Food inspired by the Barbary coast

Posted by petra08 on August 1, 2017 · 6 Comments 

Every now and then a restaurant opens in London and I just know I want to go there. It has nothing to do with fancy food or being expensive, it is about flavor. When The Barbary opened I knew I wanted to go there and try the food.

The Barbary coast covers Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The food at The Barbary stretches a bit further with influences all the way to Israel. My knowledge about food from this region is quite limited but the menu sounded too interesting to ignore.

I have tried to go there a few times, sometimes during rush hour so impossible to get in. There are only 24 covers and you sit around a u shaped bar.

 

 

The food is cooked in the middle, there is a clay oven and a lot of the food is cooked on open fire.

 

 

We arrived for a late lunch after an unexpectedly long train journey and were starving. As we sat down a naan bread was served to the diners next to us and we just had to have some of that. Don’t miss these if you are there, thin, crispy, freshly baked in the clay oven, they are irresistible. They are also perfect for mopping up sauces and oils that comes with the food.

 

I sipped a sizable G&T whilst looking through the menu.

 

 

The naan bread went down a treat especially with the beetroot and labneh. Unfortunately we were so hungry I forgot to take a picture. I did pull myself together and managed to remember just in time for the Zhug, Harissa and burnt and pickled chilli.

 

 

The Zhug, a Yemenite kind of hot sauce, was so smooth and had just the perfect heat. I dipped my naan bread, mixed and matched and enjoyed the chilli.

 

The menu is divided by A-LA-ESH, and from Land we ordered lamb cutlets. I was tempted by the pata negra neck but as we both love lamb cutlets I went for them. They were perfectly seared with a lovely pink middle.

 

 

Going further to Sea, I couldn’t resist the Black Salmon Dukkah.

 

 

Salmon is one of my favorite fish this did not disappoint. We had to order another naan bread to soak up the juices and Dukkah, it was so delicious. I liked it so much I decided to make my own Black Salmon Dukkah at home as The Barbary is just a little bit too far away, otherwise I would be there very often.

 

I really wanted to try the whole menu but there is only so much I can eat. Cauliflower Jaffa Style had to be ordered as the name sounds irresistible.

 

 

The cauliflower had just the right bite and the right crispiness. The dish is simply delicious.

 

Red wine was a perfect choice with the explosion of flavors.

 

 

The staff is incredible, they move in the smallest of spaces and are never short of advice or just a chat once the service was winding down.

We didn’t intend to have a dessert but the desserts go under Heaven and the Knafeh sounded divine.

 

 

It was even better than anticipated, crispy pastry, soaked in syrup with melted mozzarella inside, pistachio nuts and perfectly ripe raspberries was the way to end a lovely meal. A glass of ice cold Arrak and a strong coffee finished a meal that I actually didn’t want to end.

 

 

I will absolutely come back again and again. If you are nearby don’t miss this place. This is when I miss London so much, the food available is amazing and such a treat.

 

 

No meal in London is perfect without a pint in M’s favorite pub, the iconic Lamb and Flag.

 

 

No matter if you prefer a wine bar, some shopping, browsing or a pint, London has something for everyone in abundance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed under Restaurant review · Tagged with Covent Garden, London, Neal's Yard, The Barbary, The Lamb and Flag, Zhug