By Kate Antoni FG London Correspondent
Lockdown Laments.
A few weeks ago I had deadlines looming over me like seagulls, ready to swoop down and cause destruction! I hadn’t left the house in over a week and my jumper was starting to smell. My eyebrows had become a single brow and I’d really abandoned any semblance of grooming. I couldn’t remember what the outdoors felt like. I missed being carefree and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Like restaurants. Remember those glorious places, Londoners? Where we’d sit down and feast on someone else’s culinary delights? Without needing to fill the washing up bowl.
Joy!
I had missed restaurants so much and was ridiculously excited when Haya, in Notting Hill, offered us a complimentary takeout. We walked from Parson’s Green, across Holland Park and up the Portabello road, gleefully. Knowing that soon we’d take out treats for an outdoor picnic. The rain prohibited this, but we enjoyed our feast nonetheless.
Tel Aviv here we come.
Inspired by Victoria Paltina’s visits to Tel Aviv. The food is Mediterranean in flavour, with Israeli influence. The menu is adventurous and stylish, with interesting starters that steer away from the mundane. We began with Octopus croquettes. These were crispy on the outside with a creamy buttery centre and big flavourful chunks of octopus. Definitely worth returning for. The halloumi fries were thick and salty, gooey and yet robust. A fabulous accompaniment to the mains (and sides!)
What we ate.
I opted for braised lamb shoulder served with tabbouleh. Man friend (yes, I he’s still around, no I have not murdered him!) had veal schnitzel. The veal did not come with sides and was a a little dry and extremely thin. My father prefers it this way, it’s traditional and there was no sogginess to be seen. Naturally we ordered ALL the sides which, included crispy potatoes dusted with gluten free spiced flour, grilled artichokes with za’tar, hummus and pitta bread. To finish up the gorgeous team threw in two slices of cinnamon dark sugar babka.
Final “Takeaway.”
Haya offer takeaway options via deliveroo or pick up at the restaurant, if you fall outside the delivery zone. My favourites were the octopus croquettes, they could have honestly been a meal in themselves. The velvety creamy hummus paired nicely with the pitta and then slathered on top of the halloumi fries. Though the schnitzel was dry and probably too thin for my liking. The lamb was tasty, but the portioning small. The sides were generous, though in future I’d opt for another starter instead – maybe the baba ganoush. The babka was a welcomed treat and I cannot wait to recreate this, soon. Haya is well worth ordering from for an easy takeaway or a fun date night treat. I’d definitely recommend buying a whole babka though…because one slice per person just isn’t enough.
Phone:+44 (0) 203 995 4777 Address: 184A Kensington Park Rd, Notting Hill, London, W11 2ES Email: reservations@haya.london
