a railway arch, naturally, and itâs ethos is neatly summed up on the website âmezze from the east, music from the westâ.
Berber & Q Haggerston has been getting a lot of positive press since it opened its oh so London railway arch doors in April this year, even winning over the sometimes scathing Grace Dent of the Evening Standard, who touted it as her favourite opening of the year. Berber & Q is the perfect example of an Ottolenghi alumnus spreading his wings and absolutely soaring. Honey & Co and Sesame have already dazzled the capital, now Josh Katz and fellow Ottolenghi colleague, Mattia Bianchi, have teamed up, with promises of âGrilled & smoked meats cooked over charcoal, mezze from the East, music from the West, beer by the growler, cocktails, pickles & pitaâ. No wonder thereâs been a lot of buzz.
Can you book? No (but the wait is pleasant and not too long)Food: 10/10Atmosphere: 8/10Price paid per person: ÂŁ40. I emailed Berber & Q a few weeks before going to ask if they would consider bending their âno reservationsâ policy, for no real reason other than fear of being turned away and sulking all the way home. They said no, but in a very friendly way, so we made it our business to get there early last Saturday evening and arrived just before 7pm. It isnât a large restaurant, there are two sharing tables running along the centre, another five or so smaller tables against the wall and a few seats at the bar. We were told the wait could be up to an hour so put our names on the list and were advised to enjoy a cocktail either at the bar or either of the next door bars but to stay close as we would receive a call.
That Cauliflower Shawarma.
After falling in love with entire grilled cauliflowers at Miznon in Paris, I was delighted to see it on a menu again so soon. Berber & Qs version with tahini and rose is a fine example of the genre. Be sure to get a load of Middle Eastern BBQ meat too - some Joojeh chicken thighs, smoked short-rib with date syrup glaze, smoked pork belly with pomegranate molasses BBQ sauce; that kind of thing.
Wash it down with a bespoke Crate brewery golden ale with za'atar, sumac, thyme and orange, or one of their fine cocktails. Sumac Habit with mezcal, chilli-infused aperol, dried lime and sumac is a good place to start.
I'll be back soon for weekend brunch - Turkish eggs with paprika butter, a Full Israeli, Tunisian shakshuka with red pepper jam and smoked beans with burnt-ends & merguez. 11am-3pm. Yes please.
Highly recommended.
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Can you book? No (but the wait is pleasant and not too long)
Food: 10/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Price paid per person: ÂŁ40
I emailed Berber & Q a few weeks before going to ask if they would consider bending their âno reservationsâ policy, for no real reason other than fear of being turned away and sulking all the way home. They said no, but in a very friendly way, so we made it our business to get there early last Saturday evening and arrived just before 7pm. It isnât a large restaurant, there are two sharing tables running along the centre, another five or so smaller tables against the wall and a few seats at the bar. We were told the wait could be up to an hour so put our names on the list and were advised to enjoy a cocktail either at the bar or either of the next door bars but to stay close as we would receive a call.
We opted for Draughts on the left, Londonâs first board game cafe, serving cocktails strong enough to get even the tamest gamers into the competitive spirit, but only two rounds in to a game of âput random items in chronological order by year of inventionâ we got the call, dropped our cards and ran. Itâs questionable whether it was the call or choice of game that made me run.
The menu isnât massive but when thereâs only two of you and you both want to try everything, it feels big. I should say at this point that my keenness was down to the chef Josh Katz, previously at Made in Camden and Zest, the kosher restaurant in JW3 of which Iâm a big fan (note Berber & Q is not kosher). Anyway, who wouldnât be tempted by this mission statement:
âGrilled & smoked meats cooked over charcoal
Mezze from the East, music from the West
Beer by the growler, cocktails, pickles & pitaâ
I enjoyed a âtop shelfâ (bourbon, cider brandy, maple syrup, egg white and baharat) whilst deciding and people watching. The crowd was late twenties/early thirties and trendy. There was fairly loud house music playing that gave off Saturday night vibes, but interestingly they had completely different music in the toilets, much calmer traditional Middle Eastern music.
With the help of our charming waitress we ordered a generous selection of meat and sides, specifically the hand-pulled fore-quarter of lamb (Mechoui), joojeh chicken thighs, smoked short-rib beef in date syrup glaze, mixed pickles, aubergine, beets with whipped feta, cauliflower shawarma in tahini and smoked beans with lamb neck.Â
All the meat was fantastic, my only niggle was that the lamb was a tad too salty. The aubergine was a little on the boring side, but the other sides more than made up for it, especially the cauliflower shawarma that had crispy baked ends and the smoked beans with lamb that was like jazzed up cholent. I really enjoyed the festal nature of serving everything on one big informal platter. Not only does it lend itself to sharing but the flavours all mix together and underneath it all you have deliciously meat-juice-soaked pita with which to capture stray pieces of meat.Â
After a substantial break in proceedings, we took a look at the dessert menu and couldnât resist the chocolate and cardamom mousse and two Turkish coffees. The bottom layer of rich dark chocolate was deliciously offset by a little cardamom flavoured sour cream on top.
We ordered more than enough and had cocktails so it wasnât cheap but itâs completely worthwhile. The atmosphere is great and the food is extremely impressive.
I love Mediterranean and Middle eastern food and this place hit the spot. No reservations but they have decent sized communal tables and we were seated right away (got there around 7pm on a Friday). The line quickly formed soon after though. Menu is simply laid out. We asked for the signatures so got some help from the helpful waitress. We had the short rib, lamb and chicken and ordered a bunch of mezze for sides. The roasted cauliflower, blackened aubergine and also the beetroot were very good. The lamb was particularly yum. Lovely service and the space was cozily lit in a railway arch. Be good for a date but they play music so vibrant atmosphere. Recommend if you're in the area and very good value. ÂŁ90 for 3 with 4 beers and a couple non-alcoholic cocktails.
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As East London gentrifies and rents go up, the innovators and risk-takers get pushed further out into the suburbs. Only a few years ago Shoreditch was the buzzing heart of the London restaurant revolution, where the Young Turks served modern British tasting menus in a speakeasy above a Spitalfields pub and Abiye Cole sold his Big Apple Hot Dogs outside the fire station on Old Street. Now, Big Apple are a feature of menus across the capital and Isaac McHale has a Michelin star. And I'm a huge fan of both and good luck to them of course, but while Shoreditch settles into its role as the New Soho, something stirs in Haggerston. In a old railway arch (the East London trendy restaurant venue du jour ), candle-lit and cacophonic, is Berber & Q, who at first glance are ticking so many off the hipster-restaurant checklist (men with fancy facial hair shaking cocktails, craft beer, sharing plates) it threatens to collapse into parody. But fortunately, the food they're serving is anything but clichéd; in fact I'd go so far as to say it's the most exciting new restaurant since you could get a pint on Curtain Road for under £4.50. Which was a very long time ago. Without wanting to trivialise the extraordinary work of the kitchen staff at Berber & Q, an easy shortcut to describe what they're doing is probably a "Lebanese Smoking Goat ". Which is to say they've taken all the best flavours and spices of a certain cuisine (in this case Middle Eastern/North African) and matched it with modern low'n'slow smoking techniques and an energetic youthful service. A good example of this is the short-rib, meltingly tender like the finest Pitt Cue examples yet boosted by a date syrup glaze which lends the whole thing an extra level of exotic Eastern promise. But I'm getting ahead of mys
Josh Katz has opened his first restaurant, Berber & Q, a Middle Eastern and North African grill house, within the railway arches of Haggerston. Formerly at Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, Ottolenghi and Zest, Josh has taken influence for Berber & Q from all over â London, Marrakesh, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and New York.
First time trying Berber & Q and really enjoyed it! We ordered the hummus/pita, aubergine, brick chicken, and steak, all were very tasty. Our server was super friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was nice but the restaurant was playing spiritual music which didnât seem congruent with a bbq themed restaurant.
Quality food in a cool restaurant beneath a railway arch. The steak and chicken was great, but I wasnât a big fan of their drink options (eg no draught beers). Overall, a good dinner option though.
Great vibes at Berber &Q. Good for large groups and has a quick service format. Seating is rustic and good for an early dinner before a night of drinking. Staff are friendly and super polite. Great range of middle eastern inspired food. Good to reserve as it gets quite busy. The open kitchen gives you a feeling of being one with the restaurant. Cash and cards are accepted. The restaurant has this original brick clad interior and the lighting takes the ambience to the next level. 4 stars for the food since the focus on drinks and food can be improved since not the best quality ingredients were used. The espresso martini tasted like a it was made the previous day
Food here was amazing. Lamb was falling off the bone. Will be definitely coming back here as the food is up to the hype! Great food and greats service.
This place is excellent! I've walked past it ignoring it for many years, thinking it's an American steak house vibe - based on the sign in the window. This couldn't be more wrong. When you enter you step into a different world with great atmosphere. I've had a great mescal cocktail and the food was mind blowing. Service was also very good. Very underrated place! Get the aubergine!
Absolutely fantastic! Jaw dropping plates of flavour, with lots of surprises along the way. Who knew creamed aubergine could taste so good. I had the Berber Souk cocktail (if you like margaritas then get this!). Also the lamb is a must try with your favourite friend! This place is 10/10 for any social friend or family gathering, but make sure you book to avoid disappointment.
We came for a mid week dinner and as there were 7 of us, our server was patient with our requests and was honestly able to tell us if we had ordered enough or too much and make good recommendations. The portion sizes are on the smaller side for the price so that is one drawback. We shared the marinated olives, harissa and zhug (ok, can be skipped), grilled zaatar flatbread (good), hummus (so good!), crispy artichoke hearts, scorched mackerel (not to my taste), attila ganoush (good texture and flavour), squid with aubergine zaalouk (loved this), grilled halloumi with pumpkin (really nice), tajine with beef kefta (good), smoked pork neck with gherkins (meat fell off the bone and was tasty). For dessert, we had the cheesecake and tahini ice cream which I thought could be missed.
So good - everything tastes smokey from the grill and just delicious. Theyâve got plenty vegetarian dishes but also for meat fans. Love the environment- great and laid back time
Fantastic middle eastern/ mediternian food with reasoable prices. All mezes were decent but my favs were ganoush and artichoke. Slow cooked lamb neck also great as a main.
Possibly the best middle eastern restaurant in London. Cannot say enough for this place. Very cool atmosphere and quality of the food is outstanding. Strongly recommend.
One of the best spots for dinner. Great service and relatively quick for food to come out.
Best suited to large groups so you can order more of the sharing dishes! The Lamb neck, the artichoke hearts and the hummus&labneh were standouts
I went there thanks to the recommendation of a friend and I wasnât disappointed !
The food was quite tasty, the overall atmosphere of the restaurant was charming.
Portions are quite generous so if you're not that hungry or if you have little appetite do not take a side with your dish.
Tasty Middle Eastern food, really cosy and intimate candlelight restaurant. It can get quite loud due to the layout of the store (arches, tables too close to each other). Good cocktails too. Relatively quick service. It is also quite dear. Busier at the weekends compared to weekday evenings. Waiting staff not the friendliest but professional. Overall it was a positive experience. Thereâs wheelchair accessible ramp at the entrance but unsure how a wheelchair could fit in. Toilets are decent.
We had a lovely night at Berber & Q!
I must say though, although some dishes were really good, some werenât âworth itâ for their price.
I highly recommend getting the mezzes (the hummous with lamb ragu and labneh were excellent) and lamb neck meshoui, but both the mackerel and short rib tagine were quite small (although very good in taste!).
Suchhhhh a good spot. This is the partner restaurant to Shawarma Bar which is great, so when we couldn't get a table there, we checked out Berger & Q and are glad we did. Cool, chilled and well lit restaurant in the arches of the railway station. The menu has a good mix of middle eastern vegetarian and meat dishes. The favourite by far for me was the Attila ghanoush and the chicken with chermoula but truly everything was great. Great for dinner with friends or a perfect cosy date spot.
A banger of a meal last night at @berberandq. Iâve had this on my list to visit for years and had to cancel a couple of times. For starters we had the Labnah, Baba Ganoush & pulled lamb bun. Mains were lamb mechoui, burnt aubergine with sides of charred beets & blackened sweet potato. All were very flavoursome and delicious. A nice fusion of flavours. Staff were good if a little rushed. Acoustics were a bit noisy but in a brickwork arch this is to be expected.
Great food and great vibe! The bork belly was absolutely delicious and the hummus the best Iâve had! Everything was great, staff was friendly, very quick service (maybe a little too quick that it felt we were being rushed) and the whole atmosphere is very chill but fun.
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