CERU: Eastern Mediterranean fusion with mouth-watering flavours

Starter: Afghanistan Hamara, a tangy red pepper with walnuts and pomegranate molasses with warm pita bread.

Eastern Mediteeranian — Eastern Mediterranean

Martini with Beefeaterm Martini Bianco, Cucumber, Elderflower, lemon and fresh mint,

Figru — Figaro with fig liquor, triple sec, lime, Angostura, fresh mint and egg white.

Karides – Sauteed King Prawns with tomato, dill and Fenugreek sauce.

Spiced potato sprinkled with fresh coriander and spring onion.

Chips — Spiced polenta Freta fries with yoghurt based dip.

Lamb shoulder slow-roasted in a secret blend of Shawarma spices wings with a pomegranate sauce, fresh mint and pistachio.

Bakalva icecream — Sprinkled Baklava cardamom ice cream with nut brittle and burnt honey caramel

Penny Nair-Price

Pictures R Nair

CERU, 11 QUEENSWAY LONDON W2 4QJ also at 7-9 BUTE STREET LONDON SW7 3EY.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN FUSION BRINGS JOY AND ORIGINALITY TO YOUR DAY. www.cerurestaurants.com

I minute from Queensway underground.

Ceru represents food mainly from The Levant, a region in the Mediterranean that has fantastic flavours and produce for the table. This essentially covers Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. Around 100 ingredients with more than 20 spices go into the meals. Nuts (including pistachios) pomegranates, olive oil and the versatile lemon are all bases for the tasty and unusual dishes served on tasteful crockery, and I noticed the ceramic water jugs are Portmerion. The relatively new Queensway restaurant (opened in December 2021) is open from 12 noon to 11 pm each day and serves a weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. There is a Light Lunch Platter available each day 12-3 pm for £11 with two options both including a number of delights to savour. The South Kensington Ceru is over five years old and doing well.

Barry Hilton is one of the founders who did his research into ingredients and produce on his travels and also sometimes works in restaurants as a chef! He and Patricia are mentioned on the menu as founders. In Ceru, Queensway you will find a cocktail bar where independent of eating you can order such delights as Cucumber Martini with Beefeater, Martini Bianco, Cucumber, Elderflower, lemon and fresh mint. The Figaro consists of fig liquor, Triple Sec, lime, Angostura, fresh mint and egg white. There is a choice of eleven alcoholic cocktails and 5 non-alcoholic mocktails.

We started our culinary and olfactory experience with a taste of made on the premises lemonade – the favourite one including honey, sea salt and basil – amazing and invigorating!

A 750cl bottle of wine to go with your meal ranges in cost from £27 – £33. We tried Assyrtiko from Greece – vegan, dry and refreshing. One can also order wine in a carafe or glass servings. Though described as dry, it is actually very smooth on the palette and has notes of honey and fruit. You can choose white rose and red wines and also there is Prosecco and Champagnes available.

We started our meal with a dip called Hamara which is Afghanistani – tangy red pepper with walnuts and pomegranate molasses and delicious warm pita bread. The dip is similar in consistency to houmous only slightly thicker and mouth-wateringly good. For mains, I had Lamb Shoulder – a signature dish slow-roasted for five hours in a “secret blend” of 12 Shawarma spices with a pomegranate sauce, fresh mint and pistachio, together with spiced polenta and feta fries, which come with a small yoghurt based dip. The lamb was deliciously tender and blended very well with the complementary crispness of the fries which are oblong and finger size and freshly made.

My colleague had Karides – sautéed king prawns with tomato, dill and fenugreek sauce, together with spice roasted potatoes with fresh coriander and spring onion. The meals were refreshing, delightful and original. There is an extensive menu and at the same time, the food you choose has the immediate effect of being satisfying and nutritious.

For dessert, before Coffee and Hot Chocolate or Tea, there is a choice of five mesmerising delights. Choosing Jerome’s Bird Nest delivered a unique and more than enjoyable experience – with finely shredded filo pastry with citrus whipped double cream, lemongrass-infused syrup and chopped pistachios. Not only very tasty but also presented immaculately – a work of art on the plate! My colleague had Flavours of Baklava Ice Cream – Cardamom ice cream with a nut brittle and burnt honey caramel. Adventurous use of spices and flavourings makes all dishes at Ceru somewhat unique and precious.

The menu gives information on the contents of all dishes as to whether they contain nuts for example and which ones are gluten-free. The list is included on each menu. The menu is additionally seasonal.

Rounding up with teas and coffees on the menu you can also choose Espresso Martini or “Spiked” Turkish Apple Tea with Morgan’s spiced rum along with other delights including the CERU Detox – Green tea, fresh mint and honey.

I can’t finish my story on Ceru Queensway without mentioning the awesome and relaxing interior decorations in the restaurant and the cleanliness of the place together with friendly waiting staff wearing white tops and buff coloured chinos. It is definitely worth a trip to visit, remembering there are prices for many pockets on the menu. Go on, give it a try – it may become your favourite place!