Aram will be opening in the iconic London destination this autumn
Imad Alarnab, the founder of Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, is continuing to celebrate the food and flavours of his homeland by opening Aram at Somerset House, along with co-founders Michalis Ntais and Christos Georgogiannopoulos. The cafe, deli and restaurant, opening in the venue’s 25th anniversary year, will be set across four rooms overlooking Somerset House’s River Terrace, and will feature dishes inspired by Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan and beyond.
The deli, open for breakfast and lunch, will feature a counter piled with pastries (like za’atar croissants and halva brownies), dips, breads, wraps and salads, and a bar serving coffees and Syrian mint tea. This room will also house a shop selling products, like jalapeno shatta, dates and chilli jam, from across the Med.
The two main dining rooms, also open for breakfast and lunch, will serve a menu of dishes like:
- roasted aubergine salad with chickpeas, confit red pepper, tahini dressing, pomegranate, parsley and dill
- curry cauliflower with rocket, red chilli, parsley and black onion seeds
- labneh and poached eggs with grilled sourdough, Aleppo chilli oil and crispy onions
- potato rosti with house cured sumac salmon, poached eggs and coriander oil
- French brioche toast with tahini clotted cream and carob molasses syrup
- granola and date banoffee with date syrup
The fourth room, known as Salamlik will be used as a space to host charity events, supper clubs, and cooking classes in the evenings.
Speaking about Aram, Imad says, “With my friends Michalis and Christos, I am so excited to open the doors to Aram. We are collectively inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean, and how it reminds us of home, and we want to celebrate this in the best way possible, from our new shop to the ingredients across our menu. Opening in Somerset House is a milestone for us and feels like the perfect location to bring Aram to life, especially with the addition of Salamlik, a very special dining room that we plan to host memorable events within. Salamlik refers to a prestigious room within a house that is reserved for your most important guests, if I ever tried to run into the Salamlik at my grandparents I would get into big trouble! This room will be for everyone, but a distinguished space from the rest of Aram for events”.
Key Information
Opening date | autumn 2025
Address | Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
For more information | arambyimad.co.uk
