Ara Restaurant - (Near Tower Hamlets, South East)

5 /5 Tahira S M: My friend and I came here for brunch today and absolutely loved it. We arrived early and were seated straight away, given menus, and offered bottled water. The decor is beautiful and the atmosphere instantly felt relaxed and welcoming. We shared the shakshuka, beef croquettes, burrata, and a mushroom dish, and everything was outstanding - full of flavour, beautifully presented, and clearly made with care. There was a small mix-up with the mushrooms and we were brought the mushroom dumplings instead of the roasted mushrooms listed on the menu, but it turned out to be a very happy accident as the dumplings were incredible and exactly what we’d hoped to order after seeing them online. The service really stood out. Our waiter was genuinely friendly, attentive, and made us feel so comfortable. When the bill arrived, we noticed the mushroom dish hadn’t been added. The waiter explained it was his mistake and kindly insisted on not charging us, which was such a thoughtful and generous touch. We stayed on for more hot drinks and were happily allowed to sit and chat while the rain passed, which just added to the calm, cosy vibe of the restaurant. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable experience overall. I can’t recommend this place highly enough and will definitely be back soon with a bigger group to try more of the menu!

5 /5 Nicholas: We ended up eating lunch here almost by chance as it was close to our hotel, and honestly didn’t expect much — but it turned out to be a really good surprise. For around £30–40 per person, the food was much better than expected and felt like great value. The courgette dip was a standout straight away. It was super smooth, really flavourful, and not at all bland like you might expect from a vegetable-based dish. We ordered bread with it and kept going back for more — easily one of the best things we had. The beef croquettes were also excellent. Crispy on the outside, soft and rich on the inside, and full of proper beef flavour. They didn’t feel greasy or heavy, and the sauce that came with them worked really well without taking over. Overall, everything felt well thought out without being fussy or overcomplicated. The food was just done properly. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, and the service was friendly and easygoing, which made it a really nice place to spend the day. What started as a random choice because of location turned into one of the better meals we had during the trip. Would definitely come back and happily recommend it — especially for the courgette dip and beef croquettes

5 /5 Rainer Depré: A very enjoyable evening at the Ara restaurant in Aldgate. All the dishes were extremely tasty and beautifully prepared... the waiter gave us some great tips on what to order. We left the Ara feeling full and very satisfied. We highly recommend it! Thank you.

5 /5 Tristan Demille: The best experience I had in London in the last year. Great place, great and quick service, great food presentation, nice innovative ideas, great taste really good prices. I hope they carry on like this for a long time, so I can come back often. Excellent surprise.

3 /5 D Y: Frb26- wonderful vibes, and decor. Small sharing plate menu. Six people had cornx2, trout, dumplings, cabbage, leeks, croquettes, potatoes, potato bread, and beetroot. £210 with a 20% off voucher. Mixed bag - the use of smoke first is interesting then just overpowering (hake/roackbass was unpleasant imho). Best beetroot, light kimchi, and good trout. Extremely helpful staff happy to accommodate dietary concerns and the wine was good.