The name
Rumi.
Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī was a great Persian poet of the thirteenth century, and eight hundred years on he is still among the most read poets in the world.
The whirling dervish on our wall is from the Sema — the turning ceremony of the Mevlevi order, founded in his name.
The kitchen
Two breakfasts, side by side.
One is Persian: free-range eggs however you like them, feta, cucumber, tomato, herbs, walnuts, butter, honey and clotted cream, with warm barbari or sangak bread and tea to drink. The special one is for two.
The other is the English breakfast — chicken sausages, turkey rashers, hash browns, mushrooms, roasted tomato, beans, and your choice of toast. Or build your own plate from any three things on the list. Every dish in the kitchen is halal.
In between there are eggs Benedict, Florentine and Royal, omelettes, paninis and wraps, and bandari in warm Persian bread.
The grill
Over natural charcoal.
The kebabs are grilled over natural charcoal, and the naan is baked to order in the clay oven beside them.
Off the skewer
Lamb and chicken koobideh, minced and seasoned in the kitchen. Saffron-marinated joojeh. Chenjeh cut from lamb fillet. Five lamb chops, or eight charcoal wings. A whole sea bass with asparagus.
Made here
The dips are homemade: fire-roasted aubergine, pepper and garlic paste, chilli chutney, garlic sauce. Hummus blended with tahini, lemon and garlic. Mast-o-musir with shallots.
Two days a week
Sundays, ghormeh sabzi — herbs, lamb, kidney beans and dried lime, with saffron rice. Tuesdays, zereshk polo ba morgh: half a chicken in saffron and tomato, with barberries and pistachios.
The garden
Out the back.
A joyful, open-air garden with traditional Persian takht seating — a place for good moments and long conversations.
Shisha is served the whole day, eight in the morning until eleven at night: Al Fakher, Starbuzz and Savacco.
The tea, and everything cold
Cinnamon, cardamom, saffron.
Our special Persian tea is black tea brewed with cinnamon, cardamom and saffron, by the cup or in a pot that serves four. Beside it: espresso drinks, a saffron and rose latte, pistachio and chai lattes, matcha, and loaded hot chocolate.
Cold, there is doogh with mint, khakshir, the Rumi Refresh with lemon, ginger, honey and a hint of saffron, and freshly squeezed juice. Oat, soya, coconut and almond milk are available, and so is decaf.
“What you seek is seeking you.” Rūmī