The best restaurants serving Mediterranean food in East of England

Just reading these reviews. I did not write a review at the time as I hoped it was an isolated incidence, and nobody enjoys leaving a negative review in this climate. I see nobody has mentioned the smell inside the restaurant. As I walked in I wrinkled my nose at a smell that wafted over, I assumed it was a man placed near the front door. I was in a party of 4 adults/couples. We ordered drinks and the meze arrived ! it was a bowl of green dip and tiny triangles of cold hard pitta bread. Nobody said a word as this was a fun night. We ordered main course, I ordered the prawns !! in a sauce which read very appetising. Everybody was served and as an adult I said please start. People did slightly. Then came over again the terrible stench, I looked at the other female and we both mouthed " wind"....the males said no, its the drains. It was awful. I would say I waited a further 15 minutes for the prawn dish, the sauce was a dead ringer for a jar of Lloyd Grossman...by then we all started to speak about the food etc. The other lady got up to go to the toilet, was in there an age. I jumped up and went to the toilet as walking home. I can only say the contents of my stomach left my body, although not quite as as soon as I went to wash my hands, where I had flushed the toilet bowl was rising. I can laugh about it now. Then I had to sit again and my god I was in a state. Flushed again, and again it rose up. I did not say a word to friends until Christmas eve. As my husband and I started our walk I confided my story with " I need to go again" he said you cannot. I said I need to and I scoured alleys , bushes,,,,it was torture, He said, I will rush on, give me your bag, and off he shot. He flung he front door open and I made it. Hopefully the drains are fixed and the prawns are defrosted properly now. It seems so with all the great reviews. I do remember all the staff were attentive, and asked a few times how my meal was. And being typically British I said " fine". The truth as eating the food we all found it underwhelming.

This is the best cafe in Bedford. Lots of selection and there is something for everyone. Good service with a friendly atmosphere. You won't be disappointed and you will find your be returning. Can't wait till tomorrow. Great guys.

Iris was great and very knowledgeable!

You might have got away with this sort of tired, meh cooking and restaurant twenty years ago, but not any more. Owners should head to Arbequina in Oxford to see where the bar now is at this price point. Sadly, this place isn't close. Croquetas bland, calamares flabby and under-seasoned, and queso de Cabra came on a bed of carelessly chopped iceberg rather than any sort of salad. Bread was catering pack cotton wool. The only dish worth eating was the baby scallops, which were good - but 3 tiny molluscs for 15 quid? Really? Amazingly the place was packed on a Saturday night, which I suppose proves the owners right - you really can shovel this stuff into bourgeois Brits and they'll keep coming back for more.

Great food as usual. I've never been disappointed.

Wow!! The food and service is amazing, well worth a visit. Lovely restaurant.

We booked a table for 7 on NYE 2024. We all had a great night, live singer and belly dancing. The food was great, the Service was excellent ! We also eat here on a regular basis and its a very good restaurant. Regards Richard and Noura Dear

The first time I went to this place it was a pub called the Royal Oak and what an awful place it was. The second time I went it had metamorphosised into an Indian Restaurant called The Spice Lounge. Sadly it was equally as bad. So it was trepidation that I went yesterday. How wrong I was! The menu was varied with lots of Mediterranean dishes. The food tasted lovely and the wait staff, although a little slow were very pleasant. We were sat in the front section so it was quieter than in the rear section. Personally I could have done without the music, but that's just down to personal choice. So far as value for money is concerned it cannot be faulted at less than £50 a head including drinks and service. So the big question is would we go again. The answer is a definite YES

Food was great, service was let down by mains being served before starters - promptly made up for with a round of free drinks, and the atmosphere was typical of late Sunday afternoon dining with loads of excited kids around, including the messy little bugger we bought along 🤣

Absolutely amazing, we came here for my birthday based on reviews and pictures, it definitely didn’t disappoint. The staff were lovely, the food was beautiful and we were very impressed with the price. 10/10 would recommend and we will be back

Great food, and very good quality service!

We’ve been coming to this restaurant regularly, and every single time, it’s been nothing short of amazing. From the moment we walk in, we feel so welcomed by the incredibly friendly and attentive staff—they always go above and beyond to make sure we’re well taken care of. The design is absolutely stunning—luxurious, prestigious, and perfectly crafted to create an unforgettable atmosphere. It’s the ideal setting for every visit. And the food? Simply phenomenal. Every dish is bursting with flavor and beautifully presented, consistently exceeding our expectations. The chefs truly know what they’re doing, and we’ve loved every bite we've had so far. This place continues to be a favorite of ours, and we’re always looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an outstanding experience!

Very nice Turkish restaurant; excellent choice of hot and cold options with items for all diet and cuisine types: meat eaters, fish fanciers and vegetarians. Service was excellent, waiter was attentive, for came quickly and was piping hot, and tasted excellent - portion size was great and fresh accompaniments of salads, peppers, rice, bulgar and hot flatbread. A little expensive but for the whole experience it was worth it.

Visited at the weekend with friends. Fantastic service and food was delicious. The staff were so lovely & accommodating. Luke was our server and he was very professional and friendly. Great atmosphere.

This place is amazing, best tapas, service and atmosphere. A real find. Highly recommended!