The small London chain specialising in Middle Eastern deli foods and mezze options has opened a new Clapham flagship with built-in bar. Here's my review for South London Press.
The Del Aziz group has six sites across the capital, each sharing the same concept of freshly made, Middle Eastern inspired food and a style that crosses the divide between deli, cafe and restaurant.
Clapham’s vast branch is the latest opening and new flagship, adding a bar and live music venue to its credentials. In fact, there’s so many facets to the place that the decisions start in earnest before having even glanced at a menu. We choose between seats in the bright and airy deli space in the window, a darker more formal restaurant area and the exotic low-lit bar, plumping for the deli area primarily for its view of the semi-open kitchen.
On the day that Quince opens in the May Fair Hotel, I go to meet the self-acclaimed mad woman Silvena Rowe, the driving force behind this little bit of East in W1.
Walking into Quince on its opening day, there’s a tangible buzz in the air and the unstoppably enigmatic Silvena is making her presence known. Before I even reach the restaurant though, I’m turned away. I came via the May Fair Hotel’s main entrance, which is apparently the wrong thing to have done.
Around the corner on Stratton Street is Quince’s own doorway, which leads to a passageway lined with what must be close to eighty of the restaurant’s namesake fruits. I see now why my route in is important. The heady, rose-like perfume of the quinces immediately evokes only semi-comprehendible notions of exoticism, sun-kissed orchards and vast spice bazaars. Silvena explains it more simply: “That’s the smell of my childhood.”
The small London chain specialising in Middle Eastern deli foods and mezze options has opened a new Clapham flagship with built-in bar. Here's my review for South London Press.
Mekan might not be renowned in the way that some of London’s restaurants-of-the-moment are, but for Catford locals this Turkish restaurant is well known as the being the best of the area. It’s true that Catford isn’t exactly overflowing with decent restaurants and that locals frequently flock to Dulwich, Blackheath and beyond in search of dinner, but from the praise heaped on Mekan by some regulars, it sounds as if it should be the rest of South London which is flocking to Catford. And perhaps people are, as even on a night blighted by cold, snow and ice when most people would rather stay at home, Mekan manages to be impressively full.
