We’re thrilled to be the first to report that the follow-up to one of 2015’s hottest new openings, Berber & Q in Hackney, will open its sister restaurant in Exmouth Market on 4 July. From duo Josh Katz and Mattia Bianchi, Berber & Q Shawarma Bar will hopefully follow the delicious meat formula, although there’s no need to guess: these first-look food shots will help you judge for yourself...
Josh Katz (above right) and Mattia Bianchi are at it again, this time specialising in (you guessed it) slow-cooked shawarma. “In the UK, shawarma can get a bad rap” says chef Katz: “The ‘elephant leg’ of grey meat, limp lettuce and cloying chilli sauce…” Don’t remind us Josh. Using fresh, high quality ingredients however, Berber & Q Shawarma Bar hopes to reinvent this Middle Eastern classic, to join the likes of Soho’s Le Bab and Black Axe Mangal in Islington.
“Shawarma Bar will continue Berber & Q’s relaxed and informal vibe, to be a place for celebrating good company and down-to-earth eating and drinking” says Mattia, adding that “Exmouth Market seemed a fitting location; we’re lucky to be in the company of so many great restaurants and chefs.”
The food focus will be on lamb shawarma, slow-braised beef shpondra (a casserole dish) and rotisserie chicken, with the latter being slow-cooked on a spit over hot coals. You’ll be able to pair your Middle Eastern meat feast with an array of salads and extras like grilled pita, coal-baked sweet potato, blackened aubergine and musabaha (a type of hummus with whole chickpeas).
Meat dodgers need not click away just yet: there’s going to be cauliflower shawarma with golden sultanas, rose and pine nuts, as well as flavour-packed rice and lentils soaked in spicy stock. For dessert, there’ll be sweet pita sandwiches, with tahini soft-serve ice cream (yes, tahini) and caramelised banana.
Find out more about Berber & Q Shawarma Bar here and for everything else coming soon on the London restaurant and bar scene, take a look at our coming soon list.
This article was published 1 June 2016