Ottolenghi Spitalfields in Tower Hamlets

Friendly helpful service. Main course I had was excellent. Desert was only average though, the Texan chocolate loaf cake was a bit dry.

Portions are small, more like fine dining. There was a fly on the salad. They changed it immediately and didn’t charge us for the salad. Food tastes good but as they are small portions, it is expensive

Creative and delicious dinner menu! Love the little shop as well! If you want to book a table online just watch out for term bar dining as this will seat you at the bar instead of a table. On the pricier side but it's worth a visit.

Absolutely loved this place..expensive for normal standards and small plates which means you have to order lots but man the taste the service the place the beers they all work their magic and suddenly you are like ok I dont mind paying that money for this.. great selection of seafood and meats and some lovely starters and breads.. the salads kinda a let down but we still loved it..a place for everyone and all..totally recommended and bang on

Lovely, efficient service and a nice, chilled ambience. The food was nice enough but I was not blown away. The menu is quite limited, and one dish arrived luke warm and another was quite salty. My husband quite enjoyed his meal however!

Great food, great service, very noisy.

Surprisingly underwhelming. Given the menu is so limited, it should not feature a salad of “under-cooked broccoli chucked on a plate”.

Too many expectations ? Ottolenghi is a Chef that arguably has had one of the biggest impact on our taste buds' lives in the past few years. So many friends or restaurants now welcome you with dishes inspired by his talent. And it's great ! But the restaurant in London isn't something I would recommend, for 3 reasons. First my party was royally ignored for about 10 minutes before finally accessing the reserved table. It happens, I guess, but it's not the best first impression for a restaurant of that level. The rest of the service was really good though, with a friendly and knowledgeable waitress. Secondly, and it's a matter of personal taste, the level of garlic was unprecedented. Of course that is something you expect when you know the recipes of the cookbook, but it's like the restaurant kitchen even doubled the portions. Some elements were overpowering the entire meal. Finally, there's a weird feeling of things being organized like a wedding catering rather than a Michelin type restaurant. The dishes look like they are prepared way ahead, the deserts are sitting in an adjacent pastry shop where you go get them and put them on a plate...A little spark is really missing and it hurts to say, but the overall experience feels a bit disappointing.

Great location - extend your stay beyond eating and check out the local streets and vendors. We had a lovely day. The restaurant was about £50 oh incl a glass of wine which is great value for lunch. Wonderful service and buzzy atmosphere. The food is colourful, delicious and portions perfect. 5 Star from us.

In the heart of the City of London, a gateway to the Mediterranean opens up. In a spacious and comfortable environment we were able to take a real break and immerse ourselves in the flavors of Marrakech with the batter, one of the best but you have eaten, The vegetables and tastings of different types completed the experience.

I had Ottolenghi on my bucket list and it was really worth it. What delicious dishes! There is plenty of choice and the list includes several lactose-free or gluten-free options. The staff was very friendly and professional, really great.

Food is absolutely next level, we had six dishes for party of two and it was a feast. The staff is super friendly and helpful. We had a dinner at the bar but overall it didn't take away from the experience.

Really good food, high quality and tasty. Not too salty or greasy. The mushroom + lentils and the sweet potato are my favorites. Lovely room. Getting a combo of 3-4 salads is great to have the full taste experience.

Great raspberry meringue, hazelnut sea salt, chocolate, and desserts for takeout at the front. Also great food as I’ve dined here multiple times. But if you just need some gifts or some quick dessert on the go, I highly recommend the meringues!

Went for breakfast, had the leek, feta croissant and the shakshouka. Croissant seemed a bit more over done than what what I would have expected (dark pastry, not golden) also thought it would have been warm. Filling was good though. Shakshouka was really tasty. Fresh apple juice was class as well. Manager on the door was nice and so was the girl who served us, but the gentleman who had a very obvious moan about our 2year old at the seving station right next to us wasnt anywhere near the level of professionalism you would expect from somewhere within the Ottolenghi brand. If a two year old folding up a paper menu at the table ruins your morning fair enough but go and moan when you are in the kitchen or somewhere not customer facing, especially right next to the table you are moaning about. He grabbed it off the table from us and went away and threw it behind a till. When he met his colleague at the serving station, he clearly told her his frustrations. We did apologise (to his colleague after seeing the member of staff talk about us) for the unfortunate origami, and she was a lot more accommodating. It also seemed like a chore for him to pour water when we asked for it. We never got a check back to see if the food was OK, otherwise I would have said about the croissant at the time. But for the first time we've been to an Ottolenghi restaurant, certainly would go back anytime soon unfortunately.

We ate there on a Sunday and had lunch. The salads (grilled carrots and aubergines etc.) were cold, obviously preprepared and tasted pale.

Very good food with a nice shop attached where you can buy food items to go. Everything we had was great, and I would definitely consider coming back here next time I'm in London.

Whole room was empty, we ordered take away drinks and asked to wait at bar because it looked nicer but was told to sit only by poor quality plastic chairs by window. Ruined the whole experience. Poor quality service. Unfriendly and unwelcoming staff. The tea was okay. The desserts were over priced for what they were.

As a fan of Ottolenghi's cookbooks, I am honestly a little disappointed that the philosophy of enjoyment is lost due to time pressure. We were outside in an hour. To enjoy the delicious flavors of Ottolenghi's cuisine you need time to enjoy. It came across as luxury fast food. We were truly sorry.

What else is there to say? It’s a classic, we came for an early breakfast on Saturday and I strongly recommend this time as the place is quiet and calm. We had shakshuka, eggs, a spinach pastry and a delicious porridge. Coffee was really nice too.

Mi segunda visita a este lugar y fue tremendo. Personal atento, comida deliciosa - gracias por un maravilloso desayuno de cumpleaños!

We had a blast!!! The three of us shared 6 dishes. The service was very attentive to the tables. Nothing showed that the service was in full swing.

Amazing food, great service, and atmosphere - the perfect restaurant

I tried their 7£ chocolate cake and it was very sweet. Did not finish it and threw it. Nothing really to write home about. Atmosphere was quite snobbish.

Comida encantadora nuestra primera vez aquí, pero tenía la comida de libros de recetas en el pasado. Teníamos la ensalada de calabaza butternut para compartir y pollo shwarma. Ambos deliciosos. Gran personal, pero la única opción de cerveza de 330 ml a £ 7. 20 fue una estafa así que no nos molestamos. Los precios mostrados no incluyen IVA, así que factoriza esto en 12. 5 % de cargo por servicio que era justo. Una gran comida poner el impuesto en el menú y obtener una mejor opción de cerveza embotellada. Lucky Saint es una mala opción.

Ottolenghi Spittlefields was absolutely amazing, the food, the service and the setting was incredible, cant rate highly enough

What a delightful time we had! It was my second meal at this Ottolenghi location and it did not disappoint. Previously, I had been here for lunch but we chose breakfast this time and had a wonderful time. The food as always is sublime. Our wait staff was excellent and even double-checked on the birthdays we were celebrating. We received a cupcake with candles as the meal's end, which was a lovely touch. Highly recommend it for both lunch and dinner!

We first ate at Ottolenghi Spitalfields last March. This weekend was our fourth visit and I am sure we will return next time we are in London. As a vegetarian coeliac it is wonderful for me as there are plenty of gluten-free vegetarian options but my husband who is not restricted and eats most things loves it just as much. The food is superb, so full of flavour, and the staff are extremely knowledgeable and professional. It's not cheap but it is outstanding so worth it.

A real disappointment! We love the “simple” recipe book! We wanted to try the restaurant and there was a big disappointment. Service ok but the dishes arrive at their own pace. Except when our neighbors who arrived 30 minutes after us received their bread before us! The manager tried to make up for it by offering us starters but the wait was much too long between courses. This completely spoils the fun unfortunately. Even without the bread story, we are expecting too much!

Just great Great food, service and vibe. Prices just fine Will come back

Absolutely delicious! The best breakfast I've had in London in a long time.

Outstanding food! Staff overwhelmed, nervous, grim, forgot starters.

Arrogant, unfriendly and an unimpressive food. A disappointment all around! Made a reservation indicating a gluten allergy and when we showed up they made it clear they did not want to accommodate us. I tossed my cookbooks in the rubbish bin ‘cause it was such a nasty experience.

Wow, this was one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had! I absolutely loved the location, and the service was so cool and incredibly sweet! Thanks for such a nice evening.

I was concerned that after years of hype, I might be disappointed. I was not! Delicious lunch. Great menu. Food was rich, filling and satisfying. We started with za'tar chips and labneh followed by the chicken schwarma. Side salad portions were substantial and outstanding. Do not miss the outstanding desserts! Best chocolate cookies I've ever tasted!

Yesterday was my first visit to Ottolenghi and it was absolutely wonderful. From the nicest welcome by the host through our waitress who patiently explained the concept and the dishes, all the way until we finished our desserts, everything was spot-on. The food is an interesting fusion of various Mediterranean cuisines - I loved the Turkish-inspired manti dumplings, as well as the chewy and crunchy tomato dish. Desserts were a class in itself, my favourite was the tahini-banana cake - the miso caramel on top gave it an extra depth. The whole experience was so fantastic, I would recommend Ottolenghi for any special occasion (it's not cheap, but for a special evening it's exactly the place I would go to). Oh, and the cocktail menu is sth out of this world - I tried a cherry gin cocktail with sumac and the combination of flavours was sth I would never even imagine. Tip: dishes are more of small tapas, sharing style plates, and many go well with bread. Remember to order bread as well as it doesn't come as a part of any of the current dishes.

This is a real find, tucked down a lane near Spitalfields market. Great dining space, with seats at the bar, not crowded with ample space between tables. Lunch menu was short and concise, could have ordered every vegetarian dish as they were all delicious. Champagne by the glass was delicious too. Wish we had time to stop by the deli on the way out. Staff were very helpful, and didn't hassle us.

sh, high-quality ingredients that never fail to impress. One of the standout features is their incredible bakery section, available to anyone who walks in. It’s my go-to spot for the best pastries in the city—an absolute treat every single time! The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, making it perfect for a relaxed meal or a special occasion. The staff are consistently friendly, approachable, and go above and beyond to ensure your dining experience is perfect. While it is on the pricier side, the quality and care put into every dish more than justify the cost. Ottolenghi is a gem that we will keep coming back to time and time again. Highly recommended!

Always delightful, I enjoyed dinner yesterday after a while away. The food excellent as usual and most of all the staff is so sweet and sensible to every detail, wonderful experience as always. Thank you

My most favourite spot for lunch in London. I prefer this location as it's tucked away behind a quintessential London street. Food is always fresh! You do have to wait a little for a seat. Rather smallish inside. But definitely worth the wait!

Great and nutritious food but massively overpriced. For the price we paid, service was mediocre and cold. In the shop/bakery, service was outright poor and rude, I had to wait for the staff to finish the conversation. Oh, and I presume that the fact that tips are included automatically, doesn’t help the staff interest in offering good customer service.

Great food and sharing options. We have some of the cookbooks at home and we’re excited to go in person. It didn’t disappointed.

We had the salad trio, it was amazing. Great service too.

One of my go to brunch spots in London. You are guaranteed the freshest ingredients, produce and creativity in the dishes. I love their Shashuka and my partner had the Harissa tofu scramble and smoked labneh which was also excellent. Coffees are always good as is the service. You can skip the brioche cinnamon pretzel...it's essentially a donut and this should have been better. No matter, my affection is not diminished.

This was quite a unique experience. It was a very different kind of food but immensely tasty, nonetheless. We had vegetarian food. The preparations accentuated the brilliant taste of vegetables. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Used to come here for Delicious breakfast, before Covid. Sadly they only open at 9 so it’s tricky. We visited last week and unfortunately I was somehow disappointed. Menu is less varied (lots of eggs) - portions smaller. I also didn’t like my flat white (too bitter). They still offera fantastic selection of cakes over the counter. Slightly hidden from the main crowds, this is a calm and elegant place but lunch might be a better option

A dining experience that every restaurant should offer - joyful, impactful flavors, professional and cordial staff. Impeccable!

Pretty noisy and the wine list was good but expensive. But the food, as one would expect, was of high quality.

We arrived early, so keen were we ! Although over an hour ahead of our booking, we were given several options of places to sit. The menu is great, we started with cocktails, a Burnt Butter Old Fashioned and a Chamomile Cooler. Both cocktails were delicious. next was a pita and labneh starter. Main course was really special - we had sea bream and lamb kebab accompanied by four salads. Each dish with it's own unique flavours and complementing the whole experience. The service was impeccable - especially Zdenek, who was always ready to help at the right moment, I will remember the great saying when I apologised for a little spill of food - I was too entranced with my guest to notice where my food was going ! Excellent - I'm using that again. The ladies in the shop were really nice and so helpful. All in all a great restaurant experience with a really special team, all based on a delicious foundation of dishes. WE ARE COMING AGAIN !!

Noisy, busy place. Excellent food and service.

My first restaurant experience of the very different cuisine offered by Ottolenghi. Excellent wine list too. You are limited to 90mins, which is plenty of time given the excellent and fast service.

All of the food was very good. We had the roasted aubergine with zoug and tahini (disclaimer it comes cold), the olives, the lamb kebab and the beef stifado. I would rate the aubergine the highest of the dishes. I would recommend getting two dishes per person as they are small plates. For desert we had the white chocolate and vanilla cheesecake as well as the chocolate tart. The white chocolate cheesecake was amazing.

The food was great and the service was even better. Loved the beef stifado, the lamb kebab and the roasted aubergine. The deserts were also good. I would highly recommend.

Wow what a taste bud sensation. I have some of the books but was truly blown away by the flavoursome food. Service was friendly and on point. What a treat.

Went right after they opened in the morning and had a reservation. Place started packing up as we were having the meal. We got some pastries and their Shakshuka and it was the most flavorful one we had ever had in a restaurant! You could easily tell the totmato was ripe and sweet, the Labneh creamy, and the spices generous. It had a beautiful kick from the chilis and then you had the creamy, tangy Labneh and it’d cool your mouth just enough that you wanted the next bite. Their Halwa danish and the feta, leek, Za’tar were mouthwateringly delicious! And not to be outdone by the grilled sourdough bread that would just bind everything together. We will be back for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Ottima cucina, servizio eccellente, accoglienza perfetta, prezzo adeguato. Siamo arrivati 20 minuti prima della prenotazione e hanno modificato una prenotazione per farci sedere prima, personale molto gentile e prodigo di consigli (utili) sulla scelta delle pietanze. Cibo ottimo, porzioni adeguate. Interessante assaggiare più piatti. Conto giusto.

Love this restaurant. Pricey for the small quantities but the quality of the flavours, the presentation & the excellent service all make it worthwhile.

A perfect experience. Exceptional service and food.

Top notch service, lovely people working there!

Mediocre pastries, very unpleasant service on the bakery side, and generally an unwelcoming atmosphere

Sa réputation est totalement justifiée mais on doit le mériter vu le succès et la fréquentation de leurs établissements à Londres ( j’en connais 3) . Que ce soit sur place formule avec 2/3 ou 4 salades composées ou à emporter , tout est frais, bien préparé avec de saveurs orientales parfaitement équilibrées. Leurs pâtisseries sont également à goûter . Si vous avez la chance d’avoir une place , aucune hésitation, profitez en . Il me tarde de leur implantation à Paris prévue en 2025 dont le succès sera garanti.

Food was lovely but I didn't like the bar flies

Great Mediterranean food. Really nice flavors. This makes eating fun. The service was very nice. The portions are rather small (the service will tell you this in advance) and you should take several different dishes and share them. So we were able to try a lot of different things and it was a great idea because it meant you could easily try a lot more of the flavor-rich cuisine. I would go back at any time.

Great food and very lovely service. You have to try the cauliflower (yes, I know, but it's really that good)!

We were served by Akbar, very friendly and knowledgable about the desserts. A true gentleman 👍

Food was lovely. Some staff though were inattentive and when they did appear were rude.

Not what it was few years ago but still good. But the wow experience has unfortunately been lost

Awesome place with great food and fantastic sweets from the shop inside the restaurant! :)

We had a magical evening with good wine and delicious food. The service was excellent, we felt completely comfortable!

Sensational food! Wonderful, engaging, knowledgeable front of house staff. We’ll be back!

Delicious food, though the value for money could be better. Staff was slow to bring our bill and weren’t always pleasant, but other than that they’re very professional.

The food was super tasty but the coffee was kinda cold? I don’t know what happened but it came to the table not really hot… except for that the food we ordered was delicious and of high quality which I love!

Good food with excellent service!

We were told we could only have the table for 90 minutes. After waiting 45 minutes with no food we were ready to walk out, but the food came after 50 minutes. We had to chase the food and watch whilst others who arrived after us were served before us. Our waitress wasnt interested. The big boss man came and apologised, but didnt offer us any olives or nibbles to keep us going. The food was nice, really tasty, but we wouldnt return because of the service.

We had breakfast for two. The food was ok, but nothing special. Tasty, but portions were smaller than we expected. To our surprise they have added a 1£ "donation" to our bill. Of course they didn't ask if we wanted to donate anything.

Delicious breakfast, service was friendly and the staff attentive, the flavours where authentic and free, quality was superb… a must do if staying in Spitalefields

We used to love Ottolenghi but this time all 3 of us got food poisoning from take away salads (eggplant, beet root, bean pate) from the takeaway deli bar. We purchased them at 5pm, and perhaps takeaway is not popular at that time of day. I suspect they’d been sitting out all afternoon, forgotten after the lunch rush. The restaurant manager was responsive to my complaint the following day, but their “investigation “ determined they did nothing wrong. And yet… we had full blown food poisoning symptoms as well as follow-on health effects (rash) that still plague more than a week later.

Tremendous service and very helpful staff and chef for recommending specific options for one of our party with allergies. Thank you.

This was our third time lunching at Ottolenghi Spitalfields. The food and service got progressively worse with each visit. They took over half an hour to serve premade salads. The attention to detail was also lacking. One of the salads I chose was hispi cabbage; it had massive leaves on my plate that were too tough to cut into. The aubergine was dripping with grease. And the rice wasn't any better than packet rice. Even the dessert took forever. We ordered a chocolate chip cookie after lunch and it took ten minutes to arrive. You'd think it would take no more than a minute to fetch a cookie already sitting on the dessert table. They didn't even bother warming it up. They also messed up the coffee by getting the espresso-to-milk ratio wrong. Worst of all, the food really didn't agree with us. We left feeling really bloated and unwell. Probably from all the grease. Safe to say, there will not be a fourth visit from us.

Had a lovely breakfast here, with shakshouka, omelette and porridge. Service was great 👌

We had a pleasant evening with some great aspects but a few drawbacks as well. The food was well-prepared and presented nicely, and I have no complaints about the taste—it was flavorful and thoughtfully crafted. However, the portions felt small for the price, especially given the simplicity of ingredients. For instance, £13 (plus service charge) for a dish with five baby leeks, some mixed nuts, herbs, and sauce seemed steep. The wine, too, was priced on the higher side. Service was excellent, and the staff were attentive, which we appreciated. However, the atmosphere didn’t quite match the occasion; the bright lighting detracted from a cozy or romantic feel, making it feel more like a quick-serve setting than a relaxed dinner spot. Overall, we had a nice night, but given the price point, we’ve had more memorable experiences elsewhere in the area.

Surprisingly, really poor for the price point. All of the savory dishes taste very similar due to profound over usage of Za'atar, and lack of salt (and pepper) ..Salt grinders are useless you either get too much or nothing at all ..Every dessert was heavy and stodgy, and either significantly too sweet or profoundly sickly sweet without any depth of flavour; and the Macadamia white chocolate cookie was significantly too salty.. Match of the food is out on display, at the ideal height for people to spread their germs over. Overall poor quality food, poor service and surprisingly expensive.. Really not recommended.

Excellent food. Nice welcome and introduction to the menu. Relaxed atmosphere. The dishes were served too fast in the beginning (kind of starters). Mostly friendly service (for one female server just one tip: it would be nice to communicate with the guest when serving instead of putting the dishes on the table from the guest‘s back with no word….) Very loud and very busy during dinner time. Great location.

Avsolutely fantastic! We had 5 dishes and a nibbler. All was really tasty and nicely presented. The service was attentive and "personal" without being too much or pushy. We had good wine recommendations for the dishes, and all in all - we want to come back!

I have wanted to go for years and, at last (by chance) did. It certainly matched my expectations.

Dessert was amazing, same for the salads although these were a bit small compared to their price. Service outstanding

Delicious food as always but terrible service. Waitress was so grumpy and unhelpful and food took 45 minutes to arrive.

Ambience was nice with candle being lighted with dimmed lighting, but noise was too loud, making it hard to hold conversations. Aubergine reminded me of Georgian food, moussaka was quite salty, not really a fan of it. Cod was a little tough but tasted good. Service was excellent - the fruit wine and hibiscus cocktail was not bad.

I was keen to try the restaurant as I had eaten a couple of his recipes. My brother was visiting London for some filming so I arranged lunch for 2 on a Friday at 12.30pm. Entering the restaurant you transfer into a calm and spacious dining area. There was a warm welcome and once shown to the table the waiter was there with a smile and helpful disposition. A short while later we had placed our food order. The food was a symphony of delight for the taste buds. The cocktails were excellent and with the help of the waiter I chose one that went well with the food I had chosen. Excellent food, excellent staff and an excellent atmosphere. A beautiful lunch and consequently a successful day.

The server was extremely rude. We asked him to change our sharing plates - mate was clearly having a bad day - he said he was busy and won’t. Very unlike our other experiences but definitely not keen on going in again after the experience.

Fantastic food. We didn't have a lot of time and they accommodated us and we were out within an hour, including dessert. Sourabh was very helpful in creating an overall experience for us that made us feel like we were in good hands.

Unfortunately we were disappointed. The dishes we ordered didn't come to the table together. Annoying for 8 people! We were disappointed in the taste! The prices are very high. Organic wine at around €60 per bottle is almost outrageous. our verdict: OVERRATED

wonderful - always. Its such a treat to visit

We’ve been often here but never as enjoyable and warm as this time: we only wanted desert and tea and we were placed perfectly near the sweets by the wonderful Berliner greeting us at the entrance. We had three superb puddings and teas, excellent advice by everyone involved and then even a little gift of chocolate and sesame by this most obliging and warm woman! Thank you ever so much for such rare service.

This is REAL food...at its best. Omw, the chef would be welcome in my kitchen, ANYTIME! I'll wash the dishes, he can cook!

Ottolenghi food is vibrant, colorful, and Mediterranean-inspired, with a strong influence from Middle Eastern flavors. He uses a blend of vegetables, herbs, and spices, alongside grains like couscous, bulgur, and lentils. Ottolenghi‘s dishes are creative in using ingredients, including like tahini, pomegranate, sumac, and za’atar, often paired with rich textures like roasted vegetables, grilled meats, and fresh salads. Took my sister who is vegan and she had plenty of choices. As always Ottolenghi food didn’t let us down. The plates are small and prices are ££ but for me it was worth every penny.

I’ve been an Ottolenghi fan for years and was very willing to take a long cab ride to get to this restaurant. The food and service were good but our experience was marred because the manager would not allow staff to call a cab for us to return to our hotel. Instead we were vaguely directed to a major road where we might hail a ride. Thank goodness we were able to hail a cab but I hate to think how difficult this would have been had it been raining.

Sublime! With thanks to Leo for the terrific recommendations for wine pairings with the simply delicious food - a perfect dinner to quietly celebrate some significant personal achievements. Bravo Ottolenghi!

One of the best meal I have had in my life! Ottolenghi is a master chef! I loved sharing the différents dishes. The portions are generous and all so good. Was lucky to get a table last minute. Bonus points for the excellent cocktail liste!

Delicious food, with an explosion of flavours. Loved the chicken shawarma topped with almond crumble, with its crusty and flaky outer layer with tender juicy chicken inside. For salads, loved both the roasted Aubergine with yogurt and pomegranate, and the roasted cauliflower. Apple vanilla cake recommended by the staff was good too. We were here on a Monday afternoon for lunch. It wasn’t too crowded, but felt their service was slow. We waited for more than 25 mins until our food was served, especially when the salads are picked off the shelf and not made afresh for every order. The place also felt surprisingly loud, and we couldn’t hear each other across the table. I would recommend the place purely for the food, not if you prefer a peaceful intimate dining experience.