Last Updated on February 26, 2024
Mediterranean dining in Kensington & Chelsea
EVE restaurant has recently opened in Kensington & Chelsea in Ember Locke on Cromwell Road, alongside EVE café and bar. The menu created by Executive Chief Talia Prince, who has worked at both Le Gavroche and The Fat Duck, is based on fresh Mediterranean flavours with plenty of spices. Located within easy walking distance of Earls Court station and the museums in Kensington this is an ideal venue to meet up and enjoy tasty dishes in a warm and welcoming environment.
We dined early, at 6.30 pm, on a wet Wednesday determined to do justice to the full menu. The choice of dishes ranges from bread and dips to small plates, larger dishes from the grill, together with side dishes, and desserts. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for on the menu. The extensive drinks menu covers everything from cocktails to spirits and a good selection of reasonably priced wines with plenty of non-alcoholic options.
We started our meal with a glass of prosecco to accompany our bread and dips followed by a bottle of Sirkel Chenin Blanc 2022 from South Africa, a fruity and fresh wine.
The breadbasket was something we were keen to sample, along with seasonal raw vegetables. The grilled flatbread was warm and tasty, the vegetable assortment of carrots, radishes, Romanesco, and purple cauliflower was crunchy and vibrant, and the dips were fresh and full of flavour. I loved the smoked almond hummus, the herb labneh – a dip made with Middle Eastern cheese and herbs, and the creamy aubergine taste of the baba ganoush.
It was hard to decide on the small plates I was intrigued by the sound of manouri, rocket, grilled bread, and muscadet syrup so opted to try it. The manouri cheese, a Greek cheese was soft and delicious, a new experience for me and something I would try again. My companion chose the cured trout, pomegranate, orange, and fennel. It was light and delicious.
Moving onto the larger plates I plumped for the chicken skewers with turmeric, yoghurt, and chilli. The chicken was tender and succulent with a smoky grilled flavour.
For my friend, a Zhoug stone bass with smoked tomato chickpeas and toum, a perfectly cooked portion of fish with crispy skin and flaky flesh topped with a spicy, green chilli cilantro sauce and a garlicky toum, contrasting with the soft, smoky tomato laced chickpeas.
We shared a crispy and colourful Fattoush salad and delicious fried potatoes with harissa and green sauce which were soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, tasty, and very light.
For dessert, I tried the Halva ice cream choux with sesame butterscotch and hazelnuts filled with wonderfully soft and creamy ice cream. Although it looked like a generous portion it was light and very moreish.
My friend opted for the pistachio polenta cake with fig leaf syrup and sour cream, a tangy and moist cake with a deliciously fragrant fig syrup.
EVE Restaurant is ideal for groups of people sharing a meal and offers a wide selection of tasty Mediterranean dishes so you can choose as many dishes from the menu as you need for your group. It’s a cosy venue with excellent food that is well-priced for the area. There’s also a pretty courtyard garden to the rear of the hotel that we understand may well become an al-fresco dining area for next year. Next door to the restaurant, EVE café and bar provide comfortable seating for drinks and freshly prepared light snacks during the day, ideal for working or catching up with friends.
The restaurant is open on Wednesday 6.00 – 10.00 pm, Thursday – Sunday 12.00 – 10.00 pm.
EVE bar is open every day from 4.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. EVE Café is open daily from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., and brunch is served in the café every day except for Thursday and Friday.
EVE Restaurant,
Ember Locke,
202- 220 Cromwell Road,
Kensington,
London,
SW5 0SW.
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