A London-based restaurant group specializing in Eastern Mediterranean fusion cuisine with a focus on small, shareable plates.
Insights
MediterraneanLevantineMiddle EasternSeafoodVegan-friendlyUpscaleLunchDinnerCasualCocktail Bar
Last updated: 5/20/2026, 4:21:48 PM
Key Information
CERU is a London-based restaurant group offering Eastern Mediterranean fusion cuisine, characterized by bold flavors and vibrant small, shareable plates. Established in 2016 with its first location in South Kensington, it has since expanded to include branches in Farringdon and Hyde Park. The restaurant is known for its inviting ambiance, making it suitable for dates and group gatherings.
Customers generally praise CERU for its fresh ingredients, creative small plates, and Mediterranean-inspired interior design. The signature lamb dish, octopus, zucchini fritters, and fennel salad are frequently highlighted as delicious. Many appreciate the excellent service and interesting cocktail and wine lists, which feature options from Lebanon, Armenia, and Georgia. However, some reviews mention inconsistencies in food quality, with dishes occasionally being too salty or meats dry. Portions are noted as small, and some customers feel the pricing is high. There are also instances of feeling rushed during meals, particularly at the Farringdon branch, where specific negative feedback regarding service and the quality of certain dishes (e.g., frozen calamari) has been reported.
Additional Details
CERU's concept is born from a passion for travel and new flavors, aiming to bring the Eastern Mediterranean experience to London. The restaurant offers a diverse menu that caters to various dietary needs, including a generous selection of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes.
Vegan options availableVegetarian options availableGluten-free menu available
Best Times to Visit
CERU is a popular spot for both lunch and dinner, attracting a steady flow of customers throughout the day.
5
This place is incredible! My husband discovered it when he was looking for a place to have lunch that offered gluten free because he has celiac. And we are so glad he did!!! They serve tapas style dishes that are ALL gluten free! Including fresh-made GF pita that was delicious! We ordered several dishes…both times we ate lunch here. My absolute favorite was the Baby Aubergine, and the Shaved Fennel & Pear Salad, and we both really liked the Hamara (one of the best we have ever had), Orez CERU (rice dish that was fantastic), Halloumi, GF Pita, and the Lamb. On our 1st visit, we decided to have dessert. We got the Dark Chocolate Tahini Mousse (which was not only rich and delicious, but was served in the most beautiful way) and the Baclava Inspired Ice Cream (which ended up being our favorite). Not only was the food fantastic, but so was the service (the host/hostess always greeted warmly & the wait staff was always helpful & friendly—they all made us feel like we were welcomed in like family), the decor (which was modern with touches of old-world, especially the old hand-carved wood doors), the ambience (even though it was packed each day with workers on their lunch break, it was never noisy and we could always have a conversation without having to raise our voices), and the beverages (loved the Turkish Apple Tea and the CERU Cleanse Tea (green tea, mint & honey). This place would get more stars if they were offered.
Having heard so many good things, I was really excited for my visit. We went as a large group and ordered a wide variety of dishes. The restaurant itself is beautiful and well furnished, great for a date, not too loud, and able to cater to different group sizes comfortably.
Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming on this visit. It wasn’t so much an issue of quality, but rather balance. Many dishes leaned on the saltier side, and the meats in particular were quite dry and tough. The rabbit and the shish taouk were both disappointing.
The wine list, however, was interesting, with some less commonly seen options from Lebanon, Armenia, and Georgia, which was a nice touch. The drinks overall especially the cocktails were probably the most redeeming part of the evening.
That said, the service really stood out. We were very well looked after, and the team made sure everything came out at a good pace right through to the end.
Very tasty food, reasonably priced, very friendly service (special thank you to Hannah) and lovely atmosphere. Went on a Saturday evening and it wasn’t crowded or loud. Favourite items were the courgette and feta fritters, gluten free pita with 3 dips (the beetroot one was the best and so moreish), the pumpkin, the chicken shish, and the dark chocolate and tahini mousse. So pretty much everything.
The scallops were perfectly cooked texture wise but a little too spicy for me. The orez was nice but didn’t have that crispness/crack on top and tasted a little different in terms of balance of flavours to what it usually is (if it’s meant to be the typical Persian rice), but still tasty.
Food was very good. Enjoyed their small plate menu that I could actually skip carbs or choose more protein to suit dietary needs or preferences. Service was prompt.
It was my first visit but definitely won't be my last. I was curious to find out Ceru's signature lamb dish and oh my oh my it was divine 😋 tender and well seasoned, the crunchy pistachio and pomegranate are perfectly lifting the flavours.
I had the Shaved Fennel, Pear & Orange Salad
with it, which I'd highly recommend also.
