Moreish Middle Eastern: the restaurant’s take on home-cooking has long given it critical acclaim
(Picture: Patricia Niven)Popular Middle Eastern restaurant Honey & Co. has announced that it will open in Bloomsbury, as the original site in Fitzrovia closes.
After a decade on Warren Street, Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer’s much-loved operation will move to Lamb’s Conduit Street. The street is something of a food-lovers’ haven, boasting the original Noble Rot, the Bloomsbury branch of cheese shop-cum-restaurant La Fromagerie and Ciao Bella, the long-standing, good-time Italian.
The new site, larger than the compact present one, will open in the spring, with husband-and-wife team Srulovich and Packer saying the opportunity presents a chance to do things “bigger and better”. It takes over the long-empty space next to La Fromagerie, which once housed Cigala, a Spanish place from Moro co-founder Jake Hodges.
Many of the restaurant’s hallmarks will make the move, including the menu’s star dishes — among them slow-cooked lamb, aubergine barbecued and drenched in tahini, and a feta and honey cheesecake — and the Moorish tiles on the floor. The staff will likewise move.
“We’re bringing everything we can with us: our staff, our famous tiles, our signature dishes; plus everything we’ve learned over the last 10 years,” Packer said. “We’re adding more space, wine by Keeling Andrew & Co, the wine company from the guys behind Noble Rot, our new neighbours, better extraction — which our team are very excited about — and we might even put tablecloths on this time.”
The new opening follows last month’s news that Srulovich and Packer had not been offered the option to renew their decade-long lease at Warren Street. At the time, Srulovich said: “Sadly the time came to renew and the building was sold instead. While it was a bit of a blow after such a crazy 18 months, we are moving on and excited for the next 10 years of Honey & Co., whatever that may bring.”
Launching in 2012, the restaurant found both fame and critical acclaim for its take on home-cooked, traditional Middle Eastern food, though the original intention was to open a kebab house. After its early success, two spin-offs followed shortly afterwards, as well as a cookbook.
Moving represents a branching out of sorts for the pair as the Honey & Co siblings, Honey & Smoke and Honey & Spice, a grill house and deli respectively, both sit close to the original. Srulovich said of the change: “We will be stretching our wings and moving more than a street away — very unusual for us! But we’re really excited to join the Bloomsbury community.”
He added: “The street feels just right for us. Honestly, being surrounded by all our favourite places to eat and shop is a dream come true. Not great for our bank balance, but good for our souls.”
