Ara

Ara in Aldgate East is Murat Kilic’s third and most daring venture yet, with a refreshingly unconventional menu offering a melting pot of global flavours. Murat might throw the rule book out when it comes to cooking but he is serious about sustainability, from interiors through to food.

Originally from Turkey, Murat started cooking with his grandfather before moving to London as an electrical engineer. He went on to have various jobs in hospitality, both front and back of house, before opening his first restaurant, Route in Dalston, which is now sold. In 2018, he opened Amber which has received praise for its heart-warming Middle Eastern flavours. Ara is situated just around the corner and will also offer all-day dining. Rattan lampshades and floaty chiffon curtains create a sense of calm, with interior designer, Nina Woodcroft, using repurposed materials, like steel offcuts, to build the space. Transcending into an intimate, serene spot in the evening, Ara’s simple design makes way for its bold, experimental food.

Unlike its sister restaurant, Ara doesn’t hone in on one cuisine. Instead, its menu is led by the seasons and sustainability. A completely self-taught chef, Murat encourages ingredient-led cooking with menu items including mussel skewers with roasted chicken wings in butter sauce, sea bream ceviche with strawberry tiger milk and soft herbs, and skate wings with macadamia, shallot and lemongrass crunch.

In Ara’s sustainable fashion, the wine list champions organic, biodynamic and low-intervention practices while cocktails are sourced from Discarded Spirits Co and 58 and Co, both of which are pioneering ethical approaches to making spirits. Ara is a large space, with a capacity of over ninety covers, but if Murat’s track record is anything to go by, we doubt he’ll have any trouble filling it.