loti eats | amber

Inspired by the ancient amber trade route, which ran from the Baltic to the Mediterranean sea, newly-opened Amber in Aldgate East is serving up a modern take on Middle Eastern food, with a few European influences thrown in for good measure. It’s a little tricky to find; the Goodman’s Fields development where it sits isn’t finished and it’s not immediately obvious where Amber is, so look for the Aldgate Curzon as it’s right next door.

It’s a good looking place once you’re in with an open bar and kitchen, complete with specialist pide oven and lots of ash wood, dusky colours and plants filling the restaurant. At dinner it’s a sharing plates situ, with an even spread of meat, fish and veggie dishes.

After snacking on some lovely fluffy pitta with hummus, we went for a selection across the menu, including a salmon tartare that was loaded with herbs, moreish crispy fried cauliflower with a green tahini sauce, and pork belly with pickled chillies, polenta cubes and kimchi, with the Asian additions here working surprisingly well. We love a good sweet and savoury combo so the burnt leek pide, a boat-shaped flatbread topped with blue cheese sauce, caramelised onions and figs, was one of the highlights of the meal… don’t overlook this section of the menu whatever you do. There’s no dessert menu just yet but there is a range of cakes on the counter next to the kitchen, so you can pick up one of these if you’re after something sweet.

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We’re not totally convinced on the location, it’s not exactly a buzzing area yet, but Amber is certainly worth seeking out for the food. We’ve had a peek at the breakfast menu and there are a lot of things we like the sound of there too.

21 Piazza Walk, Aldgate East, London, E1 8QH
thisisamber.co.uk

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