Honey & Co. Bloomsbury

There was a moment of panic at the beginning of 2022 when Honey & Co announced it was to close after 10 years of falafel-loving, spice-celebrating, mezze-marvelling business. Shortly after this brief moment of hysteria, there was an even greater feeling of relief when it revealed the restaurant was, in fact, merely relocating to Bloomsbury up the road.  

To lose this iconic gem would be a sad thing indeed, and you can now find it directly opposite Noble Rot (which incidentally sources the restaurant's wine list) on Lamb’s Conduit Street. We arrived at 6:30pm on a Tuesday to find it already half-heaving, its guests sitting amongst swathes of sandy tones and verdant green foliage that gives the bright space a welcoming, cafe-cum-restaurant feel.  

The menu features a total of 15 small and large plates designed for mixing and matching in true feasting style. A must-order is the ‘bread selection’ featuring pillowy pitta, fluffy milk buns and sesame-crusted bread, all we can attest are fantastic when plunged into the accompanying sweet and tangy feta and pepper dip. Falafel and hummus sit amongst the list for traditionalists, but we plumped for a peach and goat’s cheese salad finished with toasted almonds and a sticky honey dressing. The peaches were slightly underripe, but the dish was still a triumphant combination of things that go well together. A larger plate of garlicky chicken thighs and fluffy rice offered the comfort of a high-quality, home-cooked meal, while a gorgeously crude feta and honey cheesecake, delivered on a bed of crisp, shredded pastry, sang with sweet, salty and crunchy notes.  

Without wine, six dishes between two totted up to about £45 a head, which does feel a little steep. The dishes aren't rule-breaking, but Honey & Co has got a fantastic thing going and we’re more than happy to join its loyal following. May it stick around for many years to come.  

Husband and wife duo Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich have truly made a name for themselves since they opened the first iteration of Honey & Co. back in 2012. Now, they have two restaurants, a cookbook, a podcast, a shop and a catering service. The food at Honey & Co. might seem unassuming at first but these relaxed Middle Eastern plates are properly good stuff. Offering breakfast through to dinner, this spot is perfect for any type of gathering, from a coffee and pastry to a three-course feast with cocktails and wine. 

Aside from what many call the best shakshuka in London, there are typically plenty of breakfast choices for those visiting in the morning. Try the boureka - a burnt potato and feta pastry parcel with tahini, Cornish egg, pickle and tomato salad, or the Merguez sausage roll with harissa. For a lighter bite, there is yoghurt with seasonal fruit and jam or ashura cereal, while the sweet treats here are legendary (think warm pistachio cake and feta and honey cheesecake to name a few).

For later in the day, there is usually a sharing menu featuring falafel, hummus, labneh with marinated red pepper, an aubergine and winter tomato salad, poached quince with curd cheese and spiced honey hazelnut and cheesy bouikos made with feta and spring onion. This can then be followed by one of the more meaty mains, which typically include a hotpot, spiced lamb siniya, fish tagine, slow-cooked chicken in flatbread and a BBQ tahini aubergine. 

The wine list at Honey & Co is usually short and to the point, featuring lesser-known bottles from Greece and the Middle East. House cocktails are fragrant like the food, including an orange blossom old fashioned, Marrakech gin and tea and a Middle Eastern take on the mojito. There are also plenty of beers and soft drinks to choose from too.