The Palomar is a vibrant and popular restaurant located in Soho, London. It is renowned for its 'modern Jerusalem' cuisine, which skillfully blends culinary traditions from Southern Spain, North Africa, and the Levant. The restaurant opened in June 2014 and quickly gained a reputation for its lively atmosphere and high-quality, good-value cooking, including dishes prepared using wood-fired techniques.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise The Palomar, describing it as a restaurant with a significant 'buzz' and 'worth the trip'. It is perceived as offering good quality and good value cooking, contributing to its sustained popularity and positive reputation.
Additional Details
The Palomar has maintained its Michelin Bib Gourmand status since 2014, indicating its consistent quality and value. It is known for its dynamic atmosphere, making it a lively dining destination in London's Soho district.
The restaurant opens for dinner, with the Michelin Guide noting Monday opening at 5 PM. It is generally a popular spot, so booking in advance, especially for evening visits, is advisable.
Awards & Recognition
Michelin Bib Gourmand • 2014
GQ Food & Drink Awards - Best Restaurant • 2015
Tatler (recognition mentioned, specific award not detailed) • 2015
Machneyuda, the acclaimed Jerusalem restaurant by Chefs Asaf Granit and Uri Navon, is recognized as a significant influence, being the 'father' of popular London establishments like The Palomar and The Barbary, showcasing its vibrant culina…
Had an absolutely fantastic evening at this restaurant! The food was delicious and everything we ordered was fantastic.
Our absolute favourite was the octopus!
I would definitely recommend this place to my friends.
Two pieces of feedback id give to the restaurant is for them to pay abit more attention to service, and that the fish should really be filleted before being brought to the table.
First time here and it was an amazing evening with great food and great service from Matthew, we love trying new things and asking what the server likes, whether thats food or cocktails – and he came with the best favourite cocktails and even timing them to pair with what we were eating at that time. It was the perfect amount of food for the two of us, we managed to fit in 8 dishes!! (3 large plates and 3 smaller, 2 desserts with many drinks) and all were flavoured so well. Shout out for the pork chop, mackerel and the rice pudding. My new fave spot in SoHo!
5.0
Its a bit small when you get in and hard to move around so be prepared for that. Food is great, I recommend the octopus and le bouf. Cocktails are nice and they arrive fed. The staff are incredible and so friendly, you wil really enjoy your time. Good for a date too.
5.0
The Palomar is absolutely phenomenal! The Mediterranean cuisine is bursting with incredible flavours, and every dish is a delight from start to finish. The energy of the place is vibrant and exciting, the atmosphere intimate and fun, and the service outstanding. An unforgettable dining experience and a must-visit in London for anyone who loves bold, modern Mediterranean food!
3.0
Located just a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus (Shaftesbury Avenue exit) and one street from Chinatown, Palomar presents itself as a modern bistro with a lively atmosphere. On entering, pink lighting sets the tone, with five high-chair window seats, an extensive bar area with surrounding stools, and standing space with small drink tables to the right. Toward the back, there is banquette-style seating for tables of two or four.
We were seated at the far end in a curved banquette for four. The space felt tight, and the non-banquette chair was particularly uncomfortable. The interior features a mix of white and wood panelling, wood-toned walls, and chevron-patterned flooring, giving a contemporary yet warm feel.
The menu is presented on a single sheet, divided into small, medium, and large plates, plus desserts. We were advised to order around ten dishes; we ordered seven savoury dishes and two desserts (nine in total).
Drinks
Filtered water was good value.
We had a bottle of Cantina Iuli (Umberta Bott.), a pleasant red wine with a reasonable markup of around 125%.
Food
Kubaneh with Baba Ganoush
An average dish. The brioche-like Jewish bread was pleasant, but the portion of baba ganoush was very small and not particularly memorable or classic in flavour.
Lamb Croquette (£4.50)
A good dish. No gaminess in the lamb, nicely seasoned, and finished with a pleasant sauce. Small—about two bites—but enjoyable.
Cucumbers, Green Tahini, Crispy Chilli, Almond
A well-executed and interesting dish. A mix of sliced and chunked cucumber with a flavourful green tahini sauce, crispy onions, and almonds. Fresh and balanced.
Whole Grilled John Dory (£58)
Poor value for money. The fish was small, with the head making up a substantial portion. The ras el hanout seasoning was very subtle, the sauce oily, and the flavour overall unremarkable. Capers were heavy-handed. Disappointing for the price.
Charred Hispi Cabbage, Spring Onion Salsa (Side)
Wood-grilled and chopped. Perfectly acceptable, but nothing special—better versions are available elsewhere.
Octopus, Chorizo, Butter Beans
The octopus itself was well cooked, but the dish was dominated by hard, overcooked chorizo, which overwhelmed everything else. The flavour profile was monotonous and unbalanced.
50-Day Aged Pork Chop, Grapes, Sherry
One of the better dishes, but flawed. The pork was sliced and coated in a very good sauce, and the halved grapes were a highlight. However, the meat was overdone—dry, extremely crispy, and tough in parts—with significant amounts of fat, some of it chewy and unpleasant. The sauce did much of the heavy lifting here.
Desserts
Baklava Ice Cream Sandwich (Pistachio)(£12)
Overly sweet. The baklava pastry became soggy at the bottom, and the overall dessert lacked balance.
Burnt Honey Custard Tart, Yoghurt Sorbet (£12)
Pleasant but very small and poor value. The yoghurt sorbet was overly tart, overpowering the custard.
In all we spent £48 for desert for a table for 4!
Service
Service was friendly and efficient, but not at a level that justified the 15% service charge.
Overall
Palomar offers an attractive setting and some interesting ideas, but execution is inconsistent, portioning uneven, and value questionable—particularly on larger plates and desserts. A mixed experience rather than a standout one.