Homegirl London’s Restaurant Review: Morito Hackney Road. Having thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Morito Exmouth Market in November, I was keen to take Homeboy along to try the Hackney version. He loved it, I loved it, what’s not to love? You’re treated to tempting and delicious tapas and mezze from Southern Spain, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean if you’re looking for the best places to eat in East London or Tapas Restaurants in East London book a table at Morito Hackney Road.
“You must try these wonderfully creative tapas dishes influenced by Southern Spain, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean in this spacious Hackney Road restaurant,” Homegirl London
Morito Hackney Road Menu
The two Morito restaurants and Moro are owned by Sam and Sam Clark. The menu is influenced by Southern Spain, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean including Crete where the Head Chef Marianna Leivaditaki grew up. The menu is divided into vegetable, meat and fish options along with a few starters and a couple of desserts. We tucked into a selection of vegetarian dishes. The Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Tortilla arrived first. There is likely to be a variation on ingredients depending on when you visit. The Morito Tortilla is always fantastic, and the portion size is just right so you can enjoy other dishes without feeling too full on potatoes.
Sweet Potato Tortilla
We also went for the Cheese Fritters with Cretan Thyme Honey which were yummy. The other cheese dish we tried was Anthotyros. This is fresh sheep’s cheese which is unpasteurised and comes from Greece. The name Anthotyros means ‘Flower Cheese’ due to the aromas of wild herbs. The cheese was grilled and served with pickled za’atar (Arabic name for wild thyme and Lebanese oregano) and Kalamata olives (black olives from Kalamata in Greece).
Cheese Fritters
The Shaved Cauliflower, Manchego and Parsley Salad was fresh and tasted as delightful as it looked. We also enjoyed Golden Beetroot with Orange, Mizithra and mixed Seed Dukkah. Mizithra is a fresh Greek cheese made from milk and whey from either sheep or goats.
Shaved Cauliflower
Homeboy tried the Grilled Octopus with Fava Bean Puree and Crispy Onions which he loved. The other fish options were Grilled Mackerel, Fried Squid, Asparagus with Mussels or Cod Fillet. All feature interesting seasoning and added ingredients.
Grilled Octopus
Meat eaters can order Charcoal Grilled Guinea Fowl, Charcoal Grilled Lamb Chops, Spiced Lamb with Hummus, Fried Rabbit, Seared Beef or Secreto Iberico Pork.
Chocolate Mousse
There will be a few desserts on the menu. We tried the Chocolate and Olive Oil Mousse with Hazelnuts. This was perfect, I loved the combination of olive oil added to the chocolate, and those hazelnuts were the magical final touch. We also tucked into the Custard, Crispy Filo, Poached Rhubarb and Cinnamon Sugar dessert. This was deconstructed with filo flakes and looked a tad messy but who cared because it was fabulous.
Filo Dessert
To give you the idea of price points, vegetable small plates are £6-7, fish £9.50-13, meat £4.50-12 and desserts are £6-7. Drinks-wise, you can try a selection of cocktails, sherry, wines or a few spirits. The wines are primarily from Spain, Portugal and a few from the Canary Islands.
Morito Hackney Road Interiors
The restaurant has floor to ceiling windows overlooking busy Hackney Road. This gives the interiors plenty of light. Inside the restaurant is spacious with around 75 covers. In the middle, there is a large horseshoe-shaped bar with a marble top. Stools surround the bar, and then you have the tables with metals chairs and counter space with stools overlooking the street.
Restaurant Interiors
In terms of décor, it has a fresh and contemporary style. The walls are whitewashed with a panel of blue at the bottom and a small orange band which signifies the brand colours. There are a few fish scale tiles on parts of the wall. The floor and ceiling are concrete, and the air conditioning and pipework are exposed, which gives the space an industrial feel. A few plants and objects are dotted around to make the place feel homelier.
Morito Hackney Road Information
Restaurant Exterior
To find out more about the restaurant, go to the Morito Hackney Road Website. The restaurant address is 195 Hackney Road, London E2 8JL. The nearest station is Hoxton Overground. It is close to Columbia Road and Hackney City Farm. Check the website for current opening times. This restaurant is well worth a visit, so book yourself a table!
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London and a couple from the restaurant (interior and exterior). Thanks: Homeboy for dining with me. Thanks to the PR for sending photographs on request.
