Ottolenghi Spitalfields

Folks, I’ve got a new podcast coming soon: a series of conversations with brilliant people about life’s simple pleasures. We start with food, obviously, and naturally move on to other great joys... like dessert. Please sign up: https://itunes.apple.com/…/p…/simple- pleasures/id1433913965…

Gorgeous Persian love cakes..

Shakshuka with braised eggs, piquant tomato sauce and smoked labneh from the breakfast menu.

Join Yotam at Islington Assembly Hall for his SIMPLE tour this autumn. Yotam will explore simple recipe writing, what simple cooking means and how to maximize flavour with minimum effort. SIMPLE is coming out this autumn and we can't wait!

Crunchy oat cookies with a chewy centre. Anzac biscuits were originally made for the Australian and New Zealand army corps (ANZAC) during World War I, hence their name. ANZAC day is on April 25th each year, however we make them all through spring until end of summer! https://ottolenghi.co.uk/anzac-biscuits-s hop

House & Garden included the Ottolenghi Picnic Hamper in their 'Guide to the best ready-made picnic hampers'.

Beef and lamb kofta with edamame puree and barberry salsa from our dinner menu.

Freshly baked prune and pecan swirl.

Delightful Ottolenghi marshmallows in shop and online!

Another gorgeous sunny day at Spitalfields!

Wonderful baked ricotta and hazelnut cheesecake, find recipe in the Sweet cookbook!

Roasted aubergine with cumin yoghurt, medjool date salsa and dried olives.

Delightful tempura courgette flowers with schneeflöckli, walnuts and honey from our dinner menu.

This is the ‘everything you wanted to know about Ottolenghi spices but were too afraid to ask’ set. It’s the collection of spices which speak of far-off places and will open a world of Persian love cakes, coffee pound cakes and spiced shortbread to name just a few from SWEET, to which this is the perfect accompaniment.

Beetroot salad with nectarines, goat's cheese, za'atar and almonds.

On the road again... My UK book tour with SIMPLE starts 8 September. Come see me, talk to me, get me to sign your book, give me a hug... Looking forward! #OttolenghiSIMPLE

it lived up to all my expectations. Since getting the Cookbook as a gift some years ago, I had always dreamed of eating here. The same people took me there for Xmas and I fell in love again with the food. The only complaint I have is that I couldn't try the Palestinian red wine. It is a good enough reason to go back. By the way, the bread selection is essential, especially the korma and feta ones. Otherwise, it is impossible to choose any stand out dish as everything was amazing.

Yum! The food was fantastic, nice mood lighting, good atmosphere by all but the head waitress who was fantastically rude to the rest of the staff! But the food was delicious, the tuna was just melt in the mouth fantastic. Loved it

Wonderful venue, efficient staff, excellent food. Thoroughly enjoyable experience all round. Highly recommend it.

Totally lived up to the expectations. Almost everything is meant to share with dishes from the counter (cold or romm temperature) and from the kitchen. Awesome flavors, Well sized portions. Deserts to die for. Not kidding.

The food was first class, the staff were friendly, polite and very helpful. Would highly recommend visiting.

Sat at the bar eating. Wasn’t too loud in there nor was it quiet. Can quite easily hear the other people you are with.



You won’t be disappointed.

Really good service, delicious food and nice interior.

Perfect in every way! The food and service were amazing.

I enjoyed the various dishes ! It was delicious and the colour and Fusion of different spices was devine! My cake flour less chocolate cake was decadent and it was my birthday and the server put a candle in the Cake wonderful lunch at Ottolenghi � visitor from South Africa ���

Had a early dinner last week. Food was excellent and staff were great especially the bar staff who helped with the menu. Only one negative for me was the desserts no where as exciting and tasty as the main courses. Would go again in a heart beat. I’ll

Fabulous food. Each dish was unique, interesting and yummy. Not one thing did we wish we had not ordered. Great service from David. Thanks for a great foodie experience that exceeded my expectations.

Fabulous food and in such a lovely bright space right in the financial district

Charming staff- delicious food- shared table with a lovely American Couple from New York who entertained us with their friendly banter. Would definitely visit again. Not cheap but quality was superb. Great combination of flavours- we had forgotten how good eating out could be- not any more.

A visual feast...the food was truly wonderful! Seated at the bar we had full , immediate attention!..Hendricks gin cocktail was very nice. Lovely bar attender enhanced our experience. Will return...oh my word the desserts were wonderful too! The pineapple passion cheesecake eaten as recommended and wow! Thank you very much �

A really positive experience from start to finish; switched-on staff there when you need them but not pushy or fake, a great buzz of an atmosphere, cocktails that really impressed - chilli and cardamom negroni in particular - and food with clever thought behind it throughout, pork belly with kimchi, pink grapefruit and black bean sauce the pick. No hesitation in giving 5 stars or recommending the whole experience.

A place where you get amazing food. Everytime we visit an Ottolenghi restaurant we are blown away by the great flavor. The plates are not big but thats the point, I recommend you take enough mains to share and at least a couple of salades. It is necessary anyway to take more since you like to taste lots of different foods served. I had the pea and mint croquettes with miso mayo as main and they were out of this world. I shared with a friend her octopus and that too was devine. Best to make reservations :-)

I have just been prompted to write a review and I must say, I am truly surprised by the comments preceding! Were these people eating in the same restaurant? I visited yesterday evening and my experience was absolutely superb. I popped in and asked by chance if there was a table at 6pm and was told yes at the bar at 7:45pm. We returned at 7:30pm and after 5 minutes moseying around the delightful shop and staring at the beautiful array of colourful dishes, we were seated at the bar and and greeted by a very helpful and pleasant man who was more than happy to explain some of the dishes. He took his time to explain the ingredients and we didn't feel pushed into ordering and quite happily left to chat over our wine. All around we could see lush food and the smell was divine. The couple sat next to us were raving about their dishes. Hard decision but we chose the green beans, mackerel and koftas. Whilst waiting, we were served some delightful breads and oil, apologies given for only 2 breads being served not 3. I'm so glad we did have 2 pieces of the corn bread and not 1. Melt in the mouth layer upon layer of flavours. From beginning to end all the dishes were pure pleasure. I thought I was knowledgeable about many different foods and flavour combinations from all over the world and I love developing/creating recipes for my clients on my 'feel better' health and well-being page here on Facebook. I must say I was stunned by the amazing flavour combinations and quality of the food in your restaurant - wow, just wow! My only criticism, and I'm sorry to say, is the price, I expected to have not twice the amount of food as the portion sizes are good but for the price, but I expected to be able to choose maybe 5 dishes for the amount of money it cost. If not for this, I would willingly give 6 stars. I shall return!

Very disappointing. I was expecting a middle eastern earthy vibe? But instead found the atmosphere stuffy and sterile. Staff were a bit patronising when I asked about the menu ? When I was told it was basically tapas I was shocked at the price of each dish and that we would therefore, need several dishes for each person? While the food tasted great there was nothing of it! I am sorry to say I will not return.

I'd booked a table for four people for this afternoon as my son had asked to visit for his 21st birthday lunch. We arrived at 14.25 for our 14.30 booking and were told that our table wasn't ready. We were left standing by the door getting barged around from other people attempting to come into the restaurant for approx. 20 minutes before we were seated. The maitre D (if that's what she was) didn't bother to apologise, just came back after around 10 minutes and said that the table shouldn't be long. She looked at my husband in amazement when he said that if a table is booked for a certain time it should be ready. When we were finally seated the service was acceptable but the portions were small (four pieces of octopus on one "main" and two kofte for another). We were going to have a lovely celebratory meal but ended up having just one drink and a main each because we were put off by the attitude.

When I called for the bill the American waitress came to the table next to us who wanted to pay and chatted laughingly for around five minutes whilst we were waiting. When she'd finally finished and I asked if I could pay I was given a surly "Yes" and my payment was taken.

We were really looking forward to our first meal here and hoping it would be the first of many - particularly as it was my sons birthday. We won't be returning.

What had to be a memorable evening for my Israeli husband On his 40th birthday turned out to be very dissapointing.

The food :

Salads are tasteless, no presentation, RAW green beans (not Just crunchy) And not seasoned, no extra Bread Nothing as a free starter. Portions are very small.

We left half as iT Just wasnt Good.

Then THE mains... Just really sad to see And taste they serve you cold And dry pita bread, THE cauliflower was missing On THE falafel plate, way too salty tahina, falafels are a paste ball And not crunchy at All.

Sardines were Just fried no taste And served On dollop of yoghurt And chopped Olives And a bunch of Parsley leaves. You have to pay a staggering amount of 13 OR 14 pounds for a dish that is super small.

Then THE last dish... Grilled spring onion On a drizzle of tahina And 2 pieces of chopped walnut was supposed to be walnut puree ? And we have to pay 10 pounds for that?



We were so so dissapointed ... We Just came Back from tel aviv And this ressembles Nothing even near Israeli OR Palestine food.

I think iT s gotten too big And staff Just doesnt care enough to make THE recipes right And Yotam's soul got lost along All of this.



THE staff was very friendly though And took off THE mains as they admitted iT went wrong completely.

Even THE manager came

To explain. Which we appreciate ofcourse.

But iT Couldnt fix our mood And take away THE dissapointment...



I really hope they get Back On track And get trained better in order to bring THE food out as iT Should be .

For now I wouldnt recommend iT ...