Olea Social

My friend and I needed a proper girls catch up, and what could possibly top a Sunday lunch? As usual, we went hunting for a new spot on First Table and the lovely pictures of Olea Social practically begged us to book. It was a warm and bright day, so we settled outside, feeling quite pleased with ourselves. We ordered a few plates to share and a main each, all helped along by a couple of wines and mocktails. The prawns with mushrooms were genuinely delicious, and the sausage with hummus and focaccia did not last long on the table. My friend chose the lamb kofta while I went for the chicken tajine, which turned out wonderfully tender and full of flavour. To round things off, we bravely tackled a chocolate fondant which, in theory, should have melted beautifully. In reality, it seemed to have had a long and reflective moment in the oven, so no dramatic chocolate river for us. Even so, we had a lovely lunch. No rushing, no fuss, and despite being right in the heart of London, the outdoor seating felt surprisingly calm. Absolutely worth a visit.

Great interior design, good location and not too busy. All the waiters were in nice uniforms and everything seemed very organized. We got the mezze and vegan pumpkin I think. It was all good, but very oily. I would have liked more spices in the different dishes and maybe 2 falafels and köfte, as it only came with one of each. The Baba ganoush and hummus should have had more garlic as it was totally absent in both. Presentation was very nice though!