Restaurant Review: Arabica Restaurant. This Bar and Kitchen is located in Borough Market serving delicious food from the Levant. If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Borough Market, places to eat near London Bridge or Middle Eastern food in SE1, you must book a table at the Arabica Restaurant.
“We loved every dish at Arabica. The focus on Middle Eastern cuisine is executed in a modern way to deliver taste sensations that you will be thinking about long after you’ve paid the bill,” Homegirl London.
Arabica Restaurant Borough Market Lunch and Dinner Menu
The food focus here is from the Levant countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey). It’s contemporary Middle Eastern food which is full of flavour. We popped in for lunch and ordered a series of vegetarian dishes which were all delightful.
Hummus
Start with a few nibbles like Marinated Green Olives, Smoked Almonds or Persian Sangak Bread which is whole wheat flatbread baked on pebbles. Dips include Hummus which we tried, and it was as good as it gets. It arrives with a couple of pieces of flatbread in a paper bag so you can dip away. Hummus is also combined with mushrooms or spiced lamb fillet should you want to try something a little different. Other dips included Whipped Feta with Broad Beans, Taramasalata which is whipped cod’s roe and Cacik which is thick strained yoghurt with cucumber, mint and dill.
Spinach Boregi
We chose Feta and Spinach Boregi from the Clay Oven section of the menu. This was a sizeable serving with two dips and green olives. We ordered the 3 Cheese Man’ousheh, which was excellent, I would eat that again. It was a thin flatbread with purple sprouting broccoli, mascarpone, halloumi, goats’ cheese, wild garlic, toasted seeds, watercress and a squeeze of preserved lemon. They had a Mushroom and Truffle version as well.
3 Cheese Man’ousheh
The Hot Meze selection featured Beiruti Falafel Bites which were very good. I’m very fussy about falafel and have high standards and can tell you that the falafel here is worth trying. Courgette and Feta Fritters are on my list for the next visit. Other options were Grilled Halloumi, Lamb Kibbeh and Salt and Pepper Squid.
Beiruti Falafel Bites
We ordered the Berbere Spiced Cauliflower from the Charcoal list. Wow, this was awesome. It was a large helping of cauliflower smothered with tahini yoghurt, toasted nuts, seeds, rose and pomegranate. I’m still thinking about it now. Can’t wait to eat it again! They have Lamb, Mutton, Beef, Chicken and Mackerel options in this section of the menu. Add a Fattoush, Tabbouleh, Feta Salad or Spring Vegetable Freekeh, and you will be very content.
Berbere Spiced Cauliflower
We couldn’t contemplate a dessert because we were full. However, I will keep space for next time and try the Baklawa. They also serve Kunefe, Rhubarb Fool, Chocolate Brownie Sundae and Pistachio Kor’netto. To give you the idea of price points Nibbles are £1-5, Dips £5-6.50, Clay Oven £7.50-9, Hot Meze £7.50-9.50, Charcoal £8-13.50, Salads £6 and Desserts £4.50-7. Drinks include Turkish Coffee which Homeboy tried and said it was noticeably lovely thanks to the green cardamom. There were some Middle Eastern flavour cocktails and a good selection of soft drinks, including fresh juices.
Arabica Restaurant Borough Market Interiors
Restaurant Interior
The restaurant is located in a railway arch, so there is an exposed brick ceiling and walls. The open kitchen is at the back of the space and a bar to one side. There are tables for four along one wall with padded turquoise seats. Tables for two are placed in the middle. The décor is minimal with the emphasis on the unusual chandeliers and the metal fretwork arch detailing at the back of the room.
Arabica Restaurant Borough Market Information
Restaurant Exterior
To find out more about the restaurant, go to the Arabica Website. The address is 3 Rochester Walk, Borough Market, London SE1 9AF. The nearest station is London Bridge, or you can walk from Borough station. Current opening times for the kitchen are Monday to Friday 12 pm until 10.30 pm, Saturday 9 am until 10.30 pm, and Sunday 9 am until 9 pm. They serve brunch at the weekends, which sounds impressive, so I am hoping to check that out soon. Make sure you book a table because this place gets jam-packed.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London and the picture of the interior is from the Arabica Facebook Page. Thanks: Homeboy for joining me.
