Niche Gluten-free Dining - (Near City of London, South East)

Chris Berry In 2001 a cookbook was published that totally crystalised my love of Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Written by husband-and-wife chefs-patrons Sam and Sam Clark, it entirely captured not only the dishes they had encountered in their extensive travels, but also those they served in their beautifully unpretentious restaurant Moro, in Londons Farringdon. My partner and I first dined at Moro in 2010 and loved it, and on a recent weekend trip to London to celebrate my partners birthday we felt a return trip to the restaurant was well overdue. It did on disappoint. From the outset the service was warm, friendly, and efficient. The vibe of the restaurant could be described as "warm-minimalist", being stylish, clean, and uncluttered, but with comfortable furniture and decorated with a colour palate that draws on the places Spanish/Mediterranean focus. However, the absolute star of the show is Moros food - and drink! My starter of beetroot soup with black cumin and dill yoghurt was packed with earthy spicy flavours, perfect for an autumn day. A main of wood roasted pork belly with trinxat, crispy pancetta, fried turnips and sherry vinegar, was beyond delicious, with the richness of the succulent pork being perfectly balanced by the sharp-sweetness of the sherry vinegar. And the dessert of Malaga raisin ice cream with Pedro Ximenez sherry was divine. My partners choices of cuttlefish with chickpeas, wood roasted lamb shoulder with romesco, and rose water and cardamom ice cream were equally delicious. Paired with a couple of aperitifs and an excellent bottle of red wine from Alicante, our lunch was simply splendid. Sure, there a few young pretenders on the block, but there is a reason Moro has been around for a while, because with service, atmosphere, and food this good, its a restaurant that is very hard to beat.

Tom Popped into this place last Friday (early march) and had no booking. It was bus but managed to get a seat at the bar. I had toast with pate to start and a vegetarian main. Think it was sweet potato with pecorino over the top. Something like that. Both dishes were delicious and left me wanting more so I ordered tiramisu for dessert. Equally yummy. The foods clearly great here but what I liked most was the atmosphere and the vibe. It’s dimly lit and still vibrant. Noisy but in a good way. Staff are vigilant and quick. Wine was also good! I loved my meal here and I’m 100% going to go back. Probably more than once.

Steve Gannon Great food and of course, an amazing choice of beer - bottles and on tap. The table service is fantastic, as soon as you near the bottom of the glass they’re taking your next order.

Warrick Brown Cracking evening at the Bouch. The flavour in general in the food has some of the best depth I’ve tasted in French cooking. Staff are attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Atmosphere was great, bustling but not cramped, very convivial. It’s pricey and the portion sizes are on the small side, but the quality is there.

Shanaz Set in an old bank building just off Exmouth Market, this place is super cool in an understated way. We booked counter seats to watch the chefs in action - not the comfiest, but in keeping with the building’s style (loved the drawer storage for cutlery and menus!). The food was excellent, especially the mussel pil pil which is a must-try along with salted cod churros. Beautifully presented dishes and really attentive service throughout. They even moved us to a table when they noticed my friend was uncomfortable, which was much appreciated. Would happily return.

Darsha D Coming here requires a bit of strategy. You don’t just turn up casually. Either don’t eat all day or arrive with the appetite of a small army. I’m not kidding. The place itself is stunning, full of old school charm. The Bloody Mary was, appropriately, bloody good. And the food? Divine. One of the best Sunday roasts I’ve had in a long time. The Yorkshire pudding was a proper “oh my god” moment, the gravy was rich and glorious, and everything else from the meat to the veggies (do not miss the potatoes like everyone mentions!) was spot on. The only tragedy of the day was that I couldn’t finish my plate, which felt like a personal failure. Honestly, just go already.