Ottolenghi Spitalfields in Tower Hamlets

It's cozy, looks very nice, and I liked the cookbooks on display. The staff were all very friendly, and the food was a treat. It's super delicious, but it's not exactly cheap. If you want to eat really delicious food, this is the place to go.

Was treated to a wonderful lunch by my daughter. Living abroad it's a real treat to eat at a bona fide Ottolenghi restaurant and samle.the fare in person...

First off, the food was wonderful. We were there for lunch and everyone talked about how amazing their fish was. Problem was, the staff made you feel like you should be so thankful you're allowed to eat here. The attendant at the front barely looked at us after almost hugging and puffing when we asked for a table. The place was 2/3 empty!! When the server brought our dishes, she simply dropped them on the table and turned before we could say"thank you". It gives you a sense that, "Hey, this is Ottolenghi's". The thing is, London has sooo many incredible restaurants, this one needs an attitude adjustment

A great place to have a delicious breakfast! Everything was excellent and tasted special. The service was very courteous and quick.

Food quality amazing! Amazing texture. Quantity so small and expensive

Excellent food. Nice wine list at reasonable prices. Fun vibe. The 5 of us celebrated my son’s 21st birthday and had a lovely time. I really appreciated that we did not feel rushed or be reminded of table time restrictions which is annoying and happening a lot these days.

Comida deliciosa, gran servicio. Calificación solo 4 * porque las porciones son muy pequeñas. Tuvimos que pedir más, así que resultó una cena cara.

Consistently great food and service. The staff who work in the takeaway bakery and food section are so incredibly patient and helpful. I would choose this location just for that!

Consistently good service and food at this branch (not always the case at the other locations) but this branch is great. Specifically the staff. Any time I have ordered takeaway or eaten in, they are so accommodating. Held products for me for a Xmas meal and saved us. Sent birthday cakes and catering. All round 5 stars!

Absolute highlight in terms of food, ambience and service. Fast service and attentive. Ambiance is great. Ate the best cheesecake here. You have to try it.

Maybe expectations were too high, but I found the food average and the portions very small. It was not bad, but there are other much better places to spend so much money

El mejor lugar para una deliciosa cena familiar. ¡Nuestra gratitud al súper trabajo que el personal está haciendo nos hace disfrutar de un momento delicioso!

I have wanted to come to an Ottolenghi restaurant for two years now, since reading his cookbooks got me back into cooking. This experience was everything I dreamed of: exquisitely tasty food, flawless service, and a restaurant that was obviously loved by those that work and eat here both. Thank you!!

We all know the food at Ottolenghi does not disappoint and our meal this evening met all expectations. But more than that the hosting and service were exemplary. We were so attentively held by our waiter Sourabh and when our payment was compromised by an earlier theft of a wallet and phone the team were patient and supportive till we were able to sort it out. Thank you for a great experience that we had looked forward to from our home in NZ. Ottolenghi did not disappoint and we will return during our time left in London.

We had a very nice evening with good wine and delicious food. We'll be back 👏

tiny portions, overpriced food, uninspired combinations (chewy garlic chips in the eggplant, taramas in the cod, ...)

You guys are so amazing. Delicious food, extremely friendly and thorough service. Course timing was perfect.

I was here with my son for breakfast. He thought the French toast was better than what dad made!

Yes the food ia good although would prefer not coating dishes in oil rather option to add. However would be fine to pay the high price if weight was increased . Chocolate flour cake is yummy and moist, would like the option of a smaller size or half. Lemon polenta also very good, albeit sweet. Good aubergene, soft and didn't feel saturated in oil like many middle Eastern and Italian establishments Some staff were friendly upon greeting some (one) rather like the girl in the girl with the dragon tattoo, each question we asked was met with a 'No' instead of tactfully just saying/ going into the explanation.. "so its..."

Food was good but the service was terrible. We got rushed every step of the way to order. Coming every 2 minutes to ask if we want drinks, order food, then dessert. Food was nice but honestly very unhappy with the service

Visited the Spitalfields restaurant, It was our engagement celebration. Our server Isobel was an absolute delight. Faultless service, fabulous recommendations made, she went above and beyond to make our evening so special. Food was amazing! All so full of delectable flavours and an experience not to be missed. Service all flows and all floor staff make this place rock, all AWESOME!! Isabelle the lady who greeted us was warm and kind, she acknowledges you as you enter and she says goodbye and thanks when you leave. Much Gratitude to a beautiful team X 😊

We really had an amazing experience. Good service and food - we’ll definitely come back.

Mains and salads were exceptional, especially the chicken. The pistachio and mandarin cake was a little dry.

Stopped by for breakfast. Awesome scrambled eggs! Good selection of other things to eat.

The host guest was above and beyond, she was everywhere helping everyone. The staff members who served us were just amazing. The food experience was beautiful.

Delicious. Za'atar pita chips, Sea bream, chicken shawarma were all incredible and want to have them again.

Estuvimos aquí por última vez en 2019 - antes de la pandemia - nos encantó entonces y no nos decepcionó a nuestro regreso. Gran ambiente, personal encantador y servicial y comida maravillosa. La tienda es una gran tentación después de una gran comida.

Coffee marinated grilled mushrooms? Totally!!

Rating: 2.5/5 – Overhyped and overpriced Ottolenghi Spitalfields offers a beautiful space and a visually appealing menu, but unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the hype. The Middle Eastern-inspired dishes look great on the plate, but they’re overpriced for what you get. I tried a few small plates, including the famous aubergine and a couple of salads. While the ingredients were fresh, the flavours were underwhelming. For the price, I expected something with more depth and complexity. Service was attentive, but the overall experience felt more style over substance. I left feeling like I paid a premium for a meal that was just okay. It’s worth a visit if you’re curious, but it didn’t live up to the rave reviews.

Deliciousa! 5 courses and a bottle of wine for £140

Almost perfect, lots of tasty food and great service in a lovely environment. Amazing lamb kebab and chicken skewers. Phenomenal cheesecake. Some stale, leathery pitta and a bland beetroot salad were a bit disappointing, bit overall very nice.

Usually go Angel, but went in to get my usual bakery goods. When looking at the window, we noticed that the staff looked at us, then laughed (my sister noticed at the time, but didn’t tell me). Once we got in, the woman with black hair who served us was so most arrogant and stuck up, probably not her ‘usual’ clients (we were dressed casual). Won’t go back as I don’t want to give money to a shop which treats any customer as less

Fantastic service at the bar. Knowledgeable, patient and pleasant. Such fun.However, dessert choices very disappointing - just cake! Little imagination or opportunities to try new flavours (unlike savoury choices). Such a shame.

The food was amazing. I had the fish and it was one of the best fish I’ve ever had! The atmosphere is great and the staff is super friendly and do everything to make you feel good.

Ate here for a client lunch and was amazed by food but more so the quality of service (which needs to be recognized!). Upon entering the venue, was greeted by the lovely Toby who showed me to my table and brought such a great energy / attentiveness (asking immediately if table was okay and if anything was needed ahead of receiving menus). Karolina then took over from there and was really amazing in terms of explaining the menu and making sure everyone at the table was well fed and had drinks in hand! Excellent across the board and will be returning again!

Elegimos sentarnos en el bar para disfrutar de sus cócteles especiales y su menú de cenas de platos pequeños. La experiencia general superó nuestras expectativas muy altas. El Hibiscus Sumac Margarita fue espectacular. El besugo salado con chalotas asadas era nuestro plato favorito. El personal del bar ofreció una gran experiencia gastronómica!

Our first visit and will return. I was a bit anxious booking as looking online it looked a bit like a deli that served food but it’s the opposite, a restaurant that has an area that sells beautiful food items. The restaurant is a mix of large tables which you share with others (despite being on one of these tables we didn’t really notice as there was a huge vase of flowers separating the diners) and tables of 2s and 4s plus you could sit at the bar. The restaurant is loud but was completely full. The food and how to order was explained to us, and suggest 2/3 plate per person. I think 2 each would had been enough. Between the 5 of us we had a pescatarian, a gluten intolerance and a peanut allergy. We shared and the food was amazing! We loved the mushroom skewer, the lamb kebab and burnt aubergine but everything was great. I really would recommend. It isn’t cheap but I do think value as we really enjoyed the food and service and will definitely return.

Ate lunch and tried the six salads on offer that day. Enjoyed all of them but would depend what you like

Well executed in all dimensions. The roasted aubergine (the one in a tomato sauce) was 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

Ottolenghi famous for infamously hard to source ingredients and fine dining all throughout London. This is my least favorite of the various ottolenghi places because it’s the biggest spot with the shortest menu, but also because the interior feels just off, with some of the red weirdly reminding me of Micky D. That being said, the food is great. It’s fast, fresh and exciting. We tried a variation of dishes and drinks. The service was kind and fast. It’s not the kind of place for elaborate slow dinner, so if that’s what you’re looking for try NOPI instead. But if you want the Ottolenghi experience and to be home after two hours max, go to Spitafields

Brilliant employees, care for allergies, and food. No surprises given it's an Ottolenghi restaurant. A little more space for groups would be nice, but no biggie; you'll fit. Very recommended.

Visited it on 2 April for dinner. The food was fine but small plates at the price of a full size portion in a good London restaurant. Service, apart from the hostess, was attentive and friendly. The hostess needs training in customer service - unfriendly and with a lot of attitude.

Glad we made reservations for Sunday lunch as the restaurant was busy. The pastilla was out of this world as well as the butternut squash and eggplant sides. This was our second Ottolenghi restaurant experience, we enjoy the creativity and vibe.

Okay- I'm a lifelong diehard Ottolenghi fan. I use and study his cookbooks regularly and his style and recipes have influenced my cooking tremendously. Every single one of these books are incredible. Ottolenghi himself is also such and inspiration. Now- this restaurant. Obviously my expectations were high, thinking that it would be one of the best dining experiences of my life. Walking in the staff was friendly and formal. The restaurant appeared a bit dated/ sort of overused. However, I am too picky about atmosphere. But, it needs updating. The food: at best, underwhelming. Each dish other than the bread needed to be elevated. We had: the lambs ear salad, aubergine, the pork belly, bream fish and the pistachio rose water cake for desert. Again, each dish was disappointing. I also had the "margarita" which was also a complete flop. I did try the chamomile spritz (a non alcoholic drink) and it was wonderful. Would i go back? Absolutely not. Should you give it a try? Perhaps ... but be advised that if you are strongly familiar with the Ottolenghi cooking style you may be in for some disappointment.

Haven’t had a chance to try the food, because even though it says everywhere that they open at 8. 8:20 doors we’re locked and no one cared .

Really great food, tiny portions.

Went to Ottolenghi for lunch and had the trio of salads (aubergine , butternut squash and the giant couscous). Everything was really tasty and portions good size. I have also tried the cakes and was really happy. I do think though that the price is excessive for the type of food and restaurant.

One of my all time favourites. The experience starts with the reservations team, Isabel was so incredibly helpful and went as far as putting us on her favourite table at the counter. We were seated straight away and welcomed by our waiters for the evening, Soma & Leo. Could not fault the whole experience, this is a restaurant that sits far above your usual date night spot. The food is exceptional, incredibly high quality creative dishes with the usual Ottolenghi flair. If you’ve tried to recreate any of these at home from the various cook books then you’ll know just how complex the flavours are. Very reasonably priced - for 6 dishes between two, dessert and wine / cocktails we paid £80pp. Menu highlight for us was the chicken skewer (see photos). 5 out of 5 with no questions, a definite special occasion or date night favourite.

WOW! I own a few cookbooks, but eating here in person was such an excellent experience.

Always delicious food, friendly staff - we didn't have a reservation and the host found us a quiet spot that was perfect for the drink and light bite we wanted. Always my go-to when in the area.

Ottolenghi, a restaurant that serves Middle Eastern and Mediterranean tstyle dishes. Their cakes and pastries always captivate yet many dine there as well so had to check it out. To start, the sour cherry mocktail of the day was to my liking. For mains had the bread, manti and octopus. The manti was huge compared to the dinky 1cm ones that you find in Turkish grocery shops. It was quite different in texture with pulled chicken filling so quite meaty compared to minced filling. The octopus was good too but the only let down was the bread which was a bit too black but normal according to them.

Cost of living and prices have gone up everywhere, certainly. But, as much as I like the food etc at O., the mismatch between prices and what was served was not acceptable. A main dish, served on a sort of large saucer, would clearly be labeled as a (large ) tapa in Spain. Cost of ingredients could not possibly exceed 2 pounds. It cost 18 pounds. A glass of red wine, around 0.1 l, for 10 pounds. Yes the reputation of O. is well deserved. Food and service were good. But I had the distinct feeling that you would not be able to charge these prices without the reputation, I e people don't even look at the cost. Unfortunately I won''t be back

One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, the food quality was the truest top notch. Though really a bit too pricey

You cannot go wrong dinning at Ottolenghi. The food always has the right balance of healthy indulgence.

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

Great food, great service, very noisy.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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